Gold Seal

[Fly_Unity]

Do you have a source for that?

I directly copied order 8900.1 from the faa website and I have the link in my previous post and that states that a master CFI qualifies

http://www.nafinet.org/mcfi/mcfifaq.aspx

Q: I heard that the NAFI Master Flight Instructor accreditation could be used to obtain a Gold Seal flight instructor certificate. Is this true?
A: Not anymore. For a short period of time, allowed Master Flight Instructor designation to be used as a means of achieving an FAA Gold Seal certificate. However, in March 2009, the FAA indicated that it had “reconsidered its earlier position and determined that the criteria established for the Master Instructor designation are not consistent with the FAA’s requirements for the Gold Seal as established by the same 8900.1 reference” (Combined Electronic Handbook 8900.1, Volume 5, Chapter 2, Paragraph 5-571, E, 3). As a result, at this point, the FAA no longer allows the NAFI Master Instructor designation to be used to obtain an FAA Gold Seal flight instructor certificate. All previously issued Gold Seal certificates based on the accreditation process will remain effective, but no new Gold Seal certificates will be issued on the sole basis of Master Flight Instructor accreditation.

For more details on this letter please follow this link to view a pdf copy of the FAA letter. The FAA noted in this letter that it “is not inferring that the requirements for NAFI’s MFI are not rigorous or demanding. However the MFI designation and the Gold Seal award represent different, although somewhat complementary, accomplishments.”

 

[crazyjaydawg]

Wow, good find.

 

[Chief Captain]

When I got my gold seal, the FSDO accepted a partial list of my activities. I met the 80% pass rate no matter how I cut it, so it wasn't an issue in my case, but I only submitted 10 names in order to save time and keep the paperwork simple.

That makes all the difference. Even if they accused you of cherry picking your results initially, you had the overall pass rate to back it up. For example, if you're a CFI and you fill out the 8710 for the CFII, there's no hour requirement, so you just guess your times and write them down if you can't be bothered to add them up. As long as you underestimate your times, nobody would ever care.

 

[ftyflyboy]

does 18 out of 31 get you anything?

 

[Jonathanf4]

Where can someone obtain a list of all Gold Seal Instructors - lets say by Location, etc...

Is there such a website that has a list of Gold Seal Instructors?

Thanks

 

[IslandFlyer]

The difference is you're talking about making up something you haven't done (pencil whipping 20 hours of flight time), versus simply selecting the best part of what you have done (a lot of teaching). I don't see it as being dishonest. The FAA Order does not ask for a complete record. You're assuming that's what the FAA wants. I'm not sure if they do or not. They haven't said so.

When I got my gold seal, the FSDO accepted a partial list of my activities. I met the 80% pass rate no matter how I cut it, so it wasn't an issue in my case, but I only submitted 10 names in order to save time and keep the paperwork simple.



True, I agree the gold seal isn't worth much.

The funny thing is, I've never known an instructor who didn't legitimately deserve a gold seal apply for one. They've all had an 80% pass rate naturally. The shoddy instructors tend to fall by the wayside over time regardless of what the FAA Order says. This whole argument is more theory than reality. The bad instructors never bother to apply for a gold seal.



Agreed. And I should point out, there are no pass rate requirements to become a Master Instructor. And having a Master CFI credential from NAFI automatically qualifies one for a gold seal certificate.

Care to elaborate?

 

[jrh]

Care to elaborate?

I don't know how else to say it.

I've never known anybody I would call a bad instructor (poor technical knowledge, low pass rate, unprofessional, etc.) to apply for a gold seal certificate.

It's easy to get worked up about precise definitions needed to qualify for the gold seal, but in the whole scheme of things, it's not like it matters. The FAA is not getting flooded with incompetent, lousy CFIs who don't deserve gold seal certificates, applying for them. The incompetent CFIs don't really know or care, or are too lazy to want a gold seal.

 

[SEdwards]

Also, down the road when you have to renew it again, be sure to put "Gold Seal" at the top of the 8710. Otherwise they'll just issue you a certificate with a normal, black seal.

No, that won't happen. Even if the inspector who issues the temporary doesn't put it on the certificate, the computer will kick out the gold seal.

 

[SEdwards]

Doesnt the FAA have a record of all the students you sent to take checkrides and what the results were?

Yes, but the majority of inspectors don't know how to use it.

The data required from the CFI applying for a gold seal can be different with different inspctors. Generally speaking, most tend to accept the word of the applicant along with whatever records they submit. Part of the logic is that the gold seal doesn't convey any additional authority and falsification is grounds for revocation of all certificates. So, the punishment if caught is pretty steep for something that doesn't allow a person to do more than brag. Ergo, the inspectors tend more towards accepting a person's word without a serious check.