How difficult is it to get CFI back?

JayAre

Well-Known Member
It's been 5 years since I instructed and it has since expired. What would be required to get it back? Writtens done again? More check rides?
 
You either retake a practical test for one of your existing instructor certificates, or you get a new rating added to your instructor certificate... go add a II or MEI or something is what I'd do.

§ 61.199 Reinstatement requirements of an expired flight instructor certificate.

(a) Flight instructor certificates. The holder of an expired flight instructor certificate who has not complied with the flight instructor renewal requirements of §61.197 may reinstate that flight instructor certificate and ratings by filing a completed and signed application with the FAA and satisfactorily completing one of the following reinstatement requirements:
(1) A flight instructor certification practical test, as prescribed by §61.183(h), for one of the ratings held on the expired flight instructor certificate.
(2) A flight instructor certification practical test for an additional rating.
 
It really depends on your situation. I let mine expire in 2010, and just got it back a few weeks ago. I just took a reinstatement ride with a DPE, who happened to be the same DPE that did my PPL, Instrument, CPL, Multi, CFII and MEI. The only ride I hadn't done with him was my initial CFI. The ride covered everything required by the PTS (which isn't a whole lot for a reinstatement), but it wasn't particularly trying. Have you been actively flying? Keeping up with the regs?
 
The FBo is picking up more students at one of the layovers and approached me about if I was interested in teaching. I would only fly a few hours a week. It still a few hundred bucks a week of cash is spanking my interest.
 
The FBo is picking up more students at one of the layovers and approached me about if I was interested in teaching. I would only fly a few hours a week. It still a few hundred bucks a week of cash is spanking my interest.

$100/hour for instructing - swweeeeeet gig!
:biggrin:
 
Well maybe a litte more than few. Previous CFI were getting $40 per hour which only requires 4 hrs to match my 8 unIts per day
 
I'm in the same boat. Randomly talked to a DPE that was hanging out in STP the other day. It doesn't sound particularly taxing to reinstate. So long as you still possess some of your teaching abilities. I only had ~600 of dual given when I moved on from flight instructing, and it's been 2 years. So I'm a little leary on what "tricks" I have still retained. I don't want to turn this into a 5k ordeal. Might as well finish my MEI at that point, which perhaps I should anyways.

Given where I am at the moment and the incredible amount of downtime, it would be great to have that certificate. During my very brief stint as a free-lance instructor, I was charging 50, but those were different circumstances.
 
I think the CFII would be the easiest per PTS mins. Teach one approach on the ground go up and fly one and done.
 
Just did this last week. Did a CFII ride. Just look in the PTS for reinstatement. My check ride consisted of tracking, one hold, a coupled ILS and a partial panel VOR. Super easy, though I give the G500 a little bit of the credit.
 
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