20 FIRC presentation. If the sequencing is adjusted, the FIRC provider should provide an actual schedule of a particular in-person FIRC to the FAA when requested. This will allow aviation safety inspectors (ASI) to adjust their schedules if they wish to observe only particular topic(s) of the FIRC. Because of the inherent flexibility of the internet, providers of internet-based programs may optionally allow their online attendees to move more freely about the course, taking different modules in differing sequences. This is at the discretion of the internet FIRC provider; however, the provider should remain mindful of the building block method of learning and “fine tune” their attendee’s ability to move through the subject matter topics accordingly.
10.10 Flight Component. Providers who wish to incorporate a flight component into their approved TCO are required to first contact the General Aviation and Commercial Division by any of the methods identified in paragraph 9 to discuss this aspect of their development plans.
10.11 G raduation Certificates and Completion Certificates.
10.11.1 G raduation Certificates as a Basis for Establishing Recent Experience or Reinstatement of Flight Instructor Privileges.
10.11.1.1 A graduation certificate issued by an approved FIRC provider may serve as the sole basis for a flight instructor establishing recent experience under the provisions of § 61.197(b)(2)(iii). Pursuant to this provision, the graduation certificate must show that the flight instructor establishing recent experience has successfully completed an approved FIRC within the preceding 3 calendar months of issuance. Further, the flight instructor must be within the preceding 24 calendar month recent experience period at the time they present the application (refer to § 61.197) to maintain flight instructor privileges. After the 24 calendar month recent experience period lapses, flight instructor certificate privileges may be reinstated through the provisions of § 61.199 or § 61.427, as applicable.
10.11.1.2 A graduation certificate issued by an approved FIRC provider may serve as the sole basis for reinstatement of flight instructor privileges under the provisions of § 61.199(a)(1) or § 61.427(a), as applicable, if the flight instructor is within 3 calendar months from the last month of the flight instructor's recent experience period. The graduation certificate must show that the flight instructor reinstating privileges has successfully completed an approved FIRC within the preceding 3 calendar months of issuance. After this period lapses, flight instructor certificate privileges may be reinstated through the provisions of § 61.199(a)(2) or (3), or § 61.427(b), as applicable.
10.11.2 C ontents of a FIRC Graduation Certificate . A FIRC provider is required to issue a graduation certificate that contains all of the following information in order to be a valid basis for establishing flight instructor recent experience or reinstatement of flight instructor privileges:
1. The full name and address of the organization (or provider) holding FAA approval to conduct the course;
2. The full name and address of the graduate;
3. The date of issuance;
4. The signature of the chief instructor;
5. A statement that the graduation certificate expires 3 calendar months from the month of issuance;
6. Provider contact information;
7. A sequential number; and
8. The expiration date of the provider’s current authorization to conduct FIRCs.
Note: The provider may preprint the expiration date on the certificate or a FIRC representative may fill it in at the completion of each presentation. However, under no circumstances may a provider or representative issue a graduation certificate without the expiration date of the provider’s current authorization clearly printed somewhere on the document. The verbiage may be placed anywhere on the front or back of the graduation certificate and should read:
“[PROVIDER’S NAME] is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct FIRC programs that may serve as a basis for establishing flight instructor recent experience in accordance with 14 CFR part 61, § 61.197(b)(2)(iii) or reinstatement of flight instructor privileges in accordance with 14 CFR part 61, § 61.199(a)(1) or § 61.427(a). [PROVIDER’S NAME] current authorization expires on [DATE].”
10.11.3 Information on Establishing Recent Experience or Reinstating Flight Instructor Privileges. The provider should note that:
10.11.3.1 The applicant must submit a completed and signed FAA Form 8710-1, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application, or FAA Form 8710-11, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application – Sport Pilot, as applicable (or IACRA equivalent).
10.11.3.2 The applicant must submit a copy of the graduation certificate to a certifying official (ACR, ASI, aviation safety technician (AST), or authorized Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE)) before the end of the preceding 24 calendar month recent experience period and within the graduation certificate validity period if they wish to establish their recent experience based on attendance at that FIRC.
10.11.3.3 For reinstatement of flight instructor privileges based on completion of the approved FIRC, the applicant must submit a copy of the graduation certificate to a certifying official (ACR, ASI, AST, or authorized DPE) before the end of
22 the 3 calendar month period following the last month of the flight instructor’s preceding 24 calendar month recent experience period.
10.11.3.4 The provider may use any verbiage that they think most effectively transmits that critical information to the attendees and may place that information anywhere they choose on the front or back of the certificate.
10.11.3.5 Failure to inform the attendee of these requirements may result in the attendee’s inability to reestablish their recent experience or reinstate flight instructor privileges.
10.11.4 G raduation Certificates as Basis for Ground Instructor Recency. A graduation certificate issued by an approved FIRC provider may serve as the sole basis for a ground instructor to meet the recent experience requirements under the provisions of § 61.217(c).
10.11.5 Contents of a Ground Instructor Graduation Certificate. A FIRC provider must issue a graduation certificate that contains all of the following information in order to be a valid basis for satisfying a ground instructor’s recent experience requirement:
1. T he full name and address of the organization (or provider) holding FAA approval to conduct the course;
2. The full name and address of the graduate;
3. The date of issuance;
4. The signature of the chief instructor;
5. A statement that the graduation certificate expires 12 calendar months from the month of issuance;
6. Provider contact information;
7. A sequential number; and
8. The expiration date of the provider’s current authorization to conduct FIRCs.
10.11.6 C ompletion Certificates . The provider, at their discretion, may issue a completion certificate to any attendee who will not need to use successful FIRC attendance as a basis for meeting any FAA regulatory or policy requirement. A flight instructor may not use a completion certificate as a basis to establish recent experience or reinstate privileges.
Additionally, a completion certificate does not meet the annual training requirements for the chief instructor or assistant chief instructor of a part 141 pilot school or provisional pilot school. Testing as a prerequisite for receiving a completion certificate at the conclusion of the FIRC program is also at the discretion of the FIRC provider.
11 T CO STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS. This paragraph provides guidance regarding how the TCO should physically be structured and what the provider should include in the TCO. Providers may construct their TCOs in any manner they wish. The document should follow a logical sequence and be easy to read and reference. Each TCO submitted for approval should contain at least the following:
11.1 Page Numbering and Version Identification. Each page (including the cover page) should be sequentially numbered, dated as appropriate, and should identify the version number. This may be in the form of a footer or header, or otherwise placed in any obvious and consistent location on each of the pages.
11.2 Cover Page. The TCO should have a cover page containing the full name and address of the FIRC provider/organization. This should be the name and address that will appear on the Letter of Authorization (LOA) when issued. The cover page should also include the name, address, current telephone number, facsimile number (if available), and email address of a POC.
11.3 Table of Contents. The cover page should be followed by a table of contents with a list of all lesson plans intended to be taught during the course, as well as other constituent components of the TCO. The table of contents should clearly identify lesson plans that represent or include the required core topics (identified in Appendix A), as well as all additional elective topics selected by the provider. The table of contents should present the lessons in a manner that allows the reader to easily recognize specific core and elective topics and content. At the discretion of the provider, the larger topic framework may incorporate core topics; however, the table of contents should clearly identify each of the core topics by some obvious manner, such as an asterisk. The principal reason for this level of detail is primarily because an FAA inspector may wish to monitor only a specific topic or topics and should be able to easily determine where they occur during the program allow them to synchronize their arrival time if necessary.
11.4 R evision Page. A revision summary page will follow the table of contents page.
11.5 Facilities. A description of the facilities will follow the revision page. The description of the facilities should include a depiction of physical classroom facilities, such as climate control (air conditioning/heating), lighting, seating, work areas, distraction avoidance, noise control, and any other pertinent physical environmental characteristics that may influence the learning experience (in-person FIRCs only).
11.6 Training Aids. The TCO should include a description of audiovisual aids that will be available for use including, but not limited to, chalk boards, slide and/or overhead projectors, video recorders/players, tape recorders, CD/DVD players, computer data/information presentation, and internet access. If the TCO program is internet-based, the TCO should describe the system requirements that the online attendee will meet to ensure that the program operates smoothly.
11.7 Chief Instructor/Assistant Chief Instructor/Program Presenter.
11.7.1 C hief Instructor . The TCO will list the name, airman certificate number, and qualifications of the chief instructor. The chief instructor will meet the requirements of § 141.35(d) and include a compliance statement in the TCO, addressing the certificate and experience requirements of a chief instructor required for a part 141 pilot school or provisional pilot school course of training leading to flight instructor certification.
11.7.2 A ssistant Chief Instructor . Where requested by the provider, the TCO will list the name, airman certificate number, and qualifications of the assistant chief instructor. The assistant chief instructor will meet the requirements of § 141.36(d) and include a compliance statement in the TCO, addressing the certificate and experience requirements of an assistant chief instructor required for a part 141 pilot school or provisional pilot school course of training leading to flight instructor certification. The chief instructor may delegate any of their responsibilities to an approved assistant chief instructor.
11.7.3 Serving Multiple Providers. A chief or assistant chief instructor may not serve more than one FIRC provider without requesting and receiving written authorization from the FAA.
11.7.4 Program Presenters. T he TCO should list the qualifications of other instructors, lecturers, moderators, or panelists who will present the provider’s program. These persons need not be limited to certificated ground or flight instructors; however, they should be recognized experts in the subjects of their presentations or specialty areas. The principal instructor who is giving presentations at any specific approved FIRC (in-person FIRCs only) should be an employee or affiliate of the approved FIRC provider or be contracted to the approved provider.
11.8 P rerequisites. The TCO should state the enrollment prerequisites for flight instructors planning to attend a FIRC. Eligibility to reestablish recent experience through the FIRC program is limited to flight instructors who are within their 24-month recent experience period. Eligibility to reinstate flight instructor privileges through the FIRC program is limited to flight instructors whose privileges have lapsed by no more than 3 calendar months. Reestablishment of recent experience or reinstatement of flight instructor privileges are both predicated on full attendance and satisfactory completion of the FIRC.
This does not preclude instructors beyond either these recent experience or reinstatement periods, or any other interested parties, from attending if they choose to do so for their own information. On the contrary, the provider should encourage such attendees to attend. Those who are attending for reasons other than establishing recent experience or reinstating privileges will not receive a FIRC graduation certificate. Instead, they may receive a course completion certificate.
11.9 Daily Schedule. The TCO will include a daily schedule, including the start and stop times for each lesson and the lesson title. The provider may choose any period of time they feel is appropriate to cover a particular topic or module adequately. The presenter should make every attempt to adhere to the topic duration established in the schedule.
However, it is understood that particular interest or activity in a given module or topic may mean that the provider exceeds the duration established for that particular lesson.
This is acceptable to a certain extent, although the provider should remain mindful to adequately cover subsequent topics and modules. Major changes that may result in the exclusion of another topic requires preapproval by the FAA.
11.10 Syllabus. A training syllabus will consist of a collection of lesson plans. Each individual lesson plan will include, at a minimum, a description of each lesson to be presented. Each lesson plan will describe all ground and/or flight components (where applicable), lesson objectives, completion standards, and the measurable unit of accomplishment or learning.
25 The provider should identify appropriate reference materials that the presenter will use during the presentation. The provider should print an individual lesson plan for each core and elective topic, or unit of training, on its own page(s). The individual lesson plans will contain at least the following elements:
11.10.1 L esson or Module Title. In a practical sense, the lesson or module title section will be the title of the lesson or module unit of training. If the module contains more than a single topic, this section should identify (in broad terms) the topic(s) covered in that module.
11.10.2 Lesson Objective. The “Lesson Objective” section of a FIRC provider’s lesson plan should clearly specify the desired attendee learning outcomes and should be consistent with the objectives and subject matter elements of the particular module or unit of training. The FAA understands that in any session of training the presenter will offer a great deal of information, and that the attendee will not realistically be expected to memorize the material verbatim. The attendee should retain the bulk of the material and the key specific points presented. It is important to fully identify lesson objectives; be specific. As examples, two lesson objective descriptions are shown below; one inadequate, followed by a more acceptable example:
11.10.2.1 I nadequate Example. At the end of this lesson, the attendee will know about Crew Resource Management (CRM).
11.10.2.2 Adequate Example. At the completion of this lesson, the attendee will:
• Be able to describe the basic tenets of CRM and its importance to flight safety, including its applicability to training in technically advanced aircraft (TAA);
• Understand how CRM differs between single-pilot and two-pilot environments, and the attendee will have learned effective methods to teach cockpit management skills to their clients/students in the classroom and in the cockpit; including chart placement, note/clearance taking, and accessibility to alternate charts and flight information in the event the pilot must deviate to another airport; and
• Understand the importance of being able to effectively communicate this information to their clients/students in a clear and concise manner.
11.10.3 S ubject Matter . The subject matter portion of each lesson plan should offer an expanded discussion of the specific subject matter elements the presenter will teach in a particular module or unit of training, as identified in the “Module Objectives” section. This is not intended to be a comprehensive discussion. The subject matter elements presented in the FIRC provider’s lesson plan should make clear to the reviewer what the intent of the provider is regarding the subject matter and identify the principal knowledge components of the topic(s) that the provider intends to transfer to the attendee. The FAA is interested in the major points of information that the provider is offering the attendees in the specific topics for which they are approved. FIRC providers are required to present all of
26 the subject matter elements listed in its lesson plans during the delivery of its presentation and align those subject matter elements to its exam questions.
11.10.4 C ompletion Standards. The completion standards should state the observable or measurable level of knowledge and skills required of each attendee at the end of the course, module, or lesson. For example, the following statement, “The instructor attendee must score a minimum of 70 percent on each written examination given,” would combine both the observable and measurable levels of knowledge and skill. The provider may set the minimum standard higher if they wish; however, they may not reduce the standard below 70 percent. If the provider wishes to employ a nontraditional method of completion standard, they should contact the General Aviation and Commercial Division.
11.10.5 Testing Procedures. To meet TCO development standards, the provider should provide a description of the testing procedure used to measure the attendee’s proficiency. This discussion should identify and describe the form of test (e.g., individual paper tests handed out, tests presented on a screen, etc.). For example, “The attendee will answer a series of multiple choice questions related to this topic at the end of the day in which the topic was presented, and again in the final test at the end of the program. The test will be in printed form and handed to the applicant for completion.” This statement says that the provider will specifically test the applicant on this topic or module on two different occasions using a printed multiple choice format.
11.10.6 Testing Timeframe. Total testing time that may be credited toward the 16- hour FIRC minimum time requirement may not exceed a 1-hour cumulative period. The FIRC provider may allot additional testing time beyond the 16-hour minimum FIRC timeframe.
11.11 W ritten Test Questions. The FIRC provider will provide a comprehensive written test or test question pool with an answer key in the submitted TCO.
11.11.1 The provider should provide source materials (references) from which the answers to the questions were derived. References should be sufficiently detailed to allow FAA personnel to easily locate those references if FAA personnel feel it is necessary to verify or confirm specific information presented in the test. Inadequate references will result in denial of the approval.
11.11.2 Test questions need to be appropriate to the lesson plans and subject areas the provider will teach. Test questions should reflect the key points of each lesson. FIRC testing standards require all multiple choice test questions to offer at least three challenging (plausible—not giveaway) answer choices (a, b, or c choices). Standards for post-lesson testing do not allow true/false questions. The FAA encourages essay questions whenever feasible. The FAA expects all providers to administer closed-book exams for tests given at live, in-person FIRCs.
11.11.3 Since many courses present as many as 16 lessons, including electives, the provider should require each attendee to answer at least 60 unique test questions to ensure adequate testing in all subject areas. All 60 test questions do not have to be given at the same time; however, at least 30 of the questions will be given at the end of the entire
27 FIRC program, and that final test will be comprehensive, rather than simply covering material presented subsequent to any possible earlier tests given during the FIRC. A participant’s successful completion of the FIRC is dependent upon a minimum score of 70 percent on each written test administered. Individual providers may set higher standards.
11.11.4 The provider may provide the test questions, answers, and references as an appendix to the TCO to allow other non-FAA personnel to see the TCO without seeing the tests and their answers. However, the FAA requires the provider to submit it as a component part of the TCO when seeking FAA approval.
Note 1: The FAA requires FIRC providers to update and revise the written test(s) question pool at least once during each biennial approval period. This does not necessarily mean replacement of each of the questions. The provider should update the questions to reflect any changes in the course content and any regulatory or policy changes that may have occurred during the previous approval period. In addition, the provider should alter multiple choice answer sequences (where used) and should reword or recast preexisting questions.
Note 2: See paragraph 12 for additional information pertaining to internet-based FIRC testing.
11.12 Graduation Certificate. The provider should include a copy of the graduation certificate that it will issue to its attendee and a copy of a completion certificate (if one is to be used) in the TCO package presented for review. See paragraph 10.11 for the details outlining the specific information that is required on the graduation certificate.
11.13 Remedial Training. I f the provider plans to offer remedial training for those attendees who fail to meet the minimum completion standards, the TCO should include a description of the method to accomplish such remedial training and subsequent retesting.
The 16-hour minimum course timeframe requirement does not include remedial training or remedial testing. As with all FIRC exams, the provider will conduct remedial testing as a closed-book exam. Providers who elect not to provide remedial training and testing to instructor attendees who fail to meet the minimum testing standards should include a statement in their TCO to that effect. In this case, the TCO would reflect the fact that graduation certificates will not be issued to instructor attendees who fail to satisfactorily complete the full course requirements, including all tests administered.
12 INTERNET-BASED PROGRAMS.
12.1 Internet/Web-Based Programs. The FAA will evaluate all internet or web-based FIRC curricula on a case-by-case basis. Groups or individuals who wish to submit an internet-based FIRC program will contact the General Aviation and Commercial Division and notify them of their intent. Provider applicants are encouraged to provide graphical outline representations of their proposed training programs for review and consideration by the General Aviation and Commercial Division. The graphical representation of an internet-based FIRC should contain a step-by-step description of how participants will
28 enroll and access the study and support material for each lesson in order to effectively navigate through the course to completion. An internet-based FIRC program should be prepared in accordance with applicable guidance and recommendations contained in this AC. The FAA neither requires nor expects the applicant to print every screenshot used in the FIRC presentation; online access for the FAA to review this material prior to approval is sufficient. The FAA requires all FIRC applicants to submit a brief TCO that contains general information about the FIRC, as well as the items listed in paragraphs 12.1.1 through 12.1.10. Where a stated requirement is not considered applicable to an internet-based FIRC program, the provider should identify that requirement and provide a reason for its inapplicability. The provider is required to make available to the FAA free-form access to the completed FIRC training site, as well as the actual lesson mode used for the attendee. Free-form access means that the FAA is able to navigate freely throughout the program as desired, rather than being compelled to follow topics sequentially or meet course time requirements required for the attendee. This includes access to testing. The FAA strongly recommends that a provider or organization, intending to present an internet-based FIRC program, arrange to meet with the General Aviation and Commercial Division in advance to discuss the planned program outline before committing time and effort to its development. This will assist in ensuring that the program follows a standardized process to the extent possible and might help reduce the time needed for its development, review, and approval by the FAA. Outlines for internet-based FIRCs should contain, as a minimum, the following information considered specifically applicable to an online FIRC curriculum:
12.1.1 Minimum Hour Verification Statement. The FAA requires all providers to ensure that the FIRC provided, and the attendee completed, a minimum 16-hour FIRC. The FAA does not expect an online FIRC provider to require a minute-to-minute 16-hour minimum course timeframe. The FAA recognizes that an online course has different characteristics from a live FIRC. An online FIRC is an automated, web-based, one-on-one instructional process that should provide flexibility for the attendee’s individual learning style. An online FIRC, however, is required to legitimately deliver a 16-hour course that is equivalent to a live FIRC. Online FIRC providers are required to include a minimum hour verification statement in their TCO. This statement should include a description of how the provider will ensure that the attendee completed the minimum 16 hours of course (see paragraph 10.5). The verification statement should explain the provider’s method to ensure that each attendee will actively participate and complete all the lessons presented in the course. The FAA requires that a FIRC provider’s planned method of assurance include the following procedures:
12.1.1.1 Minimum Hour Assurance Plan Matrix. All authorized online FIRCs will present a minimum of 16 hours of course material, as determined by each online provider’s Minimum Hour Assurance Plan Matrix. Like the live FIRC, the 16-hour minimum course period includes provisions for attendees’ breaks, lessons, graphics, and testing. The online FIRC provider is required to create a minimum hour assurance plan and include this plan in a matrix as a component of the organization’s TCO (see the example provided in Appendix B, References and Job Aids, Table B-1, Minimum Hour Assurance Plan Matrix).
12.1.1.2 Integrated Lesson Plans. The sample matrix provided in Appendix B shows a breakdown of a sample TCO in terms of individual core topics. While some providers structure their TCO in this manner, this sample matrix is not meant to imply that this method is required. Rather, the sample matrix is designed to provide understanding of the FAA’s intent for the minimum hour assurance.
The FAA recognizes that some FIRC providers integrate various core topics in theme-based lessons that combine the topics over several segments. In that case, the FAA would expect the FIRC application to contain a Minimum Hour Assurance Plan Matrix that corresponds to the structure of the TCO.
12.1.1.3 Lesson Presentation Period Integrity. FIRC training standards require that all attendees open and view each lesson. To facilitate this training standard, the provider’s online automation courseware (learning management system (LMS)) needs to ensure that the attendee views and completes each lesson in its entirety without skipping any portion. FIRC training standards require audio/video, aural, and text lesson presentations to contain and present a cumulative period of no less than 720 minutes (12 hours) of the FIRC’s 16-hour minimum course content (see Appendix B). If the attendee exits the lesson anywhere before the end, the attendee should return to the point of exit and complete the lesson. The provider’s LMS (courseware) will determine the point of exit from an incomplete lesson.
12.1.2 S ource Materials . The source of all study materials used to support the course elements that will appear on the internet, and a description of all drawings, mockups, demos, or links used by the provider in the course.
12.1.3 Identity Verification. T he methodology proposed to determine the identity of course participants at logon and during navigation of the lessons, including intentional or unintentional disruption of the lesson flow. Additionally, the TCO should describe methodologies proposed to prevent multiple concurrent logons by a course participant for the purpose of viewing or printing material during inappropriate stages of the lesson.
12.1.4 Testing Materials Security. A FIRC provider should include a statement in its TCO stating that the provider will ensure that attendees are not given access to any completion test(s) until the course materials for which the test is applicable have been satisfactorily completed. This statement should include an explanation that the provider’s LMS will ensure that the test will remain inaccessible to the attendee until the attendee completes the prerequisite lesson(s).
12.1.5 FAA Access. T he methodology proposed to allow the FAA access to course materials, tests, and test results for the express purpose of reviewing and monitoring the course as deemed appropriate by the FAA.
12.1.6 Online Attendee List Availability. A statement that the provider will, upon request, provide the FAA a listing of all internet FIRC program participants that contains, at a minimum, the provider’s name and location, the instructor attendee’s name, identification
30 number or code, the date(s) the course was administered, and the completion status of all course participants.
12.1.7 D ata Security . Methodologies proposed to ensure data availability, integrity, confidentiality, and accountability for course materials, participant information, and lesson plans.
12.1.8 Recent Experience or Reinstatement Validation Methodology. If appropriate, the manner in which the provider will process applications to validate flight instructor recent experience or reinstatement of privileges in accordance with § 61.199(a)(1) or § 61.427(a), as applicable.
12.1.9 Revisions. The manner in which the provider will present future revisions to the approved TCO. The FAA has the responsibility to approve these revisions before they are included in the online program.
12.1.10 Other Information. A ny other information the provider may consider necessary or appropriate by the FAA during development of the online program.
13 T ESTING PROCEDURES.
13.1 Minimum Testing Standards. The most effective practical method for assessing the retention of material presented during the FIRC is using a knowledge test. This is most frequently presented in the form of multiple choice questions, although some providers employ essay questions or a mixture of both. All are acceptable methods of providing quantitative data reflecting the flight instructor’s current state of knowledge in specific areas. The expectation of a test at the conclusion of any course of study will motivate a student to increased levels of attention. It is no different at a FIRC. The mission of a FIRC is to ensure that the attendees take with them what the providers give them in terms of practical knowledge and a safe operational mindset. It is incumbent upon the FIRC providers to take this aspect of the FIRC very seriously and design their tests in light of this mission. Tests should be sufficiently demanding so the exam provides a true measurement of knowledge transfer from the course to the attendee. Tests should be reflective of the material presented. The provider should not ask any question that does not relate to the course material. A minimum passing score is 70 percent. Since the mission is knowledge transfer, providers may retrain deficient attendees to 100 percent if they choose to, provided that they give adequate retraining in the attendee’s deficient knowledge areas. The provider needs to retest attendees who receive additional retraining only on the deficient areas; however, the questions used for the makeup test portions must be different from the ones first answered incorrectly.
13.2 Test Questions. Written tests will consist of a minimum of 60 unique multiple choice questions relating to the material covered. Providers may, and are encouraged to, use more if they choose. FIRC exam questions should include at least four reasonably challenging and up-to-date questions, which align with (are derived from) the subject matter elements of each lesson plan. Providers may give a single final test of 60 questions, or they may break out 30 of those 60 questions into smaller units given at
31 different times during the 16-hour program. Duplicated questions do not meet FIRC testing standards. The remaining minimum of 30 questions should be in the form of a comprehensive final test given at the conclusion of the training. This final test should include at least 10 unique questions derived from earlier lessons prior to any previous test and at least 20 questions from the remaining lessons to make the final test comprehensive and reflect all the material presented throughout the entire 16-hour course.
13.3 Alternative Testing. Providers may use methods other than multiple choice questions for testing. An acceptable alternative would be essay questions. In such a case, the provider must conduct at least 50 percent of the total testing at the conclusion of the FIRC program. These tests must be comprehensive in nature, covering all of the material presented throughout the entire course. True/false questions do not meet FIRC testing standards and the FAA will not authorize them. Note that a provider may use true/false questions for lesson pretesting, as some providers use pretesting as a teaching technique.
Providers may explore other methods of testing; however, they must coordinate with the General Aviation and Commercial Division and must provide sufficient justification for deviation from the standard methods.
Note: Because of the inherent flexibility in taking an internet-based FIRC, internet FIRC providers may employ testing at the end of each module as an alternative. No fewer than 5 questions per module will be acceptable, and the total of all questions need to meet or exceed the minimum of 60 questions. (See paragraph 13.7.)
13.4 Oral Testing. Providers may use oral testing to supplement retention assessment as an adjunct to written tests. However, oral testing may not supplant or replace written tests.
Oral testing is optional on the part of the individual provider. Written testing, as described in this section, is mandatory for all providers.
13.5 Test Records Retention. Providers will retain all versions of each attendee’s tests, to include any failing tests if applicable, in a secure location for a period of 24 calendar months and will make them available to the FAA on demand. Test storage may be digital.
13.6 Conventional In-Person FIRC Testing. Providers should design exams to test the retention of a range of information provided during the FIRC program. Therefore, the provider should not give instructor attendees the written tests nor allow instructor attendees to complete them during class subject sessions presentations. Attendees should not be permitted to compare responses while the tests are being administered or to grade their own tests. Providers will retrieve and retain all copies of the tests in a secure location at the conclusion of the testing period. Attendees will not be allowed to take them with them when they leave. The chief instructor or assistant chief instructor is responsible for ensuring compliance with these requirements and that test integrity is not compromised. Providers may retest attendees to 100 percent if they choose to, provided that they give adequate retraining for the attendee’s deficient areas. Attendees who receive retraining on deficient areas need only be retested on those specific areas;
however, the questions used for the makeup test portions must be different from the ones first answered incorrectly.