denied, the reason for the denial must be recorded. This record must be maintained for a period of at least 24 months.
d. Acceptance of a graduation certificate issued within the preceding 3 calendar-months as the sole basis for flight instructor renewal under § 61.197(a)(2)(iii) remains the option of the FAA. Questions concerning the acceptance of a graduation certificate should be referred to AFS-800.
e. The capability of a Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) to administratively process flight instructor certificate renewals is based upon that office’s work priorities and available staff. Therefore, to avoid placing an undue workload on a particular FAA FSDO, sponsors who do not have an ACR on their staff are encouraged to contact the FSDO having jurisdiction over the area where the FIRC is presented well in advance to determine the capability of that office to handle the anticipated number of applicants for renewal. It may be advantageous to advise the FIRC graduates that they should present their certificates to the local FSDO or to the FSDO having jurisdiction over their residential area for renewal, and that they should do so at intervals rather than in large numbers at any one office on a given day. These certificates should normally be presented to a FSDO before either the holder’s flight instructor certificate or the graduation certificate issued has expired. However, where a FIRC sponsor’s program is presented on the last Saturday or Sunday of the month, certification files of attending flight instructors whose certificate expired on the last Saturday or Sunday of that month may be submitted to a FSDO by the sponsor for renewal, provided that they are either hand carried to the FSDO by the sponsor within 5 working days, or if mailed, show a postmark no later than 5 working days after expiration.
f. Applications for flight instructor certificate renewals showing acceptable identification verification may be submitted by mail by the FIRC sponsor. If submitted by mail, the mailed applications should contain complete documentation of all items necessary for renewal. In addition, the application must be accompanied by the unexpired flight instructor certificate and FIRC graduation certificate. Except as noted in subparagraph e, the applications should be mailed in time to reach the selected FAA FSDO before the expiration dates of either certificate.
Otherwise, each applicant must present his/her certificate in person for identification compliance before the expiration of his/her flight instructor certificate or the expiration of his/her graduation certificate, whichever comes first. After processing, and provided the application is approved, the FAA will return the graduation certificate and a temporary flight instructor certificate to the applicant.
g. Applications for flight instructor renewals from instructors residing overseas who are unable to appear in person before a representative of the Administrator to establish their identity may establish their identity before either a notary public, the airman’s U.S. Armed Forces commanding officer, a Consular official of the U.S. State Department, or an equivalent official of the foreign government. The procedure described in the following paragraphs is not meant to preclude the FAA from exercising its prerogative to require an instructor applicant for renewal to demonstrate his or her qualifications to hold a flight instructor certificate, if deemed appropriate.
(1) The applicant and certifying official must complete an appropriate identification form. This identification form must be attached to FAA Form 8710-1, Airman Certificate and/or Par 11 Page 13
Rating Application. Care must be taken to use the same personal document(s) shown to establish the applicant’s identity on both the identification form and the bottom of the reverse side of FAA Form 8710-1.The above procedure is also acceptable as a means of identification by an overseas applicant who enrolls in an at-distance, out-study, or Internet FIRC course and must be identified by the course sponsor.
(2) The applicant may send FAA Form 8710-1, the identification form, a valid FIRC graduation certificate, and a valid and current flight instructor certificate to a FSDO that has oversight of the FIRC. When these documents are sent to a FSDO, they must arrive within 5 working days, or show a postmark no later than 5 working days after expiration.
(3) The receiving FSDO will process the application for renewal in the normal fashion.
FAA Form 8710-1, the identification form, superseded flight instructor certificate, and a Temporary Airman Certificate will be forwarded to the Airman Certification Branch, AFS-760. Provided that the application file is complete and the FAA has no reason to require a demonstration of proficiency by the airman, a temporary flight instructor certificate will be issued and mailed to the applicant at the overseas address. The FSDO will return the graduation certificate to the applicant.
h. Providers should utilize the Integrated Airman Certification and/or Rating Application (IACRA) Internet-based program for processing applicants. Questions concerning how to utilize this program for FIRCs should be directed to the local FSDOs.
12. SCHEDULING OF CLINICS. The approved sponsor or organization shall notify AFS-800 of its intent to conduct FIRC programs not less than 45 days before the scheduled date of any clinic to permit FAA to make arrangements to monitor the clinic, as necessary. An annual listing of clinic locations and dates is highly desirable. Submission of a schedule should be in electronic form (i.e., Word or .pdf).
13. CHANGE OF CHIEF INSTRUCTOR OR ASSISTANT CHIEF INSTRUCTOR. The approved sponsor or organization shall notify AFS-800 when a change in the sponsor’s chief instructor (or assistant chief instructor where designated) is to be made. This notification should be made at least 45 days before the change, but in no case later than 10 days after the change.
Notification should be in electronic form (i.e., Word or .pdf).
14. CHANGE OF SPONSOR. Should a change in sponsor occur due to sale or other reason and no change in personnel occurs, the sponsors (both old and new) must notify AFS-800 within 10 days. If, however, the change in sponsor involves any change in personnel of the FIRC TCO, authorization to conduct FIRCs is canceled until the new sponsor has obtained FAA approval as outlined in paragraph 5. Only initial approval will be considered until the provisions of paragraph 17c have been met.
15. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH AN APPROVED TCO. The failure of an organization or its representatives to comply with an approved course of training, or to effect such corrective action on a timely basis as deemed appropriate, is basis for denial or withdrawal of the FAA’s approval and associated delegation of authority. When revision to a previously approved TCO or related corrective action is determined to be necessary, the sponsor will be given no more than Page 14 Par 11
60 days to make the necessary revision or corrective action, as appropriate. Should the sponsor not make the necessary revision or corrective action within 60 days, FAA approval and authorization to conduct FIRC programs will be withdrawn automatically.
16. GENERAL PROCEDURES REGARDING FIRCS. Sponsors or organizations authorized to conduct FIRCs approved in accordance with this AC, must maintain with AFS-800 a current mailing address, e-mail address, telephone and facsimile number, and a reliable point of contact.
Sponsors are expected to comply with the following general procedures.
a. Each attendee and/or FAA observer/monitor will be provided an opportunity to review a copy of the FAA-approved TCO upon enrollment or during the registration of attendees on site.
However, the test questions used by the FIRC for its lessons, stage, or course completion evaluations must be given to the FAA observer/monitor only upon request.
b. FAA participation by forum or by presentation may not exceed 2 hours maximum and is authorized only by prior agreement between the FAA representative(s) and the FIRC sponsor.
c. A FIRC program must be completed within the time periods specified in the approved TCO with all lesson and time requirements fulfilled during those periods. A graduation certificate may not be issued to a flight instructor attendee who has not successfully completed all curriculum requirements.
d. Academic institutions or vocational schools having state board of education approval and/or national accreditation for a curriculum leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree, or to a certificate of completion in aviation science or similar course of study, may be approved on a case-by-case basis by AFS-800 to conduct a FIRC over a period of time in excess of the 2 to 5 consecutive days; i.e., semester or quarter.
e. The TCO may not contain material, nor may any materials be presented during the FIRC, that is prejudicial or contrary to the FAA’s federal regulations or prescribed procedures. A FIRC program is not a forum for disagreement with FAA policy or procedures. Rather, it should engender appropriate respect for the role of the FAA and a proper compliance disposition toward federal regulations. Failure to meet this criterion may constitute grounds for withdrawal of FAA approval.
f. No sponsor may teach a part of his/her own FAA-approved TCO and a part of another sponsor’s TCO. An approval to conduct a FIRC is limited solely to the TCO for which an FAA approval is held. Inclusion of any materials not approved in the TCO, regardless of their source, is prohibited.
g. Sponsors may use video and/or aural presentations to conduct part of the FIRC program.
However, except for a distance or out-study curriculum submitted in paragraph 5c, or an online Internet FIRC presented in paragraph 5d, the sponsor must limit video and aural presentation use to not more than 50 percent of the entire course hours. The information provided by video and/or aural presentations in at-distance or out-study curricula must be germane to the materials presented and each subject matter presentation must be moderated by an introduction and closure given by an instructor who is well versed in the subject matter and materials presented.
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h. An applicant for renewal of a valid and current flight instructor certificate who, because of extenuating circumstances, fails to satisfactorily complete all of a FIRC sponsor’s program approved under this AC may, at the discretion of the sponsor, attend a later scheduled FIRC program presented by that same sponsor. Upon full and satisfactory completion of that sponsor’s FIRC at a later date, the instructor attendee may be issued a graduation certificate. This procedure is not intended to permit an instructor attendee’s intentional absence from any part of a FIRC sponsor’s program for other than unforeseen (emergency) circumstances.
i. A provider may utilize a representative from the industry to present a module in the FIRC program. However, that representative may not use the FIRC venue to promote a particular product. The representative may discuss his or her product only in a generic sense and, if done, must present other, comparable products as well. If at any time the FAA determines that an industry representative is using a FIRC presentation as an opportunity to sell a product, the FAA may withdraw its authorization for the provider to present any additional FIRCs.
17. FIRC APPROVAL PROCESS. TCOs should be submitted for consideration by AFS-800, as described in paragraph 5. The FAA will conduct a thorough review of the TCO and, if all the guidelines of this AC have been met, an initial or final approval, as appropriate, will be issued.
Final approval may not be issued until a satisfactory evaluation of the FIRC has been completed by the FAA.
a. When the FAA finds that a conventional FIRC TCO is in compliance with this AC, a letter indicating approval of the submitted TCO will be forwarded to the sponsor electronically.
The approval letter constitutes authority to conduct FIRCs at locations either within or outside the United States. The initial FAA approval may be withdrawn at any time for sufficient cause, but, in any case, will become invalid on the last day of the 24th month after the month in which approval is given, unless continuation of approval has been granted. One of the first FIRCs presented by a new sponsor will be monitored on-site by FAA personnel. The approval of an Internet FIRC will be on a case-by-case basis and the FAA’s approval will be signified by a cover letter appropriately identifying the TCO.
b. Continuation of initial approval may be granted or extended beyond the scheduled expiration date for an additional 24 months if the sponsor has notified AFS-800 by letter of its desire to continue to provide FIRC programs at least 90 days in advance of the scheduled expiration date. In no case will a second extension of 24 months be granted unless the TCO has been updated to reflect current policy, procedures and regulations, and the FAA believes that final approval will be warranted. In any event, the test questions should be updated at least once in each 24 month approval period.
c. FSDOs having geographic jurisdiction over the locations where FIRCs are presented are expected to monitor these programs to the extent possible. FIRC presentations may be monitored at any time on a random basis by the local FSDO having jurisdiction over the locations where the FIRCs are presented. A FIRC sponsor may offer a FIRC upon initial approval even if FAA personnel are not available to monitor the program. However, approval will remain provisional until such monitoring has taken place and the FAA may rescind the provisional authorization at any time. Final approval will be awarded upon successful monitoring of at least one FIRC Page 16 Par 16
program. This final approval may be rescinded or withdrawn for sufficient cause, but will otherwise remain in effect until the last day of the month, 24 months after the month in which final approval is given.
18. FIRC RENEWAL, WITHDRAWAL, OR CANCELLATION.
a. FIRC sponsors holding final approval who desire to renew their authorization to conduct FIRC programs beyond the date of original expiration must state their request to AFS-800 at least 90 days before to the original expiration date. The preferred method is via electronic mail in the form of a Microsoft Word© or .pdf attachment; however, conventional mail is acceptable. It is the sponsor’s responsibility to ensure that its FIRC approval has not expired. Should the FAA’s approval of a FIRC expire, a graduation certificate issued by the sponsor is invalid and may not be honored. Additionally, an ACR designation, if held, is no longer valid and may not be used.
b. Upon a finding by AFS-800 that the TCO reflects current AC requirements and that the FIRC’s program is acceptable and in compliance with the AC and the FAA-approved TCO, AFS-800 will renew the approval and establish a new expiration date. Failure to comply with the FAA-approved TCO or this AC, or the failure to incorporate necessary changes to the existing TCO when so directed by AFS-800 in writing, may be sufficient cause for withdrawal of the approval.
c. If AFS-800 has not received a letter from the FIRC sponsor requesting renewal as described above or, if the sponsor requests to surrender its authorization, the FAA will return all materials originally presented by the applicant if specifically requested; otherwise those materials will be destroyed. From that point on no further clinics may be presented. To re-establish approval, the applicant must then comply with the original application procedures as outlined in this AC.
19. APPLICATION AND APPROVAL OF AN ACR EMPLOYED SOLELY BY AN FIRC SPONSOR.
NOTE: Only FIRCs that have been given final approval may apply for an ACR.
a. Except for FIRC sponsors who were previously authorized with an ACR designee on their staff, only sponsors or organizations presenting FIRCs that have received final FAA approval and have presented three or more FIRC programs during each 12 month period since approved, or that have a designated pilot examiner on staff, are eligible to apply for an ACR under this AC. Exceptions to the above will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will require that acceptable justification be provided in accordance with the current edition of FAA Order 8710.3, Pilot Examiner’s Handbook, chapter 17.
b. Application for the designation of an ACR authorized to issue flight instructor certificate renewals to eligible course graduates of specific FAA-approved FIRCs should be submitted by letter to the FSDO having jurisdiction over the area in which the applicant’s principal business office is located. The FSDO receiving the application will either approve or disapprove the request. Notification of approval and designation will be forwarded to AFS-800 via e-mail at Par 17 Page 17
9-AWA-AVS-AFS-FIRC@faa.gov. When approved, an ACR designation should be forwarded to AFS-800 for inclusion in the FIRC sponsor’s file.
c. The sponsor or organization presenting an FAA-approved FIRC that is eligible for designation of an ACR may request such designation for one or more responsible members or employees of the organization represented by submitting a letter of request containing at least the following information:
(1) The original date of FAA approval of the sponsor to conduct the FIRC.
(2) The number of programs given in the 12-month period immediately preceding the request for an ACR designation.
(3) The number of instructor attendees issued graduation certificates, the number of graduation certificates denied, and the reasons for the denials.
(4) The number and location of programs scheduled and the expected number of instructor attendees for the 12-month period immediately following the date of request for designation.
d. General Eligibility and Experience Requirements. A candidate employed solely by an FIRC sponsor applying for designation as an ACR must:
(1) Be at least 21 years of age.
(2) Hold at least a commercial pilot certificate.
(3) Hold a flight instructor certificate with at least one aircraft category rating, or hold a ground instructor certificate with an advanced rating.
(4) Have a safe record as a pilot in regard to accidents, incidents, and violations.
(5) Have a reputation for integrity and dependability in the industry and the community.
(6) Have been employed as either a chief instructor, assistant chief instructor, or ground instructor of an FAA-approved pilot school, or have held a management or administrative position in a pilot school that is superior to the chief instructor designated for each course of training conducted by the school under examining authority, for at least 12 months immediately preceding application for designation as an ACR.
(7) Have a written recommendation from the FIRC sponsor when the candidate is a person other than the sponsor.
e. ACR Privileges and Limitations. An ACR is authorized to accept applications for the renewal of a valid and unexpired flight instructor certificate from FAA-approved FIRC graduates. The ACR may accept applications only from eligible course graduates of the FIRC named on the examiner’s Certificate of Authority and Certificate of Designation.
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(1) After reviewing the applicant’s attendance/training record and eligibility, an ACR is authorized to renew the valid flight instructor certificate of a FIRC graduate who meets the requirements of part 1, § 1.197(a)(2)(iii).
(2) An ACR is not authorized to conduct any knowledge or practical tests in connection with ACR duties.
20. ACR DURATION, RENEWAL, WITHDRAWAL, OR CANCELLATION.
a. An ACR designation expires the last day of the 12th month following the month in which designation is made and may be renewed for a period not to exceed another 12 months on a recurring basis.
b. Application for renewal of an ACR should be submitted to the FDSO of jurisdiction at least 60 days before the date of expiration. A copy should then be sent to AFS-800 when renewed.
c. FAA approval of an ACR may be withdrawn when the FIRC receives an unsatisfactory rating as the result of an FAA inspection or monitoring, when discrepancies are noted in the FIRC sponsor’s program, or when the associated ACR’s certification files are not corrected in a satisfactory or timely manner. Except in the case of an at-distance learning or out-study, or Internet FIRC program, the issuance of a flight instructor certificate renewal based upon successful completion of a FIRC when the applicant did not complete all renewal requirements within the 2 to 5 consecutive-day period will constitute cause for withdrawal of the ACR designation unless the issuance is based on satisfactory completion in accordance with paragraph 16c or 16g.
d. The designation of an ACR who fails to apply for renewal as described in paragraph 19, will be canceled. Failure of a FIRC sponsor to obtain ACR renewal, or cancellation of the FIRC’s authority will also cancel the designation of any ACRs in its employment. The reappointment process for an ACR will be the same as for original designation. Notification of cancellation of the ACR designation will be issued in accordance with appropriate FAA guidelines and procedures. The appropriate file(s) will be returned to the sponsor holding the ACR designation.
21. DISPOSITION OF CERTIFICATION FILE.
a. An ACR, unless authorized otherwise, forwards each certificate renewal file, complete with a signed FAA Form 8710-1, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application, and the original of FAA Form 8060-4, Temporary Airman Certificate, within 5 days of the FIRC completion to the FSDO having jurisdiction over the area where the FIRC program was conducted. A copy of the ACR’s letter of designation should be included with the submitted files when sent to other than the designating FSDO or to AFS-760.
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b. The FAA strongly encourages providers to utilize the IACRA to create a FIRC instructor attendee airman’s certification file, in which case the file will be electronically forwarded directly to the Airman Certification Branch, AFS-760.
ORIGINAL SIGNED by
James J. Ballough Director, Flight Standards Service
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