Dear All,
we already had several related questions in the forum but i found only the opposite direction. Does anyone know if it is possible to train for a CFII license based on a foreign one (FAR 61.75)? I guess a standalone FAA CPL would be necessary at first.
Thank you,
Martin
Assuming this is for the airplane category, to be eligible for a US flight instructor certificate you’d need to hold at least a standard US commercial with instrument rating. The restricted (foreign-based) US private pilot certificate, issued iaw 14 CFR 61.75, does meet the pre-requisites for a US commercial.
This doesn’t preclude undertaking training towards the CFI/CFII before the commercial with instrument is held. However, you’ll be expected to demonstrate/teach any of the commercial manoeuvres on the CFI practical test, so you’ll most likely want to do training for the commercial beforehand. It includes manoeuvres that are alien to the Gosport/Euro syllabuses.
@NCYankee Does the FAA still issue the CFII to pilots who don’t hold a CFI? The LOI to Kristian Kortokrax, 10 Jul 2012, referencing the (second) LOI to Taylor Grayson, 4 Jan 2010, states:
“It has been the FAA’s consistent interpretation of §61.195(b) and (c) that, in order to conduct instrument flight training in an aircraft, a flight instructor must hold on his or her flight instructor certificate (1) aircraft category and class ratings for the aircraft in which the training is conducted, and (2) an instrument rating appropriate to the category of aircraft.”
That interpretation seems to be far too broad and misses important context that is present in the LOI to Grayson. Accoridng to 14 CFR 61.195(c) (ii), a CFII without being a CFI/MEI may give instrument training (except in multiengine airplanes) towards the instrument rating, commercial pilot certificate, etc, to a person who “holds a pilot certificate with category and class ratings appropriate to the aircraft in which the instrument training is being conducted.”
I meant to mention that the EU–US conversion agreement may be used to convert a Part-FCL IR to a US instrument rating. Details in the TIP–L or FAA AC 61-143.
The instrument conversion requires 50 hours of pilot-in-command† instrument flight time done anywhere, or 10 hours of same done in the US, following the grant of the Part-FCL IR. If this experience is lacking, acclimatization (training) would need doing in the US with a US CFII. TIP–L, point 2.3.5(a)(ii). In all cases, an IPC with a US CFII may be done instead of a practical test, however it must be conducted in the US. TIP–L, 2.3.5(c). Those 10 instrument PIC hours can also be done under the hood in simulated conditions with a US safety pilot, if you wish; that would avoid needing an M-1 student visa and being stuck doing the acclimatization training at a Part 141 school. Re †: the FAA accepts PIC time logged under the SMOC rule, 14 CFR 61.51(e)(1)(i), meaning the US safety pilot may act as PIC if you prefer.
Despite the EU–US agreement covering only conversions up to the private pilot level, the US instrument rating (unlike airplane ratings) isn’t issued at a particular pilot certificate level, so the IR gained this way can be carried over to any subsequently issued standard US pilot certificate. The restricted (foreign-based) instrument rating that you might have been issued iaw 14 CFR 61.75(d) cannot be carried over to a standard US pilot certificate and therefore will not satisfy the CFI/CFII requirement to hold a (standard) US commercial with instrument rating. If you meet the conditions in 14 CFR 61.65 ‡, you may add a standard US instrument rating to your restricted (foreign-based) private pilot certificate. See FAA Order 8900.1, vol 5, ch 2, sec 14, para 5-593, B. 3 (pdf link). Re ‡: note the prescriptive FAA definition of cross-country time in 14 CFR 61.1, and note also that the “authorized instructor” referred to in 14 CFR 61.65(d)(2) includes foreign instructors when the instruction occurred outside the US. 14 CFR 61.41.
@Qualupalik: Thanks for your comprehensive answer!
Qalupalik wrote:
Does the FAA still issue the CFII to pilots who don’t hold a CFI? The LOI to Kristian Kortokrax, 10 Jul 2012, referencing the (second) LOI to Taylor Grayson, 4 Jan 2010, states:“It has been the FAA’s consistent interpretation of §61.195(b) and (c) that, in order to conduct instrument flight training in an aircraft, a flight instructor must hold on his or her flight instructor certificate (1) aircraft category and class ratings for the aircraft in which the training is conducted, and (2) an instrument rating appropriate to the category of aircraft.”
That interpretation seems to be far too broad and misses important context that is present in the LOI to Grayson. Accoridng to 14 CFR 61.195(c) (ii), a CFII without being a CFI/MEI may give instrument training (except in multiengine airplanes) towards the instrument rating, commercial pilot certificate, etc, to a person who “holds a pilot certificate with category and class ratings appropriate to the aircraft in which the instrument training is being conducted.”
I have attached the latest version of the FAA order 8900.1 dealing with Flight Instructors which is the guidance to FAA inspectors. CFII without a CFI are still supported with the stated limitations.
8900_1_chapter_2_Certification_of_pilots_and_flight_instructors_pdf
