Flight instructor Recency

M

MauleSkinner

Touchdown! Greaser!
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MauleSkinner
Hey all,

Trying to get ahead of the new flight instructor recency rules. My previous expiration date was February of even years. My current certificate with no expiration was issued in January 2026.
61.197(a) establishes the recency date as
(3) The last month of the flight instructor's current recent experience period provided the recent experience requirements of paragraph (b) of this section are accomplished within the 3 calendar months preceding the last month of the certificate holder's current recent experience period.
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So even though my certificate was issued in January, my recency date is still February. Correct?


61.197(b)(2) requires
submitting documentation of such in a form and manner acceptable to the Administrator—
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I assume that’s still IACRA. But after you submit the application, it still has to be opened by an examiner/inspector so the instructor can sign the application. Is that going to be a DPE or an appointment with the FSDO? Ive been renewing via my current job duties and responsibilities, and dealing with a specific inspector, but looking ahead to retirement it’s going to change.

Finally, with regard to retirement, if I want to maximize my recency period after retirement, would I just submit a new IACRA application the month of my retirement to reset my recency date, or could it be two months after I retire?

Thanks!
 
Yes, if you meet the 3-month window, the preexisting existing expiration/recency date is retained. BTW, the online airman database lists CFI expiration/recency dates. You can look up yours.

And yes, it's IACRA. If you are doing an FIRC, most if not all will do it for you for a fee. If you have a friendly DPE, they can do it for you. Or, of course, you can go to the FSDO.

I'm not sure what you are asking about retirement.
 
midlifeflyer said:
I'm not sure what you are asking about retirement.
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Say I retire in February of 2027. If I don’t have any activity that qualifies for recency, I have to do a FIRC or checkride for a February 2028 recency (formerly expiration) date.

But since I’m active up to my retirement date, I could submit recency paperwork in February of 2027 under “duties and responsibilities” and not need to do the FIRC or checkride until February of 2029, correct?
 
MauleSkinner said:
Say I retire in February of 2027. If I don’t have any activity that qualifies for recency, I have to do a FIRC or checkride for a February 2028 recency (formerly expiration) date.

But since I’m active up to my retirement date, I could submit recency paperwork in February of 2027 under “duties and responsibilities” and not need to do the FIRC or checkride until February of 2029, correct?
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I do FIRCs, but I read the reg as applying the 3-month window to every renewal option.
 
Are you talking about, say, having a RE date at the end of January and not renewing until March? I think you are in 61.199 - reinstatement after expiration.
 
midlifeflyer said:
Are you talking about, say, having a RE date at the end of January and not renewing until March? I think you are in 61.199 - reinstatement after expiration.
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No…my recency now is good through February 2028. If I submit the IACRA paperwork in February of 2027, what will happen?
 
MauleSkinner said:
No…my recency now is good through February 2028. If I submit the IACRA paperwork in February of 2027, what will happen?
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Several years ago (before the current rules) I renewed my certificate early because at that time I met the gold seal rules. There was no problem doing so and it reset my expiration date.

I have no reason to suspect it wouldn't be the same now. Or, to use fewer negatives, I'd think the same thing would work now.
 
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midlifeflyer said:
Based on the date of the new certificate, right? Example:
Old certificate expires April 30 2020.
New certificate issued August 2021.
New expiration August 2023.
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No, like this:
Old certificate issued April 2022, expires April 2024.
Renew certificate early in October 2022.
New certificate expires October 2024.
Subsequent certificates expire in October. It reset the date from April to October.
 
RussR said:
No, like this:
Old certificate issued April 2022, expires April 2024.
Renew certificate early in October 2022.
New certificate expires October 2024.
Subsequent certificates expire in October. It reset the date from April to October.
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Makes sense.
 
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