The FI Course

The course of training for the Flying Instructor (Restricted) rating comprises 30 hours of flying (of which up to five may be mutual with another student) and 125 hours of ground school. Up to 15 hours of pre-course study may be included in the 125 hours of ground school, and is encouraged.

PFIS offers either full-time courses or flexible part-time courses to suit the candidates' requirements. A full-time course will run on 5 days per week over 5-6 weeks, part-time courses will take commensurately longer. It is not recommended that a part-time student attend less than two days per week as such infrequent attendance will hinder progress through lack of continuity.

Pre-Requisites

Before being permitted to begin an approved course of training for an FI(R) rating, an applicant shall have:-

Completed at least 200 hours of flight time of which not less than 100 hours shall be as pilot in command (PIC) if holding an ATPL(A) or a CPL(A), or if holding a PPL(A) 150 hours PIC.

Met the knowledge requirements for a CPL(A) as set out in AMC FCL 1.470(b)

Completed at least 30 hours on single engined piston powered aeroplanes of which at least 5 shall have been completed in the six months preceded the pre-entry flight test (see below).

Received at least 10 hours of instrument flying instruction of which not more than five may be instrument ground time in a flight simulator or FNPT II

Completed at least 20 hours of cross-country flight as PIC including a flight totalling not less than 540 km (300 nm) in the course of which full stop landings at two aerodromes different from the aerodrome of departure shall be made

Passed a specific pre-entry flight test with an FI qualified in accordance with JAR-FCL for this purpose, based on the proficiency check set out in Appendix 3 to JAR-FCL 1.240 within six months preceding the start of the course. The flight test will assess the ability to undertake the course. It is recommended that the test is taken at PFIS.

Skill Test

At the end of the course a skill test covering theory and a flight will be taken with a Flight Instructor Examiner. This will normally be carried out at Shoreham. Additionally PFIS will provide the candidate with an end of course certificate and wlll make every effort to assist in placing candidates at suitable flying schools.