Originally Posted by
Fly Boy Knight
Without having the CFI PTS in front of me, I think you DO need it for two reasons...
1. To be eligible for a CFI, you must have a Commercial and Instrument Rating and you do need it for the commercial license (don't know how many hrs exactly but I know you need some complex training to get a CPL)
-NOTE: Older pilots (before complex training was mandated for the CPL) can have a commercial with out a complex endorsement (my father for example) if they got their commercial before that requirement was signed into law however...
2. The CFI checkride must be done in a complex airplane. To act as PIC of a complex airplane, you need a complex endorsement. According to 14 CFR Part 61.47, the Examiner does NOT act as PIC during a checkride and since the only other pilot aboard the airplane is the applicant, the applicant during a checkride is the PIC and if the applicant is the PIC, he/she MUST HAVE A COMPLEX ENDORSEMENT.
That wasn't the question, he already has a complex endorsement.
He wants to know if he has to log training time in a complex airplane with the CFI who signs him off for his CFI ride.
The answer would be no IMO. The regs do not appear to require it as they are written. But if you fail the flight test and the DPE notices that you didn't train in a complex airplane, he might raise the issue with the FSDO...could get the CFI called on the carpet.
But I doubt anyone would notice unless you screwed up something related to the gear or prop, and the DPE asked about your training.