CFI Revalidation
 

CFII/MEI. Have not been instructing since starting my airline career and forgot to do the FIRC a few years ago. This was definitely the most difficult rating I trained for and I wish I had not let it lapse.
What would I need to do to to get it revalidated? I know a skills test will be required.

Fortunately, the reinstatement is fairly straightforward. See 61.199. You fill out an 8710 and take a practical test for either one of the CFI ratings you previously had or for a new CFI rating.

One of the advantages of the "old" rating is that the DPE (it's not an initial, so I'm pretty sure you can always use a qualified DPE unless you want to use the FSDO.

Look at the CFI PTS. There's a table for renewal and reinstatements that covers a much more limited set of tasks than the full ride and many DPEs are far more liberal in the way the handle the reinstatement of a CFI who has already shown that he can do it.

Bet bet is to ask around locally about the DPEs who handle these regularly.

You will probably want to re-take the CFII test...the scope is much narrower than CFI and the training cheaper than MEI. You can take the test for any rating on your old CFI cert.

You could also get another CFI rating. Not the cheapest route, but doable. Add the MEI, SES, CFIG, etc. I just did my CFI reinstatement last month. No big deal. Every DPE is different. Some will require you to do both CFI & CFII stuff. One I checked into wanted a complex aircraft for the ride. I didn't use him. I did the private/commercial stuff because I needed the work in those areas. I fly IFR every day.

There is no seaplane rating on the CFI, you're just single or multi engine airplane.

True. You can instruct in a seaplane based on possession of a CFI-A (SE or ME as appropraite) and a commercial seaplane rating.

You have to take a test for one of the ratings on your CFI ticket. I'd recommend the CFII, because it's all instrument stuff that you should be proficient in if you've been flying for the airlines (I'd still review circle-to-land and non-airline procedures like that). This way, you won't have to practice and become proficient in chandelles, lazy eights, eights on pylons and all the CFI maneuvers.

Thanks for the great responses. Think I will do the CFII.