Are CFI's required for AC checkouts?
 

Ok so I was asked the question today "are CFI's required for aircraft checkouts"? I'm personally a CFI and I know for the purpose of where I instruct the checkout has to be from a CFI. If that renter wants to fly the schools plane. However, lets say someone (who is not a CFI) owns their own plane and is willing to let a friend fly that plane. Even though he is not a CFI can he provide the checkout?

Is it applicable to single and multi category?

I can't find anything in the FAR/AIM on this.

Thanks again for the help.

Its been many years since I was a CFI but....
These (as alot of things in aviation) are insurance driven.

Yep, insurance makes the rules.

There's no requirement for a checkout in the FARs so why would there be a requirement for who gives it? As the others have said, it's insurance driven.

Anyone can give a checkout. It has nothing to do with FAR's. As long as you are qualified to fly a class/category of a/c you can fly it. You may have done all your training in a C152, but you can walk into a PA-28-161 (Warrior III) and off you go.

The checkout, as said, is insurance driven. It's also driven by the fact that no one is just going to let some schmuck walk in to a FBO and say, "I'd like to fly that airplane, please, I am a private pilot."

You cannot offer flight instruction unless you are CFI. If someone is instructing you how to use an aircraft, they should be authorized to provide in-flight instruction. It's this case at flight schools and commercial operators because of the regulations. Just because one buddy is getting another set up to fly an aircraft and no FAA checkout or additional rating is required doesn't mean they can supply flight instruction.

Not True. No checkout is legally required in typical light aircraft unless it requires a type rating (or has some special FAR provisions like the MU-2).

Anyone can give flight instruction, the appropriate CFI rating(s) is only required if the instruction is going to be used for pilot certs, ratings, currency, or other FAR mandated requirements (ex endorsements).

Most light aircraft checkouts are mandated by insurance requirements, or just plain common sense, as opposed to FARs. If your insurance doesn't care, any pilot can give a checkout. But it doesn't count as a FR, IPC, endorsements, or anything else FAR-related other than landing or instrument currency (the later only within the grace period).

But insurance requirements exist for a reason, I wouldn't skip a checkout just because it's legal to do so. As to whether you want a CFI to give the checkout...I'm sure there are circumstances in unusual airplanes where the best-qualified pilot does not happen to be a CFI.

One possible gotcha would be flying for compensation while giving a checkout...a private pilot giving a checkout for compensation would be violating the FAR's. A non-CFI commercial pilot might be OK since the FAR 119 exemption does not state or imply that you need a CFI rating to give student instruction...but I'd check with the FSDO, there might be an interpretation on that.

Awesome thanks! It's nice to get an explanation without it sounding condescending!

I'm sorry, when did I say anything about when a checkout was required or not?

I said that for someone to offer flight instruction, they need to be a flight instructor. If what I said is not true, then how about a reference saying that flight instruction can be offered from someone who isn't a flight instructor?

If a private pilot wants to, they can sit in the right seat of a 172 and have their best friend who is not a pilot sit in the left seat. That private pilot could teach the person in the right seat everything they know and the FAA does not care. Now if the student wants to log that training, then a CFI certificate is required.