RJ85FO

Thanks for providing that link.

Seems like Mesaba is the place to come if you want to instruct on the side. Our FOM allows it without limitation stating "Flight instruction is not considered commercial flying." Since this document is FAA approved, one would THINK that the FAA is in agreement with this.

All that can be said for sure is that there is at least one airline that allows instructing without regard for your 121.471 limitations.

Airsupport

remember it might be ok till you bust a limit and the feds find out about it. like i said i think you have to be careful with this. if you are going to flight instruct make sure you have the companies approval, and just to be on the safe side make sure you don't go over your flight time limitations... i would hate to see someone go in for upgrade and have the faa there to check log books and to find out they violated the fars just to go flight instruct.

RJ85FO

I am using my ATP certificate when I go rent a 172 to buzz around the patch for some SE landing currency. Since I am excercising my ATP certificate does that mean that it is "commercial flight time?"

I was thinking that I read an interpretation of "commercial flight time" as flight time that requires at least a second class medical. When giving instruction to other than a student pilot, I do not need a second class medical.

"Commercial flight time" cannot be broadly defined as time when you are receiving compensation since Private Pilots can receive compensation for certain flying per 61.113.

This seems to be one of those topics that requires interpretation of the regulations...we all know how many different interpretations there are. All I am saying is that at Mesaba, dual does not count towards the 121 limitations according to our manual. It could be wrong. Something to bring up at my next training event!

cybourg10

It might be good practice for when you upgrade and that same young puke is now trying to kill you in an RJ.

ehaeckercfi

There was a letter of interpretation that came out some time ago that stated that a CFI gets paid to be a teacher, not a commercial pilot, therefore instucting does not count towards your flight time limitation.

reevesofskyking

That was the same interpretaion that I know as well.

I do not do alot of flight instruction any more, maybe a CFI sign off every once in a great while.

But I find myself doing alot of ground school still. I enjoy flight/ground instructing more after being in 121 for year. I find that that it keeps me sharper with learning new things that come out in our SOP's and what not. Plus I am just too lazy to make my own coffee at home, so I keep my mug out at the airport. I have weeks that I make 100 or 200 dollars just doing ground school.

I am looking forward to renewing my cfi as well too.

Reeves

overspeed

Don't you only need a 3rd class medical to instruct? I don't think it's "commercial" flying, as pertaining to 121 flight times.

SharkAir

Right, because he actually is trying to kill you, you're better than him, and you've never been there.

Also, can I go back to flying jumpers for free? It'd be worth the turbine PIC time.

rickair7777

You don't need any medical at all, if the pilot is rated in the airplane (PP doing a BFR/IPC, club checkout, etc). For non-rated students, you need a third class (student pilot, PP working on IR in actual IMC, etc).

Also if your OPSPEC says flight instruction does not count, then you're good to go...OPSPECs are refinements of the basic FARs and if there is a conflict, the OPSPEC prevails. Make sure it's in the actual approved OPSPEC, and not just some company memo or policy.

ehaeckercfi

No, flight time is considered compensation. I know it is stupid, but thats what the FAA or your company would say if it became a conflict. It is best just to make sure you jump through all the hoops to get the approval to do any outside flying. Fly a line of CDO's all month, that should keep your time at the airline low enough that you can do all the outside flying you want, and still not reach your flight time limitations.