Hey guys, a little off topic, but I let my CFI lapse about 5 or 6 years ago. Can anyone save me some time and tell me the easiest way to get it re-instated or do I have to take the test again?

 

Gotta do the full ride all over again...

 

Full ride but the good part is it is your choice. You can do a CFI, CFII, MEI.

Most will do the CFII in something simple like a 172. Piece of cake.

 

You can do the checkride as a CFI ride in a C152 and be reinstated for the ratings previously endorsed for.

 

My suggestion from experience as I let mine expired for a few years. You must do one plus an extra. Here is how it goes, if you do your CFI, you'll have to do the MEI also. Same with CFII. My DE had a ton of experience and he suggested doing the MEI, with the CFII (doing some approaches/instrument). That way you don't have to rent a S/E and a M/E airplane and paying twice. The oral was based on both. Saves you lots of money, so ask your local DE if that would work for him/her.

 

Is it referenced anywhere or vary by DE or FSDO? I was planning to renew via CFII yet have been told by a majority of people its the initial ride. I suppose I should get off my arse and just call my old DE..

 

I was a CFI, CFI-I, MEI from 1995-1998. Then I was a Saab first officer. About 2000 my instructor certificate was going to expire. I did the on-line renewal thing and took the completion certificate to the MSP FAA to get my instructor certificate renewed. They wouldn't renew it because I missed some window by a couple weeks. They said that if I was a captain they would have renewed it, however. I wasn't instructing anymore so I didn't care so much at the time. I let my instructor stuff expire.

This past year I decided to get my instructor certificates reinstated. What I did was rent a Seneca for a few hours to practice. Then I took the MEI test. Since it was a reinstatement there is less to do than if it was an initial MEI. Not much less, but a little. With some practice and study it was pretty painless. All together with the aircraft rental, etc. it cost me about $4,000, though. The good thing is that you get all your previous stuff back (CFII) along with the MEI for just doing the MEI oral and flight test.

 

Cool, thanks for all the info guys. I'll get in touch with one of the local DE's and see what they suggest...

 

I have some experience getting guys ready for a Flight Instructor re-examination, so let me give you some advice.

The regs are very specific about what needs to be done. FAR 61.199 spells out exactly what needs to be accomplished. You need to pass a practical exam for ONE of the the ratings listed on your expired certificate. After successful completion of the ONE exam, you are granted privileges for all the ratings listed on your expired certificate. You choose the rating (CFI,CFII,MEI) with no endorsement required.

I make this point because some DPE's feel that they have the right as well as the responsibility to exam you on any subject matter pertaining to any instructor rating you held, and this could not be further from the truth. I have had several converstions with the Feds on this very subject, and they have always confirmed that these DPE's are operating outside the bounds. Make sure that whom ever you choose to do the checkride with, that you get this out in the open and see what they feel they can examine you on. If they are one of the above mentioned DPE's, find a new examiner.

Previous advice about doing the CFII is well worth taking. Good luck.