Long story short, my CFII/MEI expired a few years ago and I'l like to get them back.

Haven't dug into the regs or talked to the FSDO yet, but is it anything more than an oral/practical? My understanding is that taking a check ride for one would renew all of them. Any first hand knowledge floating around?

I renewed mine last year after a 14 year break. I did 1.6 hours preparation for a .8 hour checkride. I got all private maneuvers. I studied a lot and was ready for all manuevers. Check the CFI practical test standards for a reinstatement. I went with a $400 DPE, you can also go to the FSDO and do it for free. You get all the ratings back, but it is up to the examiner what you demonstrate.

I didn't know you could do the renewal with a DPE. I figured I'd have to go through the rectal exam of the FSDO.

I did stick my nose in the book (Google) and read up on 61.199 for the reinstatement. From the way the regs read, you can pick which one you want to do the practical for, but you're saying your DPE chose for you? Yikes. I haven't flown behind a prop or burned AVGAS in years, may need more than a 1.6.

I am in the same boat. Havent flown a bugsmasher in 4 years or so an dnow that I cant find ANYONE willing to take me, I may be back to flight instruction soon. So I am going to get my CFII and that will in inturn reinstate my CFI and MEI...

Sorry to hear about your predicament. I just wanted to reinstate it for the ability to instruct on random weekends.

Mine had expired for almost a year... I had a Fed that rode on my JS renew it since I'm a check airman at my company and am required to teach/instruct new hires. They just had me fill out the correct paperwork and mail it to them at their office. If you're not a captain at a 121 carrier though you probably won't have much luck with this method.

Now if only my lifetime renewal at American Flyers is still good...

Definitely want to go through a DPE on this one. You get to select the checkride in which you would like to reinstate all privileges. Most people go for the CFII in a SEL aircraft as for most people that fly professionally that's the easiest vs doing all the VFR maneuvers in a CFI-A.

Check with your local flight school for some brush up training and a recommend preferred examiner (most schools have 1-2 DPEs which they use for student checkrides and already have a positive relationship with)


Hope this helps