The Gleim FAA-approved Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC) consists of 16 study units. You must complete each study unit successfully to complete the course and renew your CFI certificate. Each study unit contains 20 true/false study questions, a ~20 page knowledge transfer outline, and a final test consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions. Each study unit should take approximately 50 minutes to complete. The Gleim FAA-approved FIRC was prepared in accordance with AC 61-83E to enable you to renew your flight instructor certificate as prescribed by 14 CFR Sec. 61.197. Nothing in 14 CFR Sec. 61.197 precludes the holder of a valid and current flight instructor certificate from completing a FIRC program as often as (s)he wishes.

The study units are listed below:

1. Teaching Aerodynamics
2. FAA Industry Training Standards (FITS)
3. Practical Test Standards
4. Federal Regulations
5. The National Airspace System and Airport Operations
6. Aviation Weather and Weather-Related Decision Making
7. Human Factors and Fundamentals of Instructing
8. Sport Pilot
9. Flight Instructor Professional Responsibilities and Instructor Endorsements
10. Teaching Flight Maneuvers and Procedures
11. Flight Safety
12. Recurrency and Transition Training
13. Avoiding Midair Collisions and Controlled Flight Into Terrain
14. Flight Information Publications
15. GPS Training
16. TSA Flight School Security Awareness Training

After you have successfully completed all 16 study units by scoring 70% or better on each study unit's final quiz, if you have not already, you will need to select whether you wish to process your renewal by using the Gleim Airman Certificate Renewal (ACR) processing service or by visiting an FAA FSDO. Detailed information on how to process your renewal by both methods can be found in the Instructions section of this course. We will also provide a completion certificate to anyone who completes this course but has no intention of using it to renew a CFI certificate.

Advantages of the Gleim FIRC

1. The renewing CFI who attends a classroom course is "locked in" to a schedule of at least 16 hours of classroom presentations, typically given over two 8-hour days. For many people, 8 hours of complex technical study in one day can be less than effective, with the learning curve falling off rapidly after the first few hours. For the CFI who uses traditional distance-learning courses, passively viewing a videotape with no direct involvement can be boring. This is especially true if topics that the CFI is thoroughly familiar with are emphasized along with those that need review.

2. The Gleim FIRC is performance-based. If you work hard and fast, it can be completed quickly and efficiently. The Gleim FIRC is targeted to your individual abilities, rather than generalized for a group. The Gleim course is Internet-based and consists of 16 study units, each of which can be completed according to your individual schedule.

   Each study unit begins with 20 true/false study questions that are designed as a self-review and used to study the knowledge covered. The true/false questions are not a quiz; they are an interactive study program. You will probably benefit more from incorrect responses than correct responses.

3. Our primary objective is to create knowledge transfer to you as a CFI!

4. The objective is to relate the subject matter of the courses to

   1. Flight instruction
   2. Student learning
   3. Flight safety

5. In each study unit, the subject matter is divided into subtopics called "subunits" in order to assist you in your study.

6. The Gleim exclusive versioning system protects you from being caught in the middle of a course change. You never have to worry about hurrying to finish a study unit before a new version is released.

7. Approved for credit in the Wings - Pilot Proficiency Program

   You can use this course to meet various proficiency requirements of the Wings Program. Upon successful completion of this course, you will automatically be credited in your Wings pilot main page. This course meets the following knowledge requirements:

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   For Wings credit validation instructions, click here.

8. FOCUS OF THE GLEIM FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REFRESHER COURSE

   1. The FAA's concept of the flight instructor refresher course has changed in recent years.

      The central focus is no longer “stick and rudder skills” or raw fact.

      • The new FITS (FAA-Industry Training Standards) orientation focuses on safety and proper decision making.
      • The focus for CFIs is on effective teaching and education enhancement rather than traditional “basics”.

      “Stick and rudder skills” and basic aeronautical knowledge is still very important and if left unused will gradually degrade.

      • There are certain core elements of this course which are classified as “basics” such as aerodynamics, properly interpreting practical test standards and federal aviation regulations, and airspace, weather, and GPS training information.
      • These basic elements are augmented with scenario-based training (SBT) concepts that you can easily and effectively apply to your existing student training regimen.

   2. The focus of this course is safety, knowledge, and effective teaching strategies.

      • SBT is included in each study unit to add a practical aspect to this course.
      • Study unit 2 deals entirely with the FITS program and offers suggestions and training to construct scenarios and FITS lesson plans on your own.
      • Study unit 7 deals entirely with effective teaching practices and common errors you must avoid as a certified flight instructor.
      • Study unit 11 deals entirely with flight safety issues, primarily safety trends and techniques for avoiding potential hazards during instruction and in the real-world.

   3. Gleim is just as concerned with effective teaching as we imply you should be.

      • Gleim solicits your feedback, questions, and comments so that we can work together to make flight instruction a safer and more effective business and responsibility.

9. Gleim wants to facilitate your successful completion of this FIRC. Our goal is to maximize its benefit to you by creating knowledge transfer that enables you to be more effective as a CFI.

10. Each study unit includes approximately 20 pages of knowledge transfer outlines with in-depth discussions and illustrations. These outlines appear after you have completed the true/false section. You can spend as long as necessary to master this instructional material, with no artificial limitations imposed. We suggest that you print the outlines, save them as a file, or leave your browser open and disconnect from your ISP while you study the study units off-line. You can then reconnect to the Gleim website and take the quiz. You are also free to study on-line, if you prefer. Since most of this material is a review of information previously learned, it can be completed fairly quickly. Each of the 16 study units concludes with a final quiz consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions. A minimum final quiz score of 70% is required to complete each of the 16 study units successfully.

11. Part 141 - "chief instructors and assistant chief instructors" may use successful completion of the Gleim FIRC to meet the annual requirement of 14 CFR Sec. 141.79(c) with FAA concurrence.

12. You may stop at any point in a study unit, including the final quiz, and disconnect from the Gleim web site. The next time you log in, you will automatically be taken to the point (true/false questions, outline, or final quiz) where you left off. Your answers in both the true/false and final quiz portions will be retained.

13. Certified ground instructors can request an endorsement upon successful completion to meet recent experience requirements. Visit our ground instructor endorsement page for more information. There will be a "button" to request a ground endorsement. You will receive an email when it has been approved and mailed. The endorsement should be placed in your log book.

Duration:

Access to the Online Course will expire 24 months after the date of purchase (if you do not complete the course), or 90 days after graduation. If you need access to the course after the expiration date, it must be repurchased.

Refund:

A full refund is available if you have accessed no more than two lessons within 30 days of purchase.

Important Notes:

The expiration month of a renewed flight instructor certificate shall be 24 calendar months from either 1. or 2. below.

1. The month in which you present your valid and current flight instructor certificate and your valid Gleim Internet FIRC Affidavit and Graduation Certificate to an FAA FSDO Inspector.

   1. The Affidavit and Graduation Certificate expires 3 calendar months from the date it is issued. The examples below illustrate when to present the Affidavit and Graduation Certificate to a FSDO and what month of expiration you will be given.
      
      
   2. EXAMPLE THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR MONTH OF EXPIRATION: Your current flight instructor certificate expires on May 31, 2011. You wish to renew your certificate by presenting your Gleim Internet FIRC Affidavit and Graduation Certificate to an FAA FSDO in person. Because you know you will be very busy in the months leading to your certificate's expiration, you elect to renew early (i.e., you are not concerned about retaining the same expiration month). You must successfully complete the Gleim Internet FIRC and present your valid and current flight instructor certificate and your valid Affidavit and Graduation Certificate to an FAA FSDO during that office's business hours (Monday through Friday, except legal holidays) in person during the 3 calendar months in which the Affidavit and Graduation Certificate is valid. If you present your valid and current flight instructor certificate and your valid Affidavit and Graduation Certificate before February 1, 2011 (which is the first day of the 3 calendar months preceding the month of expiration. See the table below for help in calculating the 3 calendar months preceding your month of expiration), your new expiration month will be the month in which you presented the Affidavit and Graduation Certificate to an FAA FSDO Inspector (e.g., if you present the Affidavit and Graduation Certificate on January 12, 2011, your renewed flight instructor certificate will expire on January 31, 2013).
      
      
   3. EXAMPLE THAT WILL KEEP YOUR MONTH OF EXPIRATION THE SAME: Your current flight instructor certificate expires on May 31, 2011. You wish to renew your certificate and obtain a new expiration date of May 31, 2013 (same expiration month) by presenting your valid and current flight instructor certificate and your valid Gleim Internet FIRC Affidavit and Graduation Certificate to an FAA FSDO Inspector in person. You must successfully complete the Gleim Internet FIRC and present your valid and current flight instructor certificate and your valid Affidavit and Graduation Certificate to an FAA FSDO Inspector in person during the 3 calendar months in which the Affidavit and Graduation Certificate is valid and on or after February 1, 2011 (which is the first day of the 3 calendar months preceding the month of expiration. See the table below for help in calculating the 3 calendar months preceding your month of expiration). This allows you to retain the same month of expiration on your flight instructor certificate.
      
      

2. The month in which Gleim processes your renewal and issues you a temporary certificate through the ACR Processing Service.

   1. EXAMPLE THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR MONTH OF EXPIRATION: Your current flight instructor certificate expires on May 31, 2011. Because you know you will be very busy in the months leading to your certificate's expiration, you elect to renew early (i.e., you are not concerned about retaining the same expiration month). You must successfully complete the Gleim Internet FIRC and complete the requirements for the ACR Processing Service by sending in your FAA Form 8710-1, valid and current flight instructor certificate, a notarized Official Identification Document, and your signed Affidavit and Graduation Certificate. If you complete the FIRC course and complete the requirements for the ACR Processing Service before February 1, 2011 (which is the first day of the 3 calendar months preceding the month of expiration. See the table below for help in calculating the 3 calendar months preceding your month of expiration), your new expiration month will be the month in which your Affidavit and Graduation Certificate was issued (e.g., if you completed the course and were issued the Affidavit and Graduation Certificate and Gleim has received all of the required documentation, Gleim issues your temporary certificate on January 12, 2011, your renewed flight instructor certificate will expire on January 31, 2013).
      
      
   2. EXAMPLE THAT WILL KEEP YOUR MONTH OF EXPIRATION THE SAME: Your current flight instructor certificate expires on May 31, 2011. You wish to renew your certificate and obtain a new expiration date of May 31, 2013 (same expiration month) by using the Gleim ACR processing service. You must successfully complete the Gleim Internet FIRC and complete the requirements for the ACR Processing Service by sending in your FAA Form 8710-1, valid and current flight instructor certificate, a notarized Official Identification Document, and your signed Affidavit and Graduation Certificate on or after February 1, 2011 (which is the first day of the 3 calendar months preceding the month of expiration. See the table below for help in calculating the 3 calendar months preceding your month of expiration). This allows you to retain the same expiration month on your flight instructor certificate.
      
      

Table Used to Calculate the 3 calendar Months Preceding your Month of Expiration:

Month your flight instructor certificate expires:	First day of the 3 calendar months preceding your month of expiration:
January	October 1 (of previous year)
February	November 1 (of previous year)
March	December 1 (of previous year)
April	January 1
May	February 1
June	March 1
July	April 1
August	May 1
September	June 1
October	July 1
November	August 1
December	September 1

NOTE: If you present your Affidavit and Graduation Certificate to an FAA FSDO Inspector or Gleim processes your renewal and issues you a temporary certificate through the ACR Processing Service before the date specified in the table above, your expiration month will CHANGE FROM YOUR ORIGINAL MONTH OF EXPIRATION to the month you present your Affidavit and Graduation Certificate to an FAA FSDO Inspector or, if Gleim processes your renewal, the month in which you graduate from the course.

Start today by taking FREE Study Unit One.

View Frequently Asked Questions about the Gleim FIRC.