Getting started with the Gleim Flight Instructor Refresher Course

Gleim Flight Instructor Refresher Course Study Units

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

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. In each study unit, the subject matter is divided into subtopics called "subunits" making knowledge transfer easier to assimilate.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

Important Notes

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.

FAA Approval Letter

Duration

Refund

How to Get Wings Credit for This Course

1. Go to http://www.faasafety.gov.
2. Log in with your FAASafety email address and password.
   • If you have not created an account with FAASafety, you will need to do that first.
3. Under the "Activities, Courses, & Seminars" tab at the top of the page, click "Activities."
4. Type "Gleim" into the "Keywords" box and click "Search."
5. Find the appropriate course title in the resulting list and click on the title of that course.
6. Click the "Request Credit" button.
7. Enter the date on your completion/graduation certificate into the "Date Completed" box.
8. In the "Select Validator" section, click the "Email" tab.
9. Type "wings@gleim.com" into the field and click the "Select" button.
10. Click "Submit for Validation."

This course counts towards Avemco's Safety Rewards Program. Click here for more details.

How to Complete a Study Unit

1. Choose a study unit from the Study Unit Selection screen. The 16 study units do not have to be completed in any particular order. Once you begin a study unit, however, you cannot begin another study unit until you complete the one in progress.
2. To complete a study unit you must:
   1. Answer 20 thought-provoking true/false study questions. An ongoing cumulative score based on your first answer selection for each question will be shown. Review the answer explanation for each question. Once you attempt a question, you must select the correct answer before you will be allowed to move on to the next question. Answer all of the true/false study questions to move on to the outline. Note: There is no need to print out the answer explanations for the true/false questions. These will be provided as part of the knowledge transfer outline, which immediately follows the true/false section.
   2. Study the knowledge transfer outline for the study unit. The outlines are broken down into sections called "subunits" to make studying easier. You can use the print function on your browser to print the entire outline: from the File Menu, click File, and then click Print. Use this printout for quick reference. When you have finished studying the outlines, you will be ready to take the multiple-choice final quiz.
   3. Pass the multiple-choice final quiz with a score of 70% or better. You will be given a quiz of 10 multiple-choice questions based on the material you covered in the true/false and outline sections of the study unit. You may move back and forth between questions and change your answers until you are ready to grade the quiz. When you have answered each of the 10 multiple-choice questions to your satisfaction, click the Grade button at the bottom of the screen below the last question.
   4. Study Unit 16, "TSA Flight School Security Awareness", begins with a 20 minute audio-visual presentation.

How to Complete the Course

1. Complete all 16 study units of the Gleim FIRC.
2. Choose the type of certificate you wish to receive. Available types are:
   1. Completion Certificate - You should choose this only if you do not have or do not wish to renew a CFI certificate. This certificate cannot be used to renew a CFI certificate.
   2. Graduation Certificate - You should use this certificate if you wish to renew your CFI certificate at an FAA FSDO.
   3. ACR Affidavit - You should select this certificate if you wish to use the Gleim ACR processing service to renew your CFI certificate. Note that Gleim ACR processing has an additional $25 charge. If you have purchased ACR processing already at the time you graduate, ACR Affidavit will be selected automatically for you. If you need to change to another certificate type after purchasing ACR processing, please contact Gleim technical support at (888) 874-5346 (8 am to 9 pm weekdays, Saturdays 9 am to 2 pm, Eastern), or via email at support@gleim.com.
3. Follow all instructions accompanying your FIRC Certificate.
4. Recipients of Graduation Certificates or ACR Affidavits may also request a Ground Instructor Endorsement from Gleim Publications. See the Ground Instructor Endorsement page for further details and requirements.

How to Process Your Renewal With Gleim

How to Process Your Renewal With a FSDO

• If you do not wish to purchase the Gleim ACR Processing service, you will need to make an appointment to visit an FAA FSDO and process your renewal there. The following is a step-by-step list of instructions that explain how to process your CFI renewal with an FSDO after completing the Gleim FIRC.
  1. Once you have passed all 16 study units and completed the course, you will be given the option of renewing your CFI certificate directly through Gleim, using ACR processing service. If you choose not to use this service you must choose whether you wish to receive a completion certificate (for anyone who is not renewing a CFI certificate and simply wants a record of having completed the course) or a graduation certificate (to be presented to an FSDO by a CFI who wants to renew his/her CFI certificate). Renewing CFIs must choose to receive a graduation certificate.
  2. Once you have chosen to receive a graduation certificate, click Continue and you will see an Affidavit and Graduation Certificate. It will include your name, address, graduation date and certificate number, the signature of Dr. Gleim, and the Gleim corporate seal. Print this page. In order for this Affidavit and Graduation Certificate to be valid you must sign attesting to sole and unassisted course completion.
  3. You will need to make an appointment and take your Affidavit and Graduation Certificate to your FSDO before the last day of your expiration month. Please note that you are now required to make an appointment to visit a FSDO. This may be difficult after 9/11. You may wait to fill out your FAA Form 8710-1 at the FSDO (you may want to call to ensure they have copies) or you may print a copy of FAA Form 8710-1 complete the front side prior to arriving at your FSDO. You will also be given a chance to print out the blank form after you have completed all study units of the course. Present to an FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) inspector your Affidavit and Graduation Certificate showing that, within the past 3 calendar months, you have successfully completed the Gleim Flight Instructor Refresher Course, your valid and current CFI certificate, and a completed FAA Form 8710-1.
     1. REMEMBER that, in order to use the FIRC Affidavit and Graduation Certificate to renew your flight instructor certificate, both your flight instructor certificate and your Affidavit and Graduation Certificate must be in the hands of an FSDO inspector before either expires.

Additional Instructions for Overseas Applicants

1. An overseas applicant who is unable to appear in person before a representative of the Administrator must present the applicant's valid and un-expired flight instructor certificate (hard copy), a properly completed FAA Form 8710-1, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application, and a picture ID before a notary public, a consular official of the U.S. State Department, or, if an airman, his/her U.S. Armed Forces Commanding Officer for completion of an Official Identification Document.
   • The same picture ID must be used on both the Official Identification Document and on the bottom of the reverse side of the Form 8710-1.
   • These documents must be received by either a Flight Standards District Office of the applicant's choice or by the Gleim Internet FIRC ACR if the Gleim ACR processing service is to be used before either the flight instructor certificate or the Graduation Certificate expires for a renewal of the applicant's flight instructor certificate to be issued.
2. A foreign passport presented as a means of identification must be accompanied by another form of identification containing at least a matching physical description and signature of the applicant. If the form of identification presented contains an expiration date, the identification must be current.
3. Please review the rest of the instructions for more detailed information on completing the course and processing the renewal.

ACR Processing Information

1. Purchase the Gleim ACR processing service for $25.00. If you have not yet purchased this additional service, you may do so from your FIRC study unit selection screen at any time. You will also be prompted to purchase ACR processing if you select the ACR Affidavit certificate after completing FIRC, if you have not yet purchased ACR at that time.
   To keep the same expiration month on your CFI certificate, you must complete the course and send in your paperwork NO EARLIER than 3 calendar months before the expiration month of your CFI certificate. See the About the Course section for more information.
2. Complete and submit the FAA Form 8710-1: After you have purchased the ACR service, you will be required to fill out an FAA Form 8710-1 online, which is accessible from the "ACR Processing" button that will appear at the bottom of each FIRC course screen.
   • First, review the FAA's specific instructions for filling out your FAA Form 8710-1. These instructions will appear at the top of the FAA Form 8710-1 online.
     
     The Gleim user-friendly Form 8710-1 interface lets you fill out all the information required with ease. Please note that:
     1. We encourage you to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) because it facilitates the maintenance of your records by the FAA. Safety measures are used to ensure that numbers remain confidential during processing.
     2. You must be sure to select all the ratings that appear on your CFI certificate.
     3. In section IV of the FAA Form 8710-1, failure and/or problems with the FIRC course do not constitute a "yes" response.
   • When you have finished answering each of the questions, you will be prompted to review your information as it appears on the FAA Form 8710-1. If you would like to change anything, click the BACK button on your browser and change the appropriate field. You will then need to review your information as it appears on the FAA Form 8710-1 one last time before submitting it.
   • Once your form is submitted, you will receive a confirmation that your information was received and stored. If there were warnings about any of the values you entered, these will appear after the confirmation. You must address all warnings by entering correct information before you will be allowed to print the filled-out PDF file of your Form 8710-1. You may complete your Form 8710 at any time during the course; however, Gleim Publications recommends that you get your Form 8710-1 filled out and sent in as soon as possible to allow the maximum amount of time to process your request and to contact you about any problems that may arise.
3. Print the PDF files: After Gleim has received your Form 8710-1 information you will be able to print out your filled-out Form 8710-1, Bill of rights and Acknowledgement of receipt of Pilot's Bill of Rights Written Notification, and Official Identification document. Due to the FAA's policy of microfilming all applications, you must print these files on white paper using only black ink. The forms must be legible. Any applications that do not meet these standards will be returned.
4. Sign and notarize your documents. Sign and date your FAA Form 8710-1 in Section V, on the first page. Take the Official Identification Document to a notary, and have your signature witnessed and notarized. For overseas applicants, the Official Identification Document must be completed by either a notary public, a consular official of the U.S. State Department, or (if you are an airman) your U.S. Armed Forces Commanding Officer. Note: You will be required to present a picture ID when having your Official Identification Document notarized. Please do not fill in any information that we have not requested you to fill in. Do not write in the name of Approved Course, etc., as this information must be removed from the 8710 and may require CFIs to resend the document. Also fill out and sign the Acknowledgement of receipt of Pilot's Bill of Rights Written Notification.
5. Mail the required ACR documents and your CFI card to Gleim Publications, Inc.: Before you mail these documents, please make a copy of your notarized Official Identification Document and both the front and the back of your current CFI certificate. These copies will serve as proof of your qualifications until you receive your temporary CFI certificate from Gleim.
   
   Collect the following materials and mail them to Gleim to complete the ACR renewal process:
   1. An original signed, dated, and notarized Official Identification Document (1 page).
   2. An original, filled out, signed, and dated FAA Form 8710-1 (3 pages).
   3. Your valid and current flight instructor certificate (1 page).
   4. An original signed and dated Acknowledgement of receipt of Pilot's Bill of Rights Written Notification (1 page).
   Allow enough time before your expiration date for these documents to arrive at Gleim. Our mailing address and street address (for overnight carriers) are printed below.
   
   Gleim Publications is not responsible if the above items (FAA Form 8710-1, Official Identification Document, CFI certificate, and Acknowledgement of receipt of Pilot's Bill of Rights Written Notification) are delayed or lost in the U.S. mail or by an overnight carrier, e.g., UPS, FedEx, etc. All of these items must be received by Gleim prior to or on the last day of your expiration month, and you must successfully complete the FIRC course prior to or on the last day of your expiration month or your CFI certificate CANNOT be renewed. Any FIRC user whose application for renewal is late or is not approved is entitled only to a refund of the cost of the Gleim ACR service. Please note that we have experienced reliability problems with the U.S. Postal overnight service in the past.
   
   

   Mailing address:	Physical address: (for overnight mailing)
   Gleim Publications	Gleim Publications
   ATTN: CFI Renewal	ATTN: CFI Renewal
   P.O. Box 12848	4201 NW 95th Blvd.
   University Station	Gainesville, FL 32606
   Gainesville, FL 32604	USA
   USA
   Fax number
   (888) 375-6940
   (352) 375-6940

6. Complete and pass the Gleim FIRC Course and fax or mail the signed Affidavit and Graduation Certificate: Upon successful completion of the FIRC course, the Affidavit and Graduation Certificate appears for you to print out. You must sign certifying that you had no assistance in completing the course before it becomes valid. The Affidavit and Graduation Certificate must then be faxed or mailed and received by Gleim, with sufficient time to allow your renewal to be processed prior to the end of your expiration month.
7. Gleim will issue your temporary certificate: Upon receipt of all of your documents (FAA Form 8710-1, Official Identification Document, flight instructor certificate, Acknowledgment of receipt of Pilot's Bill of Rights Written Notification, and Affidavit and Graduation Certificate), Gleim will review and verify that the documents are in order and that you successfully completed the FIRC course. You can check the status of your renewal by logging into the course. The ACR Processing Status screens are updated when documents are received, when a problem is found or solved, and when your temporary certificate has been mailed. If your documents are in order, your renewal is usually processed within 2-3 business days unless it is within the last 10 days of the month as this is Gleim's busiest time for processing renewals. You will receive an email notification when your temporary certificate has been mailed. Please call or email us through our Online Support Email Form if, within reasonable time for mailing, your documents have not been received by Gleim, or you have not received your temporary certificate.

Ground Instructor Endorsement

The Gleim Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC) is an Internet-based ground recurrent training program delivered via the Internet. Certificated flight instructors may use this FAA-approved course as the sole basis for renewal of their CFI certificates, regardless of ratings held.

Unlike flight instructors, certificated ground instructors are not required to renew their certificates every two years; ground instructor certificates are issued without an expiration date. However, ground instructors are required to meet certain recent experience requirements before exercising the privileges of their certificates. 14 CFR Sec. 61.217 states that the holder of a ground instructor certificate may not perform the duties of a ground instructor unless, within the preceding 12-month period,

1. (s)he has served as a ground instructor for at least 3 months, or
2. (s)he has received an endorsement from an authorized ground or flight instructor who certifies that (s)he has demonstrated satisfactory proficiency in the fundamentals of instructing and in the subject areas that are listed in the aeronautical knowledge requirements for the pilot certificates and ratings that are appropriate to his/her grade of certificate.

The purpose of ground instruction is to introduce the student to principles and concepts that will be applied in flight and to provide the background knowledge needed to make flight training both efficient and meaningful. Additionally, ground instruction prepares the student for his/her pilot knowledge test and his/her post-training flying career by explaining the meaning of regulations, the use of weather services, flight planning procedures, etc. Ground instruction may be given either by a ground instructor, who may provide only ground instruction, or by a flight instructor, who may provide both ground and flight instruction. Therefore, the privileges and responsibilities of a ground instructor are included as a subset of the privileges and responsibilities of a flight instructor.

Because all of a ground instructor's privileges and responsibilities are contained within the broader privileges and responsibilities of a flight instructor, it is the Gleim position that any person who successfully completes the Gleim Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC) has demonstrated satisfactory proficiency in the aeronautical knowledge areas that a ground instructor must be familiar with [listed in 14 CFR Sec. 61.213 (a) (3) and (a) (4)]. Certificated ground instructors who have successfully completed the Gleim FIRC program may request an endorsement from Gleim Publications to meet the requirements of 14 CFR Sec. 61.217 (b).

Accordingly, on request, Gleim will issue to any certificated ground instructor who completes the Gleim FIRC an endorsement certifying that (s)he is proficient in the subject areas that a ground instructor must be familiar with. The endorsement reads as follows:

I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has demonstrated satisfactory proficiency on the appropriate ground instructor knowledge and training subjects of 61.213(a)(3) and (a)(4) based upon completion of the Gleim FAA approved Flight Instructor Refresher Course. Irvin N. Gleim 336304413 AGI (date)

Flight School Security Awareness

Flight School Security Awareness Training is a TSA approved lesson for both initial and recurrent TSA FSSA training. It is included as a study unit in the Gleim Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC), and is available free of charge for CFIs and other flight school employees required to have TSA training.

At the completion of the course, you will have a more in-depth knowledge of actions you can take to increase security at your flight school or airport, indicators of suspicious activity, and the TSA's best practices and recommendations for flight school security. You will also be familiar with current threats to general aviation security, guidelines, and security measures at your own flight school or airport. A certificate is provided upon successful completion of the study unit.

Please click on Continue to begin the course.