FCL.905.SFI SFI – Privileges and conditions
Regulation (EU) 2021/2227
(a) The privileges of SFIs are to carry out synthetic flight instruction, within the relevant aircraft category, for:
(1) the revalidation and renewal of an IR, provided that they hold or have held an IR in the relevant aircraft category;
(2) the issue of an IR, provided that they hold or have held an IR in the relevant aircraft category and have completed an IRI training course.
(b) The privileges of SFIs for single-pilot aeroplanes are to carry out synthetic flight instruction for:
(1) the issue, revalidation and renewal of type ratings for single-pilot high performance complex aeroplanes, if applicants seek privileges to operate in single-pilot operations.
The privileges of SFIs for single-pilot aeroplanes may be extended to flight instruction for single-pilot high performance complex aeroplanes type ratings in multi-pilot operations, provided that they meet any of the following conditions:
(i) hold or have held a TRI certificate for multi-pilot aeroplanes;
(ii) have at least 500 hours on aeroplanes in multi-pilot operations and have completed an MCCI training course in accordance with point FCL.930.MCCI;
(2) the MCC and the MPL training courses on the basic phase, provided that the privileges of SFIs(SPA) have been extended to multi-pilot operations in accordance with point (1).
(c) The privileges of SFIs for multi-pilot aeroplanes are to carry out synthetic flight instruction for:
(1) the issue, revalidation and renewal of type ratings for multi-pilot aeroplanes and if applicants seek privileges to operate in multi-pilot operations, for single-pilot high-performance complex aeroplanes;
(2) the MCC training course;
(3) the MPL course on the basic, intermediate and advanced phases, provided that, for the basic phase, they hold or have held an FI(A) or an IRI(A) certificate;
(d) The privileges of SFIs for helicopters are to carry out synthetic flight instruction for:
(1) the issue, revalidation and renewal of helicopter type ratings;
(2) MCC training, provided that they have at least 350 hours as a pilot in multi-pilot operations in any aircraft category.
(e) The privileges of an SFI include privileges to conduct EBT practical assessment at an EBT operator, provided that the instructor complies with the requirements of Annex III (Part-ORO) to Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 for EBT instructor standardisation at that EBT operator.
FCL.910.SFI SFI – Restricted privileges
Regulation (EU) 2019/1747
The privileges of SFIs shall be restricted to the FTD 2/3 or FFS of the aircraft type in which the SFI training course was taken.
The privileges may be extended to other FSTDs representing further types of the same category of aircraft if the holders have:
(a) completed the simulator content of the relevant type rating course;
(b) completed the relevant parts of the technical training and the FSTD content of the flight instruction syllabus of the applicable TRI course;
(c) conducted on a complete type rating course at least 3 hours of flight instruction related to the duties of an SFI on the applicable type under the supervision and to the satisfaction of a TRE or an SFE qualified for this purpose.
The privileges of the SFI shall be extended to further variants in accordance with the OSD if the SFI has completed the type relevant parts of the technical training and the FSTD content of the flight instruction syllabus of the applicable TRI course.
FCL.915.SFI SFI – Prerequisites
Regulation (EU) 2021/2227
An applicant for an SFI certificate shall:
(a) hold or have held a CPL, MPL or ATPL in the appropriate aircraft category;
(b) have completed the proficiency check for the issue of the specific aircraft type rating in an FFS representing the applicable type, within the 12 months preceding the application; and
(c) additionally, for an SFI(A) for multi-pilot aeroplanes or SFI(PL), have:
(1) at least 1 500 hours flight time as a pilot on multi-pilot aeroplanes or powered-lift, as applicable;
(2) completed, as a pilot or as an observer, within the 12 months preceding the application, at least:
(i) 3 route sectors on the flight deck of the applicable aircraft type; or
(ii) 2 line-orientated flight training-based simulator sessions conducted by qualified flight crew on the flight deck of the applicable type. These simulator sessions shall include 2 flights of at least 2 hours each between 2 different aerodromes, and the associated pre-flight planning and de-briefing;
(d) additionally, for an SFI(A) for single-pilot high performance complex aeroplanes:
(1) have completed at least 500 hours of flight time as PIC on single-pilot aeroplanes;
(2) hold or have held a multi-engine IR(A) rating; and
(3) have met the requirements in (c)(2);
(e) additionally, for an SFI(H), have:
(1) completed, as a pilot or as an observer, at least 1 hour of flight time on the flight deck of the applicable type, within the 12 months preceding the application; and
(2) in the case of multi-pilot helicopters, at least 1 000 hours of flying experience as a pilot in helicopters, including at least 350 hours in multi-pilot operations in any aircraft category;
(3) in the case of single-pilot multi-engine helicopters, completed 500 hours as pilot of helicopters, including 100 hours as PIC on single-pilot multi-engine helicopters;
(4) in the case of single-pilot single-engine helicopters, completed 250 hours as a pilot on helicopters;
(5) in the case of single-pilot helicopters in multi-pilot operations, completed at least 350 hours in multi-pilot operations in any aircraft category.
FCL.930.SFI SFI – Training course
Regulation (EU) 2020/2193
(a) The training course for the SFI shall include:
(1) the FSTD content of the applicable type rating course;
(2) the relevant parts of the technical training and the FSTD content of the flight instruction syllabus of the applicable TRI training course;
(3) 25 hours of teaching and learning instruction.
(b) An applicant for an SFI certificate who holds a TRI certificate for the relevant type shall be fully credited towards the requirements of this paragraph.
FCL.940.SFI SFI – Revalidation and renewal
Regulation (EU) 2019/1747
(a) Revalidation
To revalidate an SFI certificate, applicants shall fulfil, before the expiry date of the SFI certificate, at least two out of the following three requirements:
(1) have completed at least 50 hours as instructors or examiners in FSTDs, of which at least 15 hours in the period of 12 months immediately preceding the expiry date of the SFI certificate;
(2) have completed instructor refresher training as an SFI at an ATO;
(3) have passed the relevant sections of the assessment of competence in accordance with point FCL.935.
(b) Additionally, applicants shall have completed, on an FFS, the proficiency checks for the issue of the specific aircraft type ratings representing the types for which privileges are held.
(c) For at least each alternate revalidation of an SFI certificate, holders shall comply with the requirement in point (a)(3).
(d) If an SFI holds a certificate in more than one type of aircraft within the same category, the assessment of competence taken on one of those types shall revalidate the SFI certificate for the other types held within the same category of aircraft, unless otherwise is determined in the OSD.
(e) Renewal
To renew the SFI certificate, applicants shall, within the period of 12 months immediately preceding the application for the renewal, comply with all of the following conditions:
(1) have completed instructor refresher training as an SFI at an ATO;
(2) have passed the assessment of competence in accordance with point FCL.935;
(3) have completed, on an FSTD, the skill test for the issue of the specific aircraft type ratings representing the types for which privileges are to be renewed.