⚠️ Who is Flight Instructor Examiner ✈️
Flight Instructor Examiner for FIE(A) or Instructor Examiner or simply FIE is a certificate authorizes the holder to provide instructor assessments of competence for the issue, revalidation or renewal of all EASA single-pilot instructor certificates.
Before obtaining the Flight Instructor Examiner Certificate future examiner has to attend certain training driven by flight school or directly by competent authority.
When talking about FIE(A), it is important to mention that FIE(A) must be also holder of Class Rating Examiner certificate for particular class. The reason is that assessments of competence towards class ratings has to be done in airplane. That means the FIE(A) is usually holder of additional CRE SEP(land) or CRE MEP(land) or even FE(A) with IRE(A) certificates in addition to instructor examiner privileges.
Once obtained, you will be allowed to let the pilots to teach flying others. Isn't that awesome? ❤️
Requirements ✅ for FIE(A)
Iaw FCL.1010.FIE, an applicant for an Flight Instructor Examiner certificate - FIE(A) shall hold the relevant instructor certificate. That means the applicant shall be not only the holder of respective Instructor Certificate, but also to be authorized to instruct towards that certificate.
It means if the FI(A) is holder of privileges in accordance with FCL.905.FI(j) to teach the instructors with limitation to CRI SEP(land) only, he as FIE(A) is not allowed to provide assessment of competence for CRI MEP(land) applicant even if the FIE(A) is a holder of instructor privileges towards MEP(land) trainings.
Reason: FIE(A) is not a holder of FI(A) privileges to teach towards CRI MEP(land) iaw FCL.905.FI(j).
In addition an applicant for FIE(A) shall:
- hold the relevant instructor certificate
- have completed 2000 hours of flight time as a pilot on aeroplanes or TMGs; and
- have at least 100 hours of flight time instructing applicants for an instructor certificate.
Instructor Examiner training
The examiner training is called Examiner standardization and required by FCL.1015. An applicant for an Flight Instructor Examiner certificate shall undertake Flight Instructor Examiner standardisation course. The standardisation course consists of theoretical and practical instruction and usually includes following:
- the conduct of 2 assessments of competence for the instructor certificate;
- instruction on the applicable requirements in this part and the applicable air operations requirements, the conduct of instructor assessment of competence and their documentation and reporting;
- a briefing on the national administrative procedures, requirements for protection of personal data, liability, accident insurance and fees.
- a briefing on the need to review and apply the items when conducting assessment of competence of an applicant for which the competent authority is not the same that issued the Flight Instructor Examiner certificate; and
- an instruction on how to get access to these national procedures and requirements of other competent authorities when needed.
The competent authority may provide the Flight Instructor Examiner course itself or through an arrangement with an ATO.
The course should last for the Flight Instructor Examiner, at least 1 day, divided into theoretical and practical training;
The competent authority or ATO should determine any further training required before presenting the candidate for the examiner assessment of competence with Senior Examiner.
Privileges of FIE(A) ✈️
In accordance with FCL.1005.FIE - the privileges of an FIE on aeroplanes are to conduct assessments of competence for the issue, revalidation or renewal of certificates for FI(A), CRI(A), IRI(A) and TRI(A) on single-pilot aeroplanes, provided that the relevant instructor certificate is held.
It means if the FI(A) is holder of privileges in accordance with FCL.905.FI(j) to teach the instructors with on CRI SEP(land) only, he as FIE(A) is not allowed to provide assessment of competence for CRI MEP(land) applicant even if the FIE(A) is a holder of instructor privileges towards MEP(land) trainings.
Reason: FIE(A) is not a holder of FI(A) privileges to teach towards CRI MEP(land) iaw FCL.905.FI(j).
Similar analogy applies for IRI(A) and FI(A) - IR extension iaw FCL.905.FI(h).
If FIE(A) is holder of FI(A) with privileges to teach instructors iaw FCL.905.FI(j) for CRI SEP(land) and CRI MEP(land) only and without privileges to teach IRI(A) or FI(A) - IR extension, the FIE(A) is not allow to provide IRI assessment of competence eventhough he is an IRI holder.
Reason: FIE(A) is not a holder of instructional privileges to teach towards IRI(A) or FI(A) - IR extensions iaw FCL.905.FI(j).
Flight Instructor Examiner ✅ Assessment of competence
As required by FCL.1020 applicants for an Flight Instructor Examiner certificate shall demonstrate their competence to an inspector from the competent authority or a senior examiner specifically authorised to do so by the competent authority responsible for the Flight Instructor Examiner certificate through the conduct of a assessment of competence in the Flight Instructor Examiner role including:
- briefing,
- conduct of the skill test or proficiency check
- assessment of the person to whom checkride is given,
- debriefing and recording documentation.
Validity ✅ of Flight Instructor Examiner
In. accordance with FCL.1025(a), Flight Instructor Examiner certificate is valid for 3 years. Examiner's certificate can be revalidated within 12 months immediately preceding the expiry date. If you are a holder of more than one category of examiner - e.g. you are holder of FIE(A) and CRE MEP(land) or FE(A), all examiner privileges may be revalidated if you comply with the requirements laid down in points FCL.1020(b)(1) and FCL.1020(b)(2) and point FCL.1020 for one of the categories of examiner certificates held.