FAR 141.36 — Assistant Chief Instructor Qualifications
FAR 141.36 sets the certificates, flight hours, and instructor experience required to serve as an assistant chief instructor at a Part 141 pilot school.
FAR 141.36 lists what a pilot must have to be designated as an assistant chief instructor at a Part 141 pilot school. The rule combines certificate requirements, recent experience, testing, and minimum flight hours that scale with the type of course taught.
Every applicant must:
- Hold a commercial or ATP certificate and a current flight instructor certificate (CFI not required for lighter-than-air-only courses), with the appropriate category, class, and instrument ratings for the course.
- Meet § 61.57 PIC recent flight experience.
- Pass a knowledge test on teaching methods, the AIM, Parts 61/91/141, and the course's objectives and completion standards.
- Pass a proficiency test on the maneuvers in that course.
Flight-time minimums depend on the course:
- Recreational/Private courses: 500 hours PIC plus instructor experience of 1 year and 250 hours, or 500 hours.
- Instrument courses: 50 hours actual/simulated instrument, 500 hours PIC, plus CFII experience of 1 year and 125 hours, or 200 hours.
- All other courses (e.g., commercial): 1,000 hours PIC plus instructor experience of 1 year and 500 hours, or 750 hours.
Glider, balloon, and airship assistant chiefs need only 40% of those hour totals. For a ground school course, the applicant only needs 6 months as a ground instructor at a certificated pilot school. This matters because the assistant chief is the back-up to the chief instructor for course oversight and student endorsements.
Five FAA-written-style questions. Instant explanations, every answer cites its source — no account needed.
You are flying VFR in Class E airspace at 8,500 feet MSL during the day. What are your minimum visibility and cloud clearance requirements?