Ground Instructor Recency

FAR 61.217 — Ground Instructor Recency

FAR 61.217 explains the recent experience a ground instructor needs in the past 12 months to keep exercising certificate privileges.

In Plain English

FAR 61.217 sets the recent experience requirements a ground instructor must meet to legally perform ground instructor duties. Within the preceding 12 calendar months, the certificate holder must be able to show one of the following:

Employment or activity as a ground instructor giving pilot, flight instructor, or ground instructor training;
Employment or activity as a flight instructor giving pilot, flight instructor, or ground instructor ground or flight training;
Completion of an approved flight instructor refresher course (FIRC) and receipt of a graduation certificate; or
An endorsement from an authorized instructor certifying the person has demonstrated knowledge in the subject areas prescribed under § 61.213(a)(3) and (a)(4), as appropriate.

Why it matters: unlike pilot certificates, the ground instructor certificate doesn't expire, but its privileges lapse if you can't document recent activity or training. Keep records of your teaching, FIRC completion, or instructor endorsement so you can prove currency before signing off students or endorsing them for knowledge tests.

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Regulation Text

14 CFR § 61.217

§ 61.217 Recent experience requirements. The holder of a ground instructor certificate may not perform the duties of a ground instructor unless the person can show that one of the following occurred during the preceding 12 calendar months: (a) Employment or activity as a ground instructor giving pilot, flight instructor, or ground instructor training; (b) Employment or activity as a flight instructor giving pilot, flight instructor, or ground instructor ground or flight training; (c) Completion of an approved flight instructor refresher course and receipt of a graduation certificate for that course; or (d) An endorsement from an authorized instructor certifying that the person has demonstrated knowledge in the subject areas prescribed under § 61.213(a)(3) and (a)(4), as appropriate. [Docket FAA-2006-26661, 74 FR 42562, Aug. 21, 2009]

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Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask

Q1What recent experience must a ground instructor have to exercise the privileges of the certificate?

Per FAR 61.217, within the preceding 12 calendar months the holder must have given ground instruction as a ground or flight instructor, completed an approved flight instructor refresher course, or received an instructor endorsement showing competency in the subject areas of § 61.213(a)(3) and (a)(4).

Q2If a ground instructor hasn't taught in over a year, how can they regain currency without taking a refresher course?

Under FAR 61.217(d), they can obtain an endorsement from an authorized instructor certifying that they have demonstrated knowledge in the subject areas prescribed under § 61.213(a)(3) and (a)(4), as appropriate.

Q3Does completing a flight instructor refresher course satisfy ground instructor recency?

Yes. FAR 61.217(c) allows ground instructors to satisfy recent experience by completing an approved flight instructor refresher course and receiving a graduation certificate for that course within the preceding 12 calendar months.

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§61.113 Privileges & Limits

Private pilot compensation, pro-rata sharing, and BasicMed limits

§61.57 Recent Flight Experience

90-day passenger, night, and instrument currency rules

§61.89 Student Pilot Limitations

Solo student limits: no passengers, no compensation, minimum visibility

§61.51 Pilot Logbooks

Logging training, aeronautical experience, and recency for certificates

§61.23 Medical Certificate Duration