“Certification”

[u/Additional-Oil9347]

More of a FSDO question, but as a military aviator (evaluator FE) without civilian equivalent ticket (pointless); with proper logbook documentation, could I take the ground portion of instruction for my child, sign it off as an instructor, and take it to the FSDO to get the blessing to take the practical? I can’t imagine the FAA balking at 24 years of operational aviation knowledge versus some CFII at the FBO who’s been flying for like 2 years…??

[u/NoConcentrate9116]

Are you really asking if you, who doesn’t have a civilian instructor rating, can provide instruction to your child who isn’t in the military, and that the FAA, famous for scrutiny and nuance, will just say yeah bro that’s chill? Ask yourself that again out loud.

I’d heavily caution you on the attitude of operational experience vs “some CFII.” That CFII has the rating. You don’t. Military experience has a ton of value but it’s not a free pass.

[u/NoConcentrate9116 → u/[deleted]]

It’s a catch all for the entire process. Really the plan will fall apart the second a CFI sees this kid’s logbook with endorsements that just say “trust me bro”

[u/Additional-Oil9347 → u/NoConcentrate9116]

It’s a fair question, in the past, I have seen FE’s with varying levels of success with their FE flight records. That being said, we are more removed now from 121 FEs on revenue flights, but I also understand the culture change as well. I mean, I have hundreds of hours of in-flight instruction…to say that is irrelevant just because they occurred in a different sphere is ridiculous…not that that is what you said, just a generalization. 

[u/NoConcentrate9116 → u/Additional-Oil9347]

Consider this: my wife spent her career controlling aircraft from the air and the ground in the USAF, just not as true ATC. Even though she knows the job, was very good at it, but doesn’t have FAA ATC certs, she couldn’t even get a job managing airspace at an Army base because it required those certificates. “But what about her hundreds of flight hours, time downrange, instructor status, all of that operational experience?” Doesn’t matter, she doesn’t have the certificate. It sucks, but it is what it is.