AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 28

LICENSETOLEARN

BY ROD MACHADO

A

The limited flight instructor certificate

strate his or her ability to teach to the standards set forth in the Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards to obtain the SFIC. Clearly, the SFIC indicates the FAA’s belief that properly trained sport pilots are capable of teaching others to fly competently and safely in light sport aircraft. Back in 1956, the FAA also believed the same thing about properly trained private pilots who became LFIs. If we keep in mind that the FAA didn’t eliminate the LFIC because of poor instructor a chart showing the letters: CVOKPTNXZYKV. The performance, then we can reasonably conclude that doc said to the Polish immigrant, “OK, can you read properly trained 200-hour, noninstrument-rated Aviation writer that?” The Polish immigrant replied, “Read it? Heck, private pilots can competently and safely prepare and professional I know the guy.” Sometimes what you look at is not students for the private pilot certificate. That’s why speaker Rod what you see. I’m suggesting that the FAA consider reinitiating the Machado has been That happens to me when I look at a private pilot, LFIC. Yes, the LFIC should come with many restricflying since 1970. because I don’t see just a private pilot. I see someone tions, but that’s a discussion for another time. who, with more experience and the proper trainThe question you’re probably asking is, “What’s ing, could easily be a capable flight instructor. And this person the payoff for reviving the LFIC?” I was hoping you’d ask. Over wouldn’t need an instrument rating or a commercial certifi- the years I’ve met many private pilots who wanted to teach cate to instruct, either. You’re no doubt thinking, “Rod’s wheel their friends and family members to fly, but who had no need is spinning, but his hamster is dead.” Well, before you get too or desire to undergo the same training required by those purscomfy with that judgment, let me try and convince you that my ing a professional pilot career (i.e., the instrument rating and position isn’t all that radical, and why it would be something commercial certificate). The LFIC benefits aviation by allowing that could help rejuvenate aviation. it to inherit an entirely new class of enthusiastic teachers whose On August 23, 1956, the FAA began offering something main ambition is to share their love of flying with others and known as a limited flight instructor certificate (LFIC) to nonin- not just to build flight time. As a result, we’re also likely to add strument-rated private pilots. An applicant for the LFIC needed an older, and by definition wise, class of aviation ambassadors a minimum of 200 hours total time, needed to meet commercial to our instructor ranks. Can you think of anything that more pilot skill standards, had to demonstrate the ability to teach the directly supports the flight training industry? I can’t. appropriate maneuvers in the category of aircraft in which he The objections? Given the information I presented, there or she wished to instruct, and had to demonstrate that students certainly is no basis on which one can argue that LFIs produce could fly safely under his or her supervision. If the LFI held the less qualified students. One might argue that today’s aviation certificate for at least one year and trained five pilot applicants knowledge is too complex for private pilots to adequately teach. successfully, he or she could convert the LFIC to a permanent But that doesn’t explain how sport pilot instructors—those who certified flight instructor certificate (CFI). The LFIC disappeared may start out with 50 hours less flight time than an LFI—are as a certificate option on May 24, 1962. permitted to teach nearly all the same knowledge that private If you think that the FAA eliminated the LFIC because it pilots are required to learn. The only other objection is that LFIs finally came to its senses, think again. The FAA intended the would deprive the CFI of his or her share of students. If one LFIC to be nothing more than a means of evaluating the compe- believes that flight training is a zero-sum game, that might be tency of those who might eventually apply for a CFIC. The LFIC a valid concern. I believe that reviving the LFIC would actually was eliminated when the FAA became satisfied that its exam- attract those who might not otherwise have an interest in or find iners could successfully assess a CFI candidate’s competence access to flight training, as well as help retain those who quit directly. It’s important to keep in mind that the LFIC wasn’t elim- training because of poor instructor performance. inated because LFIs produced less qualified students, either. I’ve sung nothing but praise for the FAA in developing the If you’re thinking that the LFIC could only have existed in sport pilot instructor program. Now I hope they’ll also see the the 1950s and 1960s, but would have no place in today’s com- limited flight instructor certificate as a viable option for those plex airspace environment, I have a surprise for you. It turns out who simply want to teach, and not fly as professional pilots. The that we now have something similar to the LFIC. I’m speaking evidence to date suggests that this can only help aviation, and of the sport pilot flight instructor certificate (SFIC), whose mini- certainly not diminish it. mum requirements are a sport pilot certificate and 150 hours of flight time. The instructor applicant must simply demon- Visit the author’s blog (www.rodmachado.com). 28 • FEBRUARY
2011

Polish immigrant visited his local flight surgeon to take a third class medical exam. The doctor had him stand in a specific spot, then pulled down

AOPA PILOT •


http://www.rodmachado.com

AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011

AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011
Contents
President’s Position
Hangar Talk
AOPA Media
AOPA Action
Letters
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Fly Well
Pilot Briefing
Compelling Kestrel
Movie and TV Star
Safety Pilot Landmark Accidents: Into Thin Air
Postcards: Trek to Northern Canada
Curious Cargoes
Eyes Above the Forest
The Nation’s Quirkiest Airports
Challenges: Rock ’n Roll
Landing Insights: From the Trenches
Crossover Classic Sweepstakes: Panel Power
Technique: Quick Tips for The G1000
Avionics: Traffic Roundup
Never Again
Fly by Wire
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Hangar Talk
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - AOPA Media
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - AOPA Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Fly Well
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Pilot Briefing
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Compelling Kestrel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Movie and TV Star
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Safety Pilot Landmark Accidents: Into Thin Air
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Postcards: Trek to Northern Canada
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Curious Cargoes
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Eyes Above the Forest
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - The Nation’s Quirkiest Airports
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Challenges: Rock ’n Roll
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Landing Insights: From the Trenches
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Crossover Classic Sweepstakes: Panel Power
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Technique: Quick Tips for The G1000
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Avionics: Traffic Roundup
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 102
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 106
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Fly by Wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2011 - Cover4
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