What is Flight Instructor Rating (FIR)?

FIR stands for Flight Instructor rating; required to impart flying instructions in cockpit. In addition to the AFIR privileges, some extra privileges of FIR holder are:

1. to impart flying instructions on aircraft having an all-up-weight exceeding fifteen hundred Kgs.
2. to supervise and authorise solo flights by student pilots and supervise flying instructions imparted by Assistant Flight Instructors.
3. To impart instructions in night flying
4. To release first solo

This is the rating with which you can apply for approval as Dy. Chief Flight Instructor or Chief Flight Instructor. Normally the salary of Flight Instructor in India is between 1.5 lakhs and 2.5 lakhs. Once you are approved as Dy. CFI or CFI your salary may be between 3 lakhs and 6 lakhs.

We provide ground classes for both AFIR and AFIR as per prescribed syllabus

1. Techniques of applied Instruction;
2. Assessment of student performance in those subjects in which ground instruction is given;
3. The learning process;
4. Elements of effective teaching;
5. Student evaluation and testing, training philosophies.
6. Training programme development;
7. Lesson planning;
8. Classroom instructional techniques;
9. Use of training aids, including flight simulation training devices as appropriate;
10. Analysis and correction of student errors;
11. Human performance relevant to flight instruction including principles of threat and error management;
12. Hazards involved in simulating system failure and malfunctions in the aircraft.

Requirements for issue of Flight Instructor Rating (FIR) —

An applicant for a Flight Instructor’s Rating shall satisfy the following requirements—

1. Age— He shall be not less than twenty years of age on the date of application.
2. Knowledge— He shall pass an oral or written examination in prescribed syllabus.

Flying Experience required for Flight Instructor Rating (FIR) —

He shall produce evidence of having satisfactorily completed as pilot of an aeroplane or a helicopter, as the case may be, on the date of application for the rating—

1. 20 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command by night during which at least twenty take-offs and twenty landings have been carried out; and
2. 200 hours of flight time on aeroplanes in the capacity of an Assistant Flight Instructor; or
3. five hundred hours flight time as Pilot-in-Command of an aeroplane or two hundred fifty hours as Pilot-in-Command of a helicopter, as the case may be:

Provided that a pilot from Defence Forces who has successfully completed the Qualified Flight Instructor’s course and also satisfies requirements as laid down in this clause and clause (d), may be considered for the issue of Flight Instructor’s Rating if he has not less than twenty hours of flight time as Flight Instructor within a period of twelve months immediately preceding the date of application.

Other Requirements for Flight Instructor Rating(FIR) issue—

He shall be –

1. the holder of a current Commercial Pilot’s Licence / Senior Commercial Pilot’s Transport Licence, Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence;
2. the holder of a current Instrument Rating.

Skill tests — He shall have demonstrated his competency as a Flight Instructor by performing procedures and manoeuvres prescribed in the syllabus by day and by night to the satisfaction of an approved Examiner within a period of six months immediately preceding the date of application.

Flight Instruction — After completing the experience requirement, the applicant shall undergo a Flight Instructor’s Course approved by the Director-General before undergoing the skill test.

Privileges of Flight Instructor Rating(FIR)—

Subject to the validity of endorsements and ratings in the Pilot’s licence of which this Flight Instructor’s Rating forms a part and also any endorsement on this rating, the privileges of the holder of a Flight Instructor’s Rating shall be :—

(a) to impart flying instructions on aeroplanes/helicopters, as the case may be, having an all-up-weight not exceeding five thousand seven hundred Kgs. and which is entered in the aircraft rating of his licence, and also on an aeroplane/helicopter having an all-up-weight exceeding five thousand seven hundred Kgs. and which is entered in his Instructor’s Rating.

(b) to supervise and authorise solo flights by student pilots and supervise flying instructions imparted by Assistant Flight Instructors.

Provided that this privilege shall be subject to any directions that may be issued by the Director-General in this behalf to Flying Training Organisations.

For more information please visit:

https://dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/?dynamicPage=aircraftRulesContent2Req/1/3065/viewDynamicRuleContLvl2&mainaircraftRules1937/1/0/viewDynamicRulesReq