Give us as much notice as you can, once you decide to start. As all of our resources are dedicated to flight training, we can get you scheduled usually with a few day’s notice, but we also need to schedule your check ride with a designated examiner. The more notice we have, the easier it is to work around their schedules.
Yes, you have enough time. You need to complete the online training and submit your application for renewal on the IACRA website three days before the expiration date on your back of current CFI certificate. If you are mailing your application to our FIRC Department, it must be received on or before the expiration date on the back of your CFI certificate. If you are applying for renewal through a FSDO, you must present your graduation certificate to them on or before the expiration date on the back of your CFI certificate. Be sure to call the FSDO early to make an appointment.
Each time you re-enroll you are asked to enter your CFI certificate number. The certificate number you provide is the one that will correspond to that particular renewal. If you make an error, contact American Flyers at online@americanflyers.com and we can correct it for you.
While training with us, your American Flyers learning guide will be your foundation for your flight training program. It’s yours at no additional cost.
If you start your FIRC too far in advance of your expiration date, you risk the chance of missing regulatory or guidance changes. The intent of the FIRC is to keep you current and safe. As pilots and instructors we take that responsibility very seriously.
You can update your profile by clicking on the Account pull-down menu on the navigation menu at the top of the page and then clicking on “Edit Profile.” Edit the information in the fields and then click on the “continue” button on the bottom of the page. Please take this opportunity to make sure your email address is current. You can reprint your Graduation Certificate after revising your information.
First locate your nearest FSDO at http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/ then make an appointment to meet with an Airman Inspector prior to your CFI certificate expiration date. The wait time for an appointment can be several weeks depending on the FSDO. Ask if you should bring a paper 8710 application or if they want you to apply through IACRA. Lastly, bring the following: a. Your signed Graduation Certificate (date of issuance must fall within three calendar months prior to CFI certificate expiration date) b. Your completed and signed 8710-1 (if they accept paper applications) c. Your valid US Driver’s License, Passport or Military ID d. Your unexpired Flight Instructor Certificate (hard copy).
If you are unsuccessful at passing both quizzes an alert will be sent to our technical support team to assist you. If you haven’t heard from us within 24 hours, please call 800-268-6198 or email online@americanflyers.com.
No problem. Let us know your availability and we’ll put together a schedule for you. One of the biggest deficiencies we see when people come to us for a finish-up is lack of regular, frequent training. And while a full-immersion training program is certainly beneficial, it is more important that training is regular and consistent. We’ll work with you.
Yes, simply log back in to your account, click on the lesson you were in and then click on the “Page-Next” button till it stops you from progressing any further. This will be the spot where you left off when you were called away from your computer.
An Airman Certification Representative (ACR) is an individual representing a specific FIRC sponsor who is authorized to accept FAA applications for renewal of valid flight instructor certificates from successful graduates of that sponsor’s program and to issue temporary flight instructor certificates. For your convenience, our ACR can accept your application via IACRA or through the mail and issue you a temporary certificate.
You have an opportunity to purchase the ACR Service on your Main Page under “Renewal Details” at any time.
Yes, provided that you have not yet initiated the ACR service. Click on this link http://americanflyers.net/instruction/enroll.asp?form=b and click the money back guarantee link. Click the link for “refund form” and complete all the blocks of the form. Then click the submit button. You should see your credit card statement reflect the refund on your next billing cycle.
There is no automatic transmission of paperwork. There are three ways to submit paperwork for processing: 1. Through the American Flyers ACR using IACRA’s electronic application system; 2. Through the American Flyers ACR by physically mailing your paperwork to the FIRC Department; or, 3. Through a Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).
The FAA is requiring ALL FIRC providers to provide a minimum number of hours of course content. This course is constructed along FAA guidelines to be a “study” course, not a “read” course and is designed not only to refresh your knowledge of what is required of you as a Certificated Flight Instructor, but also enable you to successfully pass the quizzes to graduate from this course. To that end, the FAA now requires ALL FIRC providers to add a timer to their courses so that study time can be verified.
American Flyers has implemented this by having a clock that remains in the background, out of sight and is activated each time you open a lesson. The required study time is shown at the beginning of the lesson by the lesson title. That particular section will stay open and available to you for a selected number of minutes that are appropriate to studying and retaining the information presented. You may then proceed to the next lesson and so on. These “speed bumps” are designed to make sure that you have time to read and review the material before proceeding on.
You may go back at any time to lessons that you have already studied. The content of the course will include links to relevant websites and reports, as well as videos. Time spent on those additional resources will count toward the minimum time for that lesson. If you find you are completing the lessons quicker than the allocated time, we strongly recommend that you make use of those resources for further review. The quizzes will not become available till the Content and Time progress bars reach 100%.