Synthetic flight instructor

The privileges of a Synthetic Flight Instructor (SFI) certificate for multi-pilot aeroplanes (MPA) allows the instructor to carry out synthetic flight instruction for:

• The revalidation and renewal of an IR provided the instructor holds or have held an IR in the relevant aircraft
• The issue of an IR, provided that the instructor holds or have held an IR(A) and have completed an IRI training course (see note below)
• The issue, revalidation and renewal of type ratings for multi-pilot aeroplanes and if applicants seek privileges to operate in multi-pilot operations, for single-pilot high-performance complex aeroplanes
• The MCC training course 
• The MPL course on the basic, intermediate and advanced phases

The privileges of a Synthetic Flight Instructor (SFI) certificate for Single-pilot high performance complex aeroplanes (SPHPCA) aeroplanes allows the instructor to carry out synthetic flight instruction for:

• The revalidation and renewal of an IR provided the instructor holds or have held an IR in the relevant aircraft
• The issue of an IR, provided that the instructor holds or have held an IR(A) and have completed an IRI training course (see note below)
• The issue, revalidation and renewal of type ratings for single-pilot high performance complex aeroplanes in single-pilot operations. 
• The issue, revalidation and renewal of type ratings for single-pilot high performance complex aeroplanes type ratings in multi-pilot operations , provided that the SFI (SPA) certificate has been extended to multi-pilot operations
• The MCC and the MPL training courses on the basic phase, provided that the privileges of SFI (SPA) certificate has been extended to multi-pilot operations

The privileges of a Synthetic Flight Instructor (SFI) certificate for helicopters allows the instructor to carry out synthetic flight instruction for:

• The revalidation and renewal of an IR provided the instructor holds or have held an IR in the relevant aircraft
• The issue of an IR, provided that the instructor holds or have held an IR(H) and have completed an IRI training course (see note below)
• The issue, revalidation and renewal of helicopter type ratings
• MCC training, if SFIs have privileges to instruct for multi-pilot helicopters

SFIs providing instruction for the renewal or revalidation of the instrument flying privileges that are associated with type ratings.

Under JAR-FCL, the UK CAA allowed Synthetic Flight Instructors (SFIs) to give instruction for the renewal or revalidation of the instrument flying privileges that are associated with type ratings; i.e. the renewal or revalidation of a Type Rating combined with the type-specific Instrument Rating (IR). SFIs were not permitted to provide training for the general non-type-specific Instrument Ratings or for the initial grant of the type specific IR privileges.

The UK CAA has issued an exemption to permit SFI's to instruct for the renewal or revalidation of a combined Type Rating and Instrument Rating without having completed an Instrument rating Instructor course, subject to:

• that person having passed a proficiency check for the aircraft Type including the
  Instrument Rating within the last 12 months;
  and
• that the person shall not give instruction for the initial issue of any instrument rating, or for the renewal or revalidation of an instrument rating that is not associated with a Type rating that is to be renewed or revalidated.

An applicant for an SFI (A) MPA certificate shall:

• Hold or have held an CPL(A), MPL(A) or ATPL(A).
• Have completed the proficiency check for the issue of the specific aircraft type rating in an FFS representing the applicable type, within the 12 months preceding the application.
• Have completed at least 1,500 hours flight time as a pilot on multi-pilot aeroplanes.
• Have completed, as a pilot or as an observer, within the 12 months preceding the application, at least: 

Three route sectors on the flight deck of the applicable aircraft type
or 
Two line-orientated flight training-based simulator sessions conducted by qualified flight crew on the flight deck of the applicable type. These simulator sessions shall include two flights of at least two hours each between two different aerodromes, and the associated pre-flight planning and de-briefing.

An applicant for an SFI (A) SPHPCA certificate shall:

• Hold or have held an CPL(A), MPL(A) or ATPL(A).
• Have completed the proficiency check for the issue of the specific aircraft type rating in an FFS representing the applicable type, within the 12 months preceding the application.
• Have completed at least 500 hours of flight time as PIC on single-pilot aeroplanes.
• Hold or have held a multi-engine IR(A) rating.
• Have completed, as a pilot or as an observer, within the 12 months preceding the application, at least: 

Three route sectors on the flight deck of the applicable aircraft type
or 
Two line-orientated flight training-based simulator sessions conducted by qualified flight crew on the flight deck of the applicable type. These simulator sessions shall include two flights of at least two hours each between two different aerodromes, and the associated pre-flight planning and de-briefing

An applicant shall for an SFI (H) certificate for MP helicopters shall:

• Hold or have held an CPL(H), MPL(H) or ATPL(H).
• Have completed the proficiency check for the issue of the specific aircraft type rating in an FFS representing the applicable type, within the 12 months preceding the application.
• Have completed, as a pilot or as an observer, at least 1 hour of flight time on the flight deck of the applicable type, within the 12 months preceding the application.
• Have at least 1,000 hours of flying experience as a pilot on helicopters, including at least 350 hours as a pilot on multi-pilot helicopters.

An applicant for an SFI (H) certificate for SP helicopters shall:

• Hold or have held an CPL(H), MPL(H) or ATPL(H).
• Have completed the proficiency check for the issue of the specific aircraft type rating in an FFS representing the applicable type, within the 12 months preceding the application.
• In the case of single-pilot multi-engine helicopters, completed 500 hours as pilot of helicopters, including 100 hours as PIC on single-pilot multi-engine helicopters.
• In the case of single-pilot single-engine helicopters, completed 250 hours as a pilot on helicopters.

To revalidate an SFI certificate applicants are required to complete at least two out of the following three requirements, before the expiry date of the SFI certificate:

(i) Have completed at least 50 hours as instructors or examiners in FSTDs, of which at least 15 hours in the period of 12 months immediately preceding the expiry date of the SFI certificate
(ii) Have completed instructor refresher training as an SFI at an approved ATO
(iii) Have passed the relevant sections of the AoC

• Additionally, applicants shall have completed, on an FFS, the proficiency checks for the issue of the specific aircraft type ratings representing the types for which privileges are held
  
  
• For at least each alternate revalidation of an SFI certificate, the applicant is required to pass the relevant sections of the AoC
  
  
• If an SFI holds a certificate in more than one type of aircraft within the same category, the assessment of competence taken on one of those types shall revalidate the SFI certificate for the other types held within the same category of aircraft

To renew an expired SFI certificate, applicants are required to complete the following requirements within12 months immediately preceding the submission of their application:

• Have completed instructor refresher training as an SFI at an ATO
• Have passed an SFI AoC
• Have completed, on an FSTD, the skill test for the issue of the specific aircraft type ratings representing the types for which privileges are to be renewed
• Please refer to 'FCL.940.SFI - Revalidation and renewal' in UK Regulations for further guidance.

• Standards Document 43 - Instructions and Procedures for Type Rating Instructors (Aeroplanes), Synthetic Flight Instructor (Aeroplane) and Type Rating Instructors (High Performance Complex Aeroplanes) Course Providers
• UK Regulations - for Flight Crew Licensing (Part FCL) - Subpart J

• Please refer to the UK CAA Scheme of Charges

Please ensure that your training provider is approved to conduct the specific course that you are undertaking.

We strongly recommend you check that your instructor and examiner hold the relevant privileges to conduct the training and any flight test, examination or assessment of competence that is being carried out.

How to find a UK examiner or UK approved school

• UK ATOs are listed in Standards Document 31
• UK examiners

For questions relating to paperwork, such as how to obtain certified copies of documents, please refer to Guidance on documentation.