Instructor Ratings

GENERAL Aviation

What is a flight instructor rating?

To obtain a Part 61 flight crew licence, rating or endorsement, pilots need to complete training which is delivered by capable and qualified instructors. Pilots who conduct this training must hold a pilot instructor rating.

There are two types of pilot instructor ratings:

flight instructor rating
simulator instructor rating.

Quality training underpins pilot competency – this is why the role of instructors is safety critical.

Instructor Rating Training Endorsements offered by Aircraft Australia

Grade 3 Aeroplane
Grade 2 Aeroplane
Grade 1 Aeroplane
Class rating training endorsement (class specific)
Design feature training endorsement
Instrument rating training endorsement
Night VFR training endorsement
Instructor rating training endorsement
Multi‑engine aeroplane class rating instructor training endorsement
Spinning training endorsement

Flight Instructor Grade 3 Aeroplane FI GR 3(A)

The Grade 3 Instructor Course is the first step in starting your career as a professional Flight Instructor. Many people also use this qualification for use later on in the Airline system, as now to progress to the role of Training Captain a Flight Instructor Rating is a prerequisite.

Conduct flight training for the aeroplane category rating
Conduct flight training for a recreational pilot licence, private pilot licence or commercial pilot licence, other than basic instrument flight training
Conduct flight training for a recreational pilot licence endorsement
Approve a student pilot to conduct a solo flight in an aeroplane, other than the student’s first solo flight in an aeroplane
Conduct flight training for a single‑engine aeroplane class rating

Prerequisites

Commercial pilot licence or air transport pilot licence with the aeroplane category rating
Spinning flight activity endorsement

Flight Instructor Grade 3 Aeroplane FI GR 2 (A)

Conduct flight training for the aeroplane category rating
Conduct flight training for a recreational pilot licence, private pilot licence or commercial pilot licence, other than basic instrument flight training
Conduct flight training for a recreational pilot licence endorsement
Approve a student pilot to conduct a solo flight in an aeroplane, other than the student’s first solo flight in an aeroplane
Conduct flight training for a single‑engine aeroplane class rating

Prerequisites

Commercial pilot licence or air transport pilot licence with the specified aircraft category rating
Grade 3 training endorsement
At least 200 hours of flight time conducting initial flight training in an aircraft of the specified category

Flight Instructor Grade 1 Aeroplane FI GR 1 (A)

Activities authorised by a grade 2 training endorsement
Supervise holders of grade 2 and grade 3 training endorsements in the conduct of flight training in an aircraft of the specified category

Prerequisites

Commercial pilot licence or air transport pilot licence with the specified aircraft category rating
Grade 2 training endorsement
At least 500 hours of flight time conducting initial flight training in an aircraft of the specified category

Class rating training endorsement (class specific)

Conduct flight training for the aircraft class rating for the specified class

Prerequisites

Commercial pilot licence or air transport pilot licence
Aircraft class rating for the specified class
At least 50 hours of aeronautical experience as pilot of an aircraft of the specified class

Design Feature training Endorsement

Conduct flight training for any design feature endorsement that the holder holds

Prerequisites

Private pilot licence, commercial pilot licence or air transport pilot licence

Instrument Rating training endorsement

Conduct flight training for an instrument rating, private instrument rating, instrument endorsement or private instrument endorsement in an aircraft of the specified category

Conduct basic instrument flight training for an aircraft of the specified category

Night VFR training endorsement

Conduct flight training for a night VFR rating or night VFR endorsement in an aircraft of the specified category

Conduct basic instrument flight training for an aircraft of the specified category

Prerequisites

Commercial pilot licence or air transport pilot licence
At least 20 hours of aeronautical experience at night as pilot of an aircraft

Instructor rating training endorsement

Conduct flight training for a flight instructor rating, simulator instructor rating or training endorsement in an aircraft of the specified category

Prerequisites

Commercial pilot licence or air transport pilot licence

Multi engine aeroplane class rating instructor training endorsement

Conduct flight training for a class rating (multi‑engine aeroplane) training endorsement

Prerequisites

Commercial pilot licence or air transport pilot licence with aeroplane category rating
Grade 1 training endorsement (aeroplane) or type rating training endorsement for a type of multi‑engine aeroplane

Spinning training endorsement

Conduct flight training for a spinning flight activity endorsement

Prerequisites

Private pilot licence, commercial pilot licence or air transport pilot licence
Spinning flight activity endorsement