FAA Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI)Planning Instructional Activity and Instructor ResponsibilitiesHard

A CFI is asked to endorse a private pilot applicant for a practical test but realizes the instructor has not personally provided the applicant any flight training within the preceding 2 calendar months. According to 14 CFR 61.195, what must the instructor do?

  1. AWait exactly 60 days and then endorse automatically without further review
  2. BProvide additional training and conduct a review of the applicant's competency before endorsing
  3. CHave a different flight school administrator sign the endorsement instead
  4. DEndorse the applicant anyway since total training hours meet the requirement
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B. Provide additional training and conduct a review of the applicant's competency before endorsing

Under 14 CFR 61.195(b), a flight instructor may not recommend an applicant for a practical test unless the instructor has personally given the applicant flight training within the preceding 2 calendar months. Since that requirement is not met, the instructor must provide additional training and review before signing the endorsement.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. There is no automatic endorsement after a waiting period; retraining/review is required.
  • C. The regulation requires the endorsing instructor to have provided the recent training, not just any signer.
  • D. Total hours don't satisfy the recency-of-training requirement in 61.195(b).

61.195(b) Recency of Training

A CFI may not recommend an applicant for a practical test unless the instructor has given that applicant flight training within the preceding 2 calendar months.

  • Applies to practical test endorsements
  • 2 calendar month recency window
  • Instructor must retrain/review if lapsed

Memory trick: 2 months or retrain — the clock resets before you sign

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