CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 14 Issue 1 - 3

CFI NOTES
LETTERS
CANADIAN FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR SYSTEM
Good afternoon. I enjoy the articles. I'm a Class 3
flight instructor in Canada and would like to correct a
statement made by David St. George about instructing in
Canada (Things I wish I had known as a new CFI, Winter
2022 | Vol. 13 Issue 4). Only Class 4 instructors must
be supervised and must work for an accredited flight
training unit (FTU) in Canada. Class 3 instructors do
not need direct supervision and they could also freelance
or work for an FTU but they cannot supervise other
instructors; they can work as chief flying instructors
for a flight training unit but without Class 4 instructors
to manage. Only Class 2 or Class 1 instructors can
supervise other instructors and only Class 1 instructors
can teach candidates to become instructors. I hope this
sheds some light on the instructor landscape in Canada.
-Paul Tomascik, AOPA member
Thank you, Paul, for that important correction. This
led to a more extensive investigation of the Canadian
Flight Instructor system, which seems like a very
intelligent model for gradually deploying responsibility
to new CFIs. This system simultaneously protects the
learner and mentors the new CFI. This is a summary on
the FlyCanada website:
" Flight instructors are regulated by Transport
Canada into four classes. New flight instructors start
as Class 4 and must be supervised by more senior
instructors. Class 4 instructors may become Class 3 after
meeting several practical requirements, including
giving a minimum of 100 hours of flight instruction and
successfully recommending three or more students for
flight tests. As flight instructors gain experience, they can
progress through Class 2 and eventually Class 1. These
experienced instructors can manage flight schools and
other instructors as Chief Flying Instructors (CFIs), train
other flight instructors, and become pilot examiners. "
-David St. George
(Editor's note: To graduate from Class 4 to Class 3,
instructors must also initially solo three students; to move
from level 3 to 2, they must pass a written exam and flight test
and have recommended a minimum of 10 students for a flight
test; to be a class 2 instructor, they must also do a flight test.
Only Class 1 instructors can train instructor candidates.)
CHECKRIDE CHECKLIST
The response to the question " Has any DPE required
an applicant to use Foggles while demonstrating
VORs? " (Checkride Checklist, Summer 2022, Vol.
13 | Issue 2) seems in direct conflict with Task VIII.F
of the Private Pilot ACS, which has the Objective " To
determine that the applicant exhibits satisfactory
knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with
radio communications, navigation systems/facilities,
and radar services available for use during flight
solely by reference to instruments. " Skill PA.VIII.F.S1
requires the student to " Maintain airplane control
while selecting proper communications frequencies,
identifying the appropriate facility, and managing
navigation equipment. "
That sure sounds like demonstrating VORs to me,
since there's no " identifying the appropriate facility "
with GPS. Since my flight school assigns private
students to the younger instructors, I don't have recent
experience with this topic, but I know that in previous
years, Scottsdale FSDO examiners that I used always
had private candidates demonstrate VOR usage under
the hood.
- Bob Feugate CFI-ASMEL, Instrument,
AOPA member
This is an interesting and good question.
It is well within the ACS to ask a private pilot applicant
to demonstrate the skill of navigating using whatever
form of radio navigation equipment is onboard to track
a course (either a VOR or a GPS-even a portable or VFR
GPS system in the aircraft might be used). A scenario
might be something such as, " You just encountered
inadvertent IMC and want to track away from it. Could
you fly to a VOR or select a GPS point (potentially an
airport) that is behind you and make a turn back around
to get out of IMC and hold your altitude and course while
doing it? Would you contact ATC? If so, whom and how? "
While I recognize that many DPEs do not take the
scenario this far with private pilot applicants frequently,
it is certainly a valid testing item.
Something an applicant definitely should be
prepared to do!
-Jason Blair, CFI and FAA designated pilot examiner

https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue4/index.php#/p/20 https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue4/index.php#/p/20 https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue2/index.php#/p/21 https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue2/index.php#/p/21 https://flycanada.org/career-pathways/pilot-careers/flight-instructor/

CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 14 Issue 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 14 Issue 1