The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) will release an updated electronic Flight Instructor Refresher Course (eFIRC) on November 1. The online course, offered by AOPA’s Air Safety Institute (ASI), is one way to keep any flight instructor certificate current.
“AOPA is uniquely positioned to offer the most robust, up-to-date course for flight instructors,” said ASI Chief Flight Instructor and FIRC Program Manager Mary Kuehn. “In addition to revamping the entire course every two years, we also update it anytime a new law or regulation affecting flight instruction goes into effect. We work with AOPA’s government affairs team to understand it and AOPA’s Pilot Information Center to get insight into the questions instructors across the country have, which helps us constantly improve our eFIRC to meet instructors’ needs.”
The course is made up of a series of modules designed to keep certificated flight instructors (CFIs) informed of current rules, regulations, current practices related to flight instruction and overall, enhance aviation safety.
The new course, which launches next week, offers two new electives:
- Getting Back into Flight Instruction, targeted at CFIs who haven’t taught in a while and are looking to get back into the industry.
- Sport Pilots and Light Sport Category Aircraft explores the FAA’s new Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule, which was finalized and announced earlier this year, in greater detail. The first part of MOSAIC, which greatly expands sport pilot privileges, goes into effect this week.
“Since the MOSAIC rule was announced in July, AOPA has received questions about it from flight instructors and pilots every day,” said Kuehn. “In our course, we give instructors the information they need to know about this new rule—including certificate requirements, new endorsements they can earn, and the aircraft they will now be able to fly as these changes take effect on October 22.”
The updated course will also include several user experience improvements. Thanks to feedback on the previous version, users are no longer timed by slide and instead can proceed through the content at their own pace within each module, while still complying with the FAA-mandated 16-hour course requirement.
In addition, every module will include resource pages featuring relevant articles, videos, and more from reputable sources such as the FAA and AOPA.
“AOPA’s new eFIRC makes renewing a flight instructor certificate easier and more engaging than ever before, with all proceeds continuing to support ASI’s vital safety education efforts for the pilot community,” added Kuehn.
View and purchase the eFIRC here.
