Proposed Changes to the CFII Check Ride

Talking about the CFII check ride.

Uh, I think that we've been kinda doing a disservice and missing some opportunities and somewhat missing the point, uh, when it comes to the CFII check ride.

Uh, first of all, CFII check ride is one of few check rides left that still uses a PTS as opposed to the ACS.

So there's some updates still to be made, and who knows? Maybe some of the things I talk about today will be implemented into the new ACS whenever it comes around.

But, uh, in general, let's go ahead and find the current PTS.

We're gonna talk about the things that are currently required, and then we're gonna talk about the things that I propose perhaps we look at changing or even just adding.

So let's pull this up.

All right.

So I'm not going to do an exhaustive overview of the PTS here, but I'm just gonna talk through the main points of kind of the things that you're expected to demonstrate on the CFII, uh, check ride.

And in large part, you may recognize that what's being asked of you is really just the same things that are asked of you on your instrument check ride Except of course, you're expected to teach them in this case.

Um, but of course, we start with techni- or we start with fundamentals of instructing, which if you already have your CFI, uh, is not required for this add-on.

Uh, we have our technical subject areas to include aircraft flight instruments and navigation, aeromedical factors, regulations and publications related to IFR operations, and logbook entries related to instrument instruc- instruction.

Uh, we have pre-flight preparation.

We have a pre-flight lesson on a maneuver to be performed in flight, um, which is kinda weird for a instrument check ride.

I mean, I, I mean, I guess you could consider an approach a maneuver, but it's just kind of weird the way they, they, uh, state it here 'cause we don't do, really do maneuvers.

So, uh, next we have ATC clearances and procedures.

Then we have flight by reference to instruments, of course, to include straight and level flight, turns, change of airspeed in straight and level and turning flight, constant airspeed climbs and descents, constant rate climbs and descents, time turns, steep turns, recovery from unusual attitudes.

Steep turns aren't generally asked to be performed this, in this day and age.

I know some examiners out there still do it, um, but it's not a big focus in general.

Um, next we have navigation aids.

We have instrument approaches, including non-precision, precision, missed approach, circling approach, and landing from a straight-in approach.

Then we have emergency operations such as lost communications and approach with loss of primary flight instruments, okay? Partial panel skills, uh, engine failure during straight and level flight, and turns.

This is all multi-engine stuff.

And then, of course, post-flight procedures, okay? So yeah, largely all the same stuff that you were expected to demonstrate on your instrument check ride, but now you need to teach it.

One thing, um, that I will note at the beginning of the PTS here, it talks about emphasis on attitude instrument flying and partial panel skills.