61.73 (g)

The new 61.73 states that:

(g)Flight instructor certificate and ratings. A person who can show official U.S. military documentation of being a U.S. military instructor pilot or U.S. military pilot examiner, or a former instructor pilot or pilot examiner may apply for and be issued a flight instructor certificate with the appropriate ratings if that person:

(1) Holds a commercial or airline transport pilot certificate with the appropriate aircraft category and class rating, if a class rating is appropriate, for the flight instructor rating sought: 

(2) Holds an instrument rating, or has instrument privileges, on the pilot certificate that is appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought, and 

(3) Presents the following documents:

(i) A knowledge test report that shows the person passed a knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed under §61.185(a) appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought and the knowledge test was passed within the preceding 24 calendar months prior to the month of application. If the U.S. military instructor pilot or pilot examiner already holds a flight instructor certificate, holding of a flight instructor certificate suffices for the knowledge test report. 

(ii) An official U.S. Armed Forces record or order that shows the person is or was qualified as a U.S. Armed Forces military instructor pilot or pilot examiner for the flight instructor rating sought. 

(iii) An official U.S. Armed Forces record or order that shows the person completed a U.S. Armed Forces' instructor pilot or pilot examiner training course and received an aircraft rating qualification as a military instructor pilot or pilot examiner that is appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought. 

(iv) An official U.S. Armed Forces record or order that shows the person passed a U.S. Armed Forces instructor pilot or pilot examiner proficiency check in an aircraft as a military instructor pilot or pilot examiner that is appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought.

(1) √
(2) √
(3) (i) √ : I enrolled in the Sheppard Air software for Military Competency Instructor (MCI) and studied the material provided. I took the test on March 29th and got a good score but more importantly met the requirements for this section.
(3) (ii) √ : The official US Military record is a DD214 form. Although old and faded it listed all of my my primary specialties in Box 11 including 8543 INSTM FLGTINST, 2 YRS, 3 MOS, and 8592 FLGT INST VT, 11 MOS.
(3) (iii) (iv) √ : In addition to a letter from Naval Aviation Schools Command stating I had completed a Flight Instructor Course, I also provided my OPNAVFORM 3760-31 (REV 4-65) Aviators Flight Logbook. The front section entitled "Qualifications and Achievements" validated the DD214.

The next step was to call the local FSDO (Flight Standards District Office - I chose Philadelphia) and ask what their requirements might be and if the were any additional ones to this list.  The only other form was FAA 8710-1 "Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application".  Sheppard Air provided some guidance filling this out (IACRA - Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application - doesn't work for this program so the form must be done manually). Still, I had difficulty with Box III: Record of Pilot Time. Was this total time, total instructor time, total civilian time or some combination of all? I calculated instructor time in the T34c at 1065.7 but decided to call the FSDO back for clarification. They don't use this box for this program so no need to fill it out at all. I made an appointment to review this material with the FSDO for Tuesday April 9th.

After about a thirty minute review I was issued an FAA Form 8060-4 (Temporary Airman Certificate) with the additional privileges of Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane (CFI, CFII). My new picture of Orville should come in about 45 days.

With the paperwork done the next step is contact my mentor to find out how to really be a flight instructor. The forecasters have promised flying weather any day now.