493 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 135.338 

§ 135.338 Qualifications: Flight instruc-

tors (aircraft) and flight instructors 

(simulator). 

(a) For the purposes of this section 

and § 135.340: 

(1) A flight instructor (aircraft) is a 

person who is qualified to instruct in 
an aircraft, in a flight simulator, or in 
a flight training device for a particular 
type, class, or category aircraft. 

(2) A flight instructor (simulator) is a 

person who is qualified to instruct in a 
flight simulator, in a flight training 
device, or in both, for a particular 
type, class, or category aircraft. 

(3) Flight instructors (aircraft) and 

flight instructors (simulator) are those 
instructors who perform the functions 
described in § 135.321(a) and 135.323 (a)(4) 
and (c). 

(b) No certificate holder may use a 

person, nor may any person serve as a 
flight instructor (aircraft) in a training 
program established under this subpart 
unless, with respect to the type, class, 
or category aircraft involved, that per-
son— 

(1) Holds the airman certificates and 

ratings required to serve as a pilot in 
command in operations under this 
part; 

(2) Has satisfactorily completed the 

training phases for the aircraft, includ-
ing recurrent training, that are re-
quired to serve as a pilot in command 
in operations under this part; 

(3) Has satisfactorily completed the 

proficiency or competency checks that 
are required to serve as a pilot in com-
mand in operations under this part; 

(4) Has satisfactorily completed the 

applicable training requirements of 
§ 135.340; 

(5) Holds at least a Class III medical 

certificate; and 

(6) Has satisfied the recency of expe-

rience requirements of § 135.247. 

(c) No certificate holder may use a 

person, nor may any person serve as a 
flight instructor (simulator) in a train-
ing program established under this sub-
part, unless, with respect to the type, 
class, or category aircraft involved, 
that person meets the provisions of 
paragraph (b) of this section, or— 

(1) Holds the airman certificates and 

ratings, except medical certificate, re-
quired to serve as a pilot in command 
in operations under this part except be-

fore March 19, 1997 that person need not 
hold a type rating for the type, class, 
or category of aircraft involved. 

(2) Has satisfactorily completed the 

appropriate training phases for the air-
craft, including recurrent training, 
that are required to serve as a pilot in 
command in operations under this 
part; 

(3) Has satisfactorily completed the 

appropriate proficiency or competency 
checks that are required to serve as a 
pilot in command in operations under 
this part; and 

(4) Has satisfactorily completed the 

applicable training requirements of 
§ 135.340. 

(d) Completion of the requirements 

in paragraphs (b) (2), (3), and (4) or (c) 
(2), (3), and (4) of this section, as appli-
cable, shall be entered in the individ-
ual’s training record maintained by the 
certificate holder. 

(e) An airman who does not hold a 

medical certificate may function as a 
flight instructor in an aircraft if func-
tioning as a non-required crewmember, 
but may not serve as a flightcrew 
member in operations under this part. 

(f) A flight instructor (simulator) 

must accomplish the following— 

(1) Fly at least two flight segments 

as a required crewmember for the type, 
class, or category aircraft involved 
within the 12-month period preceding 
the performance of any flight instruc-
tor duty in a flight simulator; or 

(2) Satisfactorily complete an ap-

proved line-observation program with-
in the period prescribed by that pro-
gram preceding the performance of any 
flight instructor duty in a flight simu-
lator. 

(g) The flight segments or line-obser-

vation program required in paragraph 
(f) of this section are considered com-
pleted in the month required if com-
pleted in the calendar month before, or 
in the calendar month after, the month 
in which they are due. 

[Doc. No. 28471, 61 FR 30744, June 17, 1996; 62 
FR 3739, Jan. 24, 1997, as amended by Amdt. 
135–125, 76 FR 35104, June 16, 2011]