Grade III Flight Instructor

Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 November 2011 08:20 Written by Administrator Tuesday, 29 November 2011 14:10

Becoming a flight instructor is common starting point in a pilot's career. In order to be issued with a Grade III Flight Instructor Rating in South Africa, the following minimum requirements need to be met:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• An applicant for a Grade III flight instructor’s rating must have either a valid Commercial Pilot Licence or a valid Airline Transport Pilot Licence
• The applicant must have successfully completed 20 hours of instructional patter training with either a Grade I or Grade II flight instructor, of which 15 hours must be in the aircraft and 5 hours may be accumulated in an approved flight simulation training device
• The applicant must have passed the theoretical knowledge examinations for an instructor rating
• A qualified pilot or navigation instructor with the South African Air Force may apply for an exemption to one or all of the above requirements
• The required amount of hours needed may be reduced to 10 hours if the applicant is already the holder of an instructor’s rating in another category of aircraft
• A Grade III flight instructor may only hold a type rating as instructor on an aircraft for which he/she has a valid type rating as pilot; provided that he/she will be limited to instructing on aircraft that are single engine piston aircraft up to a maximum certified mass of 1600kg

PRIVILEGES OF A GRADE III FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

• A Grade III flight instructor may only give flight instruction for the initial issue or revalidation of a Private Pilot’s Licence
• Where an integrated training course is in force, a Grade III instructor may only give instruction up to PPL level, except for the authorisation of a student’s first solo flight during the day
• A Grade III instructor may give instrument training necessary for the issue of a night rating in an approved simulator, provided that the instructor has a valid instrument rating as well as a valid FSTD instructor rating
• A Grade III instructor who has 500 hours or more of instruction time may apply to the Commissioner to be allowed to exercise some privileges of a Grade II instructor
• A Grade III instructor rating is valid for a period of 12 months