This service might be interesting for an EASA flight school or private individual seeking for the freelance FIE(A) examiner for CRI single-engine assessment of competence.

 ⚠️ What is CRI SE assessment of competence ✈️

CRI SE assessment of competence is the checkride - with an EASA examiner - so-called Flight Instructor Examiner - FIE. The purpose is to assess the competence of the Exam candidate to provide the training on single-engine aeroplanes. The CRI SE assessment of competence serves also as a checkride for extension of flight instructor privileges in order to provide the trainings on single-engine clasess of the aeroplanes  iaw FCL.905.FI(b). 

Privileges ✅ of the Class Rating Instructor - SE

The Class Rating Instructor certificate is valid for 36 months iaw FCL.940. The privileges of a Class Rating Instructor iaw FCL.905.CRI are to instruct for:

  • the flight training for issue, revalidation or renewal of a single-engine class rating for single-pilot aeroplanes, except for single-pilot high performance complex aeroplanes;
  • flight training for a towing or aerobatic rating for the aeroplane category, provided the CRI holds the relevant rating and has demonstrated the ability to instruct for that rating to an senior EASA flight instructor FI qualified in accordance with FCL.905.FI(j).

CRI single-engine privileges also apply for all single-engine class ratings established by EASA class ratings endorsment list such as:

  • Single Engine Piston - land/sea
  • Touring motor-gliders
  • Pilatus PC-12
  • Zlin Z-137
  • Piper Meridian

Restricted CRI ME privileges ✈️ 

In accordance with FCL.905.CRI(b), the privileges of a Class Rating Instructor are restricted to the single-engine class rating in which the CRI assessment of competence was taken. This means - if the CRI SE assessment of competence has been taken in Pilatus PC-12, privileges of CRI SE are restricted otherwise. The privileges of the Class Rating Instructor shall be extended to further classes when the CRI has completed, within the last 12 months:

  • 15 hours flight time as PIC on aeroplanes of the applicable class or type of aeroplane;
  • one training flight from the right hand seat under the supervision of another Class Rating Instructor or Flight Instructor qualified for that class or type occupying the other pilot’s seat.

Pre-requisites of CRI SE AoC ✅

Before attending the CRI assessment of competence, the Exam candidate have to attend the flight training course in flight school. The pre-requisites for obtaining the CRI SE are specified in:

  • Ab-initio CRI training - FCL.915.CRI(b)
  • FI(A) extension to SE - FCL.905.FI(b) for FI(A) holder 

For both cases, minimum experience required by FCL.915.CRI(a) applies as follows: 

  • 300 hours as pilot on aeroplanes
  • 30 hours as PIC on particular class

NOTE: There is no need to have 30 hours on PIC in last 12 months like it was required by JAR-FCL1.

CRI SE Training course ✅

The CRI should be able to identify common errors and how to correct them properly, which should be emphasised at all times. The aim of the CRI training course is to provide the training up to the level of competence defined in FCL.920 and adequate to a CRI.  In accordance with FCL.930.CRI, the CRI training course consists of three parts:

  • Part 1: teaching and learning (AMC1 FCL.920);
    • 25 hours of theoretical knowledge instruction.
  • Part 2: technical training
    • 10 hours of technical training, including revision of technical knowledge, the preparation of lesson plans and the development of classroom/simulator instructional skills.
  • Part 3: flight instruction
    • 3 hours of flight instruction on single-engine aeroplane

Conduct of CRI SE ✈️ assessment

In accordance with GM1 FCL.905.FI(h)(2), FSTDs should not be used to pass an assessment of competence on the class or type of aircraft. That means the CRI SE assessment of competence can be done in aircraft only.

The format and application form for the CRI SE assessment of competence are determined by the state of license issue. For the purpose of CRI SE assessment, an aircraft that meets the requirements for training aircraft shall be met. EASA FIE examiner acts as the PIC, except in circumstances agreed upon by the EASA examiner when another instructor is designated as Pilot-in-command for the flight.

During the assessment of competence the Exam candidate occupies the seat normally occupied by the class rating instructor. The EASA examiner functions as the ‘student’. The Exam candidate is required to explain the relevant exercises and to demonstrate their conduct to the ‘student’, where appropriate. Thereafter, the ‘student’ executes the same manoeuvres (if the ‘student’ is the EASA examiner or another instructor, this can include typical mistakes of inexperienced students). The Exam candidate is expected to correct mistakes orally or, if necessary, by intervening physically.

The CRI single-engine assessment of competence should also include additional demonstration exercises, as decided by the EASA examiner and agreed upon with the Exam candidate before the assessment. 

All relevant exercises of CRI single engine assessment of competence shall be completed within a period of 6 months. However, all exercises should, where possible, be completed on the same day. In principle, failure in any exercise requires a retest covering all exercises, with the exception of those that may be retaken separately. The EASA examiner may terminate the assessment at any stage if they consider that a retest is required.

Content of CRI SE ✈️ assessment

Section 1 - the oral theoretical knowledge examination part of the assessment of competence, is subdivided into two parts:

  • The Exam candidate is required to give a lecture under test conditions to other ‘student(s)’, one of whom will be the EASA FIE(A) examiner. The test lecture is to be selected from items of section 1. The amount of time for preparation of the test lecture is agreed upon beforehand with the FIE(A) examiner. Appropriate literature may be used by the applicant. The test lecture should not exceed 45 minutes;
  • The applicant is tested orally by an EASA examiner for knowledge of items of Section 1 and the ‘core instructor competencies: teaching and learning’ content given in the instructor courses.

Sections 2, 3 and 5 - sections comprise exercises to demonstrate the ability to be an CRI SE chosen by the examiner from the flight syllabus of the CRI SE training course. The Exam candidate is required to demonstrate CRISME abilities, including briefing, flight instruction and de-briefing.

  • Section 1: Theoretical knowledge
    • 1.1. Air law
    • 1.2 Aircraft general knowledge
    • 1.3 Flight performance and planning
    • 1.4 Human performance and limitations
    • 1.5 Meteorology
    • 1.6 Navigation
    • 1.7 Operational procedures
    • 1.8 Principles of flight
    • 1.9 Training administration
  • Section 2: Pre-flight Briefing
    • 2.1 Visual presentation
    • 2.1 N/A
    • 2.3 Technical accuracy
    • 2.4 Clarity of explanation
    • 2.5 Clarity of speech
    • 2.6 Instructional technique
    • 2.7 Use of models and aids
    • 2.8 Student participation
  • Section 3: Flight
    • 3.1 Arrangement of demo
    • 3.2 Synchronisation of speech with demo
    • 3.3 Correction of faults
    • 3.4 Aircraft handling
    • 3.5 Instructional technique
    • 3.6 General airmanship and safety
    • 3.7 Positioning and use of airspace
  • Section 4: Not applicable.
  • Section 5: Post-flight de-briefing
    • 5.1 Visual presentation
    • 5.2 Technical accuracy
    • 5.3 Clarity of explanation
    • 5.4 Clarity of speech
    • 5.5 Instructional technique
    • 5.6 Use of models and aids
    • 5.7 Student participation

Pass criteria ✅ of the EASA CRI SE assessment

The Exam candidate for class rating instructor shall be assessed in order to verify the competences required by FCL.920. The CRI SE assessment of competence should be made against performance standards described in AMC1 FCL.920 in following areas: 

  • Prepare resources,
  • Create a climate conducive to learning,
  • Present knowledge,
  • Integrate Threat and Error Management (TEM) and crew resource management,
  • Manage time to achieve training objectives,
  • Facilitate learning,
  • Assess trainee performance,
  • Monitor and review progress,
  • Evaluate training sessions,
  • Report outcome.