EASA Licences and ratings

Instructor certificate in EASA means the authorisation of a pilot to provide specific instruction towards issue, revalidation or renewal of the licences and ratings. Instructor certificates may contain the limitations or further explanation of the privileges of an instructor - e.g. FI(A) limited to PPL only or TRI privileges for particular aircraft type.

Nine instructor categories are recognised by Part-FCL:

• FI certificate: aeroplane (FI(A)), helicopter (FI(H)), airship (FI(As)), sailplane (FI(S)) and balloon (FI(B));
• TRI certificate: aeroplane (TRI(A)), helicopter (TRI(H)), powered-lift aircraft (TRI(PL));
• CRI certificate: aeroplane (CRI(A));
• IRI certificate: aeroplane (IRI(A)), helicopter (IRI(H)) and airship (IRI(As));
• SFI certificate: aeroplane (SFI(A)), helicopter (SFI(H)) and poweredlift aircraft (SFI(PL));
• MCCI certificate: aeroplanes (MCCI(A)), helicopters (MCCI(H)), powered-lift aircraft(MCCI(PL)) and airships (MCCI(As));
• STI certificate: aeroplane (STI(A)) and helicopter (STI(H));
• MI certificate: (MI);
• FTI certificate: (FTI).

For categories (1) to (4) and for (8) and (9) the applicant needs to hold a pilot licence. For categories (5) to (7) no licence is needed, only an instructor certificate.

A person may hold more than one instructor certificate.

By holding FI certificate various privileges of another certificates may be included into one licence endorsement such as CRI, IRI or MI.