Regulation Text
§ 61.211 Applicability.
This subpart prescribes the requirements for the issuance of ground instructor certificates and ratings, the conditions under which those certificates and ratings are necessary, and the limitations upon those certificates and ratings.
Research Notes
Research Notes — § 61.211 Applicability: Ground Instructors
Subpart I Scope — Ground Instructor Certificates Only
§ 61.211 establishes that Subpart I governs ground instructor certificates and ratings — a separate category from flight instructor certificates. A ground instructor certificate permits its holder to provide ground training and recommend candidates for knowledge tests, but does not authorize flight training or flight endorsements. Source: 14 CFR Part 61 Subpart I
Three Ground Instructor Ratings
Subpart I provides for three ground instructor ratings, each with distinct privilege levels:
- Basic Ground Instructor (BGI): Sport, recreational, and private pilot ground training and knowledge test recommendations
- Advanced Ground Instructor (AGI): All non-instrument certificate and rating ground training and knowledge test recommendations
- Instrument Ground Instructor (IGI): Instrument rating ground training and knowledge test recommendations
Source: 14 CFR § 61.215
Ground Instructor vs. CFI — Key Differences
A ground instructor cannot endorse logbooks for solo flight, cannot endorse for practical tests, and cannot conduct flight reviews or IPCs. Their endorsement authority is limited to logbook entries for ground training and recommendations for knowledge tests. The ground instructor certificate requires no flight experience, only knowledge test passage. Source: 14 CFR Part 61 Subpart I