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Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC)

CFI - Renew Your Glider Flight Instructor Certificate

The Soaring Safety Foundation provides US flight instructors the ability to renew their FAA flight instructor certificate in a class tailored to the need of Flight Instructors, pilots and students. One FIRC is held in concurrent with the bi-annual SSA soaring convention. This FIRC is held the Tuesday and Wednesday preceeding the convention at the convention site. Other FIRCs are held, upon request, around the country. Contact Richard Carlson [rcarlson501 at comcast.net] for more details.

The SSF has an FAA approved ACR (Airman Certification Representative) on staff. This means that the CFI can complete the renewal paperwork at the end of the FIRC. The SSF ACR will issue a new temporary CFI certificate and file the paperwork with the FAA. This means that FIRC attendees no longer need to schedule a visit with their local FSDO to complete the renewal process.

New for 2022, the FAA requires that each FIRC provider administer a closed book state test at the end of each day. The SSF FIRC has historically handed out paper tests to comply with this rule. Starting in 2022, the SSF will move to an on-line test using a laptop or tablet based web browser. Attendees should bring a device with them to take this daily test.

Register for a FIRC on-line and pay the $150 fee by credit card, sending a check to the SSA office in Hobbs, or pay at the door. Follow the On-Line Registration link to the registration form. Selecting Pay by Credit Card and you will be taken to the SSA Store to complete the payment process.

Classes start promptly at 8:00 AM and end at 5:30 PM both days. You can expect to stay a little longer Sunday evening if you are renewing your CFI certificate. The SSF ACRs will process renewal applications after the class ends.

All current FIRC presentations are avilable for viewing/downloading at SSF FIRC Presentations

The FIRC schedule for 2024/2025 is:

• Location: SSA Convention - Knoxville, TN
  Date: October 22-23, 2024
  Status: FIRM: In-Person
  On-Line Registration Form
  Local Contact: SSA Office
  Location: Knoxville Convention Center
  Room 200A
  701 Henley St
  Knoxville, TN 37902
• Location: Houston, TX
  Date: January 18-19, 2025
  Status: FIRM: In-Person
  On-Line Registration Form
  Local Contact: Michael Hunter [michaelhunter57 at gmail.com]
  Location: Greater Houston Soaring Association Clubhouse
  17109 TX-36 W.
  Wallis, TX 77485
  979-398-5827
  Note: Space is limited
  Visit the Houston FIRC web page for more information, including maps and lodging information.
• Location: Chicago, IL
  Note: new date and location.
  Date: Janurary 11-12, 2025
  Status: FIRM: In-Person
  On-Line Registration Form
  Local Contact: Ron Ridenour [ronsnimbus3 at aol.com]
  Location: Dupage FLight Center
  2700 International Dr
  West Chicago, IL 60185
  847-923-3859
  There are no recommended hotels, There are numerous hotels near the Dupage Airport.
• Location: Dansville, NY
  Date: February 22-23, 2025
  Status: FIRM: In-Person
  On-Line Registration Form
  Local Contact: Linda Evenski [levenski at rochester.rr..com]
  Location: Finger Lake Soaring
  Community Room
  51 Soaring Hill Dr
  Dansville, NY 14903
• Location: Philadelphia Glider Council
  Date: February 15-16, 2025
  Status: FIRM: In-Person
  On-Line Registration Form
  Local Contact: Phil Klauder [phil.klauder at verizon.net]
  Location: Whitpain Township Municipal Building
  960 Wentz Road
  Blue Bell, PA 19422
• Location: Anchorage, AK
  Date: February 1-2, 2025
  Status: FIRM: In-Person
  On-Line Registration Form
  Local Contact: Peter Brown [pdbrown170b at me.com]
  Location: Polaris Squadron CAP meeting room
  1910 E. 5th Ave
  Merrill Field
  Anchorage, AK 99501
• Location: Tidewater Soaring
  Date: March 8-9, 2025
  Status: FIRM: In-Person
  On-Line Registration Form
  Local Contact: Marita Rea [aviatrix282 at earthlink.net]
  Location: Tidewater Soaring Club House
  Garner Airport
  14212 Iron Mine Springs Rd
  Windsor, VA
  757-952-9094
  Space is limited

SSF FIRC's are open to any Flight Instructor wishing to renew their FI certificate. As of 2008, the SSF FIRC can renew any FI certificate (glider, airplane, rotorcraft, ...). If your tow-pilots are airplane flight instructors they can how renew by attending the SSF FIRC. The SSF FIRCs are also open to any glider pilot who is interesed in learning more about the art of Soaring. You do not need to be a flight instructor to attend an SSF FIRC.

New in 2012, the SSF now has an FAA approved ACR (Airman Certification Representative) on staff. This means that the CFI can complete the renewal paperwork at the end of the FIRC. The SSF ACR will issue a new temporary CFI certificate and file the paperwork with the FAA. This means that FIRC attendees no longer need to schedule a visit with their local FSDO to complete the renewal process.

New - December 19, 2011 - New Register for a FIRC on-line and pay by credit card, sending a check to the local contact, or pay at the door. Follow the On-Line Registration link to the registration form. Selecting Pay by Credit Card and you will be taken to the SSA Store to complete the payment process.