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UK Civil Aviation Regulations

These are published by the CAA on our UK Regulations pages. EU Regulations and EASA Access Guides published by EASA no longer apply in the UK. Our website and publications are being reviewed to update all references. Any references to EU law and EASA Access guides should be disregarded and where applicable the equivalent UK versions referred to instead.



The privileges of a Synthetic Training Instructor (STI) certificate allows the instructor to carry out synthetic training instruction for:

  • The issue of a licence
  • The issue, revalidation or renewal of an IR and a class or type rating for single-pilot aircraft (except for single-pilot high performance complex aeroplanes) 

Additional privilege for the STI(A) 

  • The privileges of an STI(A) shall include synthetic flight instruction during the core flying skills training of the MPL integrated training course.

Please note, there are specific requirements to be met which allows the instructor to carry out the above individual privileges.

Please refer to ‘FCL.905.STI  – Privileges and conditions’ in UK Regulations for further guidance.

Prerequisites

STI (A)

An applicant for an aeroplane STI certificate shall:

  • Hold, or have held within the 3 years prior to the application, a pilot licence and instructional privileges appropriate to the courses on which instruction is intended.
  • Have completed in an FNPT the relevant proficiency check for the class or type rating, within a period of 12 months preceding the application.
  • An applicant for an STI(A) wishing to instruct on BITDs only, shall complete only the exercises appropriate for a skill test for the issue of a PPL(A).
Close STI (A)

STI (H)

An applicant for a helicopter STI certificate shall:

  • Hold, or have held within the 3 years prior to the application, a pilot licence and instructional privileges appropriate to the courses on which instruction is intended.
  • Have completed in an FNPT the relevant proficiency check for the class or type rating, within a period of 12 months preceding the application.
  • Have completed at least 1 hour of flight time as an observer on the flight deck of the applicable type of helicopter, within the 12 months preceding the application.

Please refer to 'FCL.915.STI  - Prerequisites' in UK Regulations for further guidance.

Close STI (H)

Training

An applicant for an instructor certificate shall have completed a course of theoretical knowledge and flight instruction at an ATO.

The STI training course shall include:

  • At least 3 hours of flight instruction related to the duties of an STI in an FFS, FTD 2/3 or FNPT II/III, under the supervision of an FIE. (Applicants for an STI(A) wishing to instruct on a BITD only, shall complete the flight instruction on a BITD.)
  • For applicants for an STI(H), the course shall also include the FFS content of the applicable TRI course.

Revalidation and Renewal

An STI certificate is issued with a validity of 3 years. However, a revalidation can be completed within the last 12 months of the expiry date. Therefore, the new expiry date of a further 3 years will be calculated from the current expiry date of the STI certificate when completed within the revalidation period.

Revalidation

To revalidate an STI certificate applicants are required to complete the following requirements, within 12 months of the expiry date of the STI certificate:

  • Have conducted at least 3 hours of flight instruction in an FSTD, as part of a complete CPL, IR, PPL or class or type rating course.

  • Have passed in the FSTD on which flight instruction is conducted, the applicable sections of the proficiency check for the appropriate class or type of aircraft.

For STIs(A) instructing on BITDs only, the proficiency check shall include the exercises appropriate for a skill test for the issue of a PPL(A) only.

Close Revalidation

Renewal

To renew an expired SFI certificate, applicants are required to complete the following requirements within 12 months immediately preceding the submission of their application:

  • Complete refresher training as an STI at an ATO.

  • Pass in the FSTD on which flight instruction is conducted, the applicable sections of the proficiency check for the appropriate class or type of aircraft in accordance with Appendix 9.

    For an STI(A) instructing on BITDs only, the proficiency check shall include the exercises appropriate for a skill test for the issue of a PPL(A) only.

  • Conduct, in the relevant aircraft category, on a complete CPL, IR, PPL or class or type rating course, at least 3 hours of flight instruction under the supervision of an FI, a CRI, an IRI or a TRI nominated by the ATO for this purpose, including at least 1 hour of flight instruction supervised by a flight instructor examiner (FIE).

Please refer to 'FCL.940.STI - Revalidation and renewal' in UK Regulations for further guidance.

Close Renewal

How to apply

To apply for the issue, revalidation or renewal of a Synthetic Training Instructor (STI) certificate, you will need to submit online application form SRG2159.

For information on the evidence you will need to provide, please see our webpage.

Contact us

If you have any queries, please contact the Instructors team at instructors@caa.co.uk or on 0330 022 1972 between the hours of 08:30 and 16:30 Monday to Friday.

Related Information

Regulations

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Schools and training

Please ensure that your training provider is approved to conduct the specific course that you are undertaking.

We strongly recommend you check that your instructor and examiner hold the relevant privileges to conduct the training and any flight test, examination or assessment of competence that is being carried out.

How to find a UK examiner or UK approved school

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Guidance

For questions relating to paperwork, such as how to obtain certified copies of documents, please refer to Guidance on documentation.

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