It's that time again - CFI renewal. I'm not so accomplished as to be a MCFI or Gold Seal, so I need to present my student list to the FSDO for renewal.
Our FSDO, Teterboro NJ, is leaning on all the local examiners to use IACRA exclusively.
Now that I need to fill out my own 8710, they tell me that I need to type it the old fashioned way and bring it physically to the FSDO. We were told the inspectors in my FSDO do not have access to IACRA.
I thought that was a little strange, to I called my Eastern Region FAAST Program Manager and he told me, for certain, that a CFI renewal can be done through IACRA. The process would be automatic for active flight instructors (four passes, 80% pass rate), but that you need to show ID to get the new certificate. Otherwise, they could simply generate the new ticket and mail it to you.
Lesson learned: don't take the first "no" answer you get from the FAA.
