---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 121.412"
title: "14"
number: "121.412"
heading: "Qualifications: Flight instructors."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/121.412"
---

# §121.412. Qualifications: Flight instructors.

- (a) **For the purposes of this part—**
  - (1) A flight instructor (airplane) is a person who is qualified to instruct in an airplane for a particular type airplane.
  - (2) A flight instructor (FSTD) is a person who is qualified to instruct only in an FSTD for a particular type airplane.
  - (3) Flight instructors are those instructors who perform the functions described in [§ 121.401(a)(4)](/cfr/14/121.401.md?p=a-4).
- (b) No certificate holder may use a person nor may any person serve as a flight instructor in a training program established under this subpart unless, with respect to the airplane type involved, that person—
  - (1) Holds the pilot certificates and rating required to serve as a pilot in command or a flight engineer certificate, as applicable, in operations under this part;
  - (2) Has satisfactorily completed the appropriate training phases for the airplane, including recurrent training, that are required to serve as a pilot in command or flight engineer, as applicable, in operations under this part;
  - (3) Has satisfactorily completed the appropriate proficiency or flight checks that are required to serve as a pilot in command or flight engineer, as applicable, in operations under this part;
  - (4) Has satisfactorily completed the applicable training requirements of [§ 121.414](/cfr/14/121.414.md).
- (c) Completion of the requirements in [paragraphs (b)](#b) (2), (3), and (4) of this section, as applicable, shall be entered in the individual's training record maintained by the certificate holder.
- (d) A flight instructor (FSTD) must accomplish the following—
  - (1) Fly at least two flight segments as a required crewmember for the type of airplane within the 12-month period preceding the performance of any flight instructor duty in an FSTD; or
  - (2) Satisfactorily complete an approved line-observation program within the period prescribed by that program preceding the performance of any flight instructor duty in an FSTD.
- (e) The flight segments or line-observation program required in [paragraph (d)](#d) of this section is considered completed in the month required if completed in the calendar month before, or the calendar month after the month in which it is due.
- (f) A person who serves as a required flightcrew member while performing flight instructor duties must also meet the requirements of this chapter for the duty position in which they are serving.

## Notes

### Amendments

[Docket FAA-2019-0360, Amdt. 121-392, 89 FR 51426, June 18, 2024]

### Source

Source: Docket 9509, 35 FR 90, Jan. 3, 1970, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40103, 40113, 40119, 41706, 42301 preceding note added by Pub. L. 112-95, sec. 412, 126 Stat. 89, 44101, 44701-44702, 44705, 44709-44711, 44713, 44716-44717, 44722, 44729, 44732; 46105; Pub. L. 111-216, 124 Stat. 2348 (49 U.S.C. 44701 note); Pub. L. 112-95, 126 Stat. 62 (49 U.S.C. 44732 note); Pub. L. 115-254, 132 Stat. 3186 (49 U.S.C. 44701 note).

### Amendments

[Docket FAA-2019-0360, Amdt. 121-392, 89 FR 51426, June 18, 2024]