Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC)

CFIG - Renew Your Glider Flight Instructor Certificate

The Soaring Safety Foundation (SSF) provides US flight instructors the ability to renew their FAA flight instructor certificate in a class tailored to the needs of Flight Instructors, pilots, and students. Course are held, upon request, around the country. Contact Richard Carlson [rcarlson501 at comcast.net] for more details.

The SSF has several FAA approved ACR (Airman Certification Representative) on staff. At the successful completion of the course, the SSF ACR will use IACRA to issue a new temporary CFI certificate to you. This means that course attendees no longer need to schedule a visit with their local FSDO to complete the renewal process.

Register for a course 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 will send you to the SSA Store to complete the payment process. Classes start at 8:00 am on both days.

The schedule for 2023 is:

In-Person and Virtual Meeting Format*

Following the success of using Virtual Meetings during the Covid-19 Pandemic the FAA has agreed with the SSF that FIRCs can be conducted effectiveuly using this format. Thus the SSF now has the ability to run either in-person or virtual FIRCs. At the presnet time all FIRCs listed below are scheuled to be in-perons. Contact us if you would like to disucss adding another in-person or virtual FIRC to this schedule.

FIRC attendees are required to pass 2 daily tests to successfully complete the SSF FIRC. Starting in 2023 all tests will be given using an on-line web form. Therefore all attendees must register using the registraion link for the appropritate FIRC and they should being a laptop or tablet to class each day.<

For more information contact the SSF Webmaster at webmaster@soaringsafety.org.

Location: Houston, TX
Date: January 14-15, 2023
Status: FIRM: In-Person
On-Line Registration Form
Local Contact: Michael Hunter [michaelhunter57 at gmail.com]
Location: Greater Houston Soaring Association Clubhouse
Note: Space is limited
Visit the Houston FIRC web page for more information, including maps and lodging information.

Location: Chicago, IL
Date: Janurary 21-22, 2023
Status: FIRM: In-Person
On-Line Registration Form
Local Contact: Ron Ridenour [ronsnimbus3 at aol.com]
Location: Schaumburg Airport pilot lounge
905 W. Irving Park Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60193
847-923-3859
There are no recommended hotels, There are numerous hotels near the I-90 and I-290 interchange
Google maps also show a Comfort Suites and Holiday Inn Express near Schumburg Airport.

Location: Elmira, NY
Date: February 4-5, 2023
Status: FIRM: In-Person
On-Line Registration Form
Local Contact: Joe May [jmay at blueforceinc.com]
Location: National Soaring Museum
Community Room
51 Soaring Hill Dr
Elmira, NY 14903

Location: Philadephia Glider Council
Date: February 11-12, 2023
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 18-19, 2023
Status: FIRM: In-Person
On-Line Registration Form
Local Contact: Don Burand [1dburand at gmail.com]
Location: Polaris Squadron CAP meeting room
1910 E. 5th Ave
Merrill Field
Anchorage, AK 99501

Location: SSA Convention - Reno, NV
Date: February 21-22, 2023
Status: FIRM: In-Person
On-Line Registration Form
Local Contact: SSA Office
Location: Atlantis Resort & Casino
3800 S. Virginia St
Reno, NV 89502

Location: Tidewater Soaring
Date: March 11-12, 2023
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.

Updated 3/3/2023

Previous Years FIRC schedules

Note: FIRC's tend to appear in the same location on a regular schedule. Looking at previous years schedules can help in long range planning activities.