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 2023/2024 is:
- Location: Etowah, TN
- Date: November 4-5, 2023
- Status: Firm
- Registration: On-line Registration Form
- Local Contact: Hartley Falbaum (hfalbaum at comcast.net)
- Location: Etowah, TN
- Etowah Community Center
- 155 Robinson St
- Etowah, TN 37331
- Hotel: Etowah, TN
- Red Roof Inn
- 600 N. Tennessee Ave, US Hwy 441
- Etowah, TN 37331
- Phone: (423) 781-7459
Location: Southwest Soaring Museum, Moriarty, NM
Date: January 6-7, 2024
Status: Firm
Registration: On-line Registration Form
Local Contact: Colleen Koenig (hv2flyg at gmail.com)
Location: Moriarty, NM
Southwest Soaring Museum
918 Rt 66
Moriarty NM
Phone: 505-850-5898
Location: Washington DC Metro area
Note: Date and location changed!
Date: January 20-21, 2024
Status: Firm
Registration: On-line Registration Form
Local Contact: Jim Garrison (jcg8w at virginia.edu)
Location: Gainesville, VA
Hampton Inn
7300 Atlas Walk Way
Gainesville, VA 20155
Phone: (703) 753-1500
Location: Hutchison, KS
Date: January 27-28, 2024
Status: Firm
Registration: On-line Registration Form
Local Contact: Tony Condon (abcondon at gmmail.com)
Location: Hutchinson, KS
Sunflower Soaring Center
Enterprise Rd
Hutchinson, KS 67501
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Date: February 3-4, 2024
Status: Firm
Registration: On-line Registration Form
Local Contact: John Harte (gearthj at gmail.com)
Secondary: Jim Vincze (jimjanarbor at comcast.net)
Location: Hampton Inn South - Ann Arbor
925 Victors Way
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
734-665-5000
Location: Seattle, WA
Date: February 17-18, 2024
Status: Firm
Resistration: On-line Registration Form
Local Contact: Michael Delaney (2238mtd at msn.com)
Location: Holiday Inn Express and Suites
19621 International Blvd.
SeaTac, WA 98188
206-592-8542
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Date: March 2-3, 2024
Status: FIRM
Registration: On-line Registration Form
Local Contact: Rav Smith (saludarav at gmail.com)
Location: River Falls Dr Clubhouse
100 Pelham Falls Dr
Greer, SC 29651
Hotel Information: Numerous hotels nearby
Location: Tuscon, AZ
Date: March 16-17, 2024
Status: Firm
Registration: On-line Registration Form
Local Contact: Paul Moffett (paulmof at msn.com)
Location: Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC)
1760 E. River Rd. Suite 280
Tucson, AZ 85718
Hotel Information: Homewood Suites Tucson/St. Philip's Plaza University is the closet hotel to the venue.
Location: Fitchburg, MA
Date: March 23-24, 2024
Status: FIRM
Registration: On-line Registration Form
Local Contact: Steve Paavola (steve at thepaavolas.net)
Location: Fitchburg Airport Hangar 18
567 Crawford St
Fitchburg, MA 01420
Hotel Information: Several hotels nearby.
Location: Los Alamitos, CA
Date: April 6-7, 2024
Status: FIRM
Registration: On-line Registration Form
Local Contact: John Chapman johh.p.chapman at verizon.net
C: (805) 402-4238
Local Contact: Alasdar Mullarney alasdar at sbcblobal.net
Location: Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos
CAP Los Alamitos Glider Training Squadron 41
3976 Constitution Ave, Building #B284
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
Hotel Info: numerous hotels nearby
Google Map showing venue
Updated 01/22/2024
Previous Years FIRC schedules
2023 FIRC Schedule
2022 FIRC Schedule
2021 FIRC Schedule
2020 FIRC Schedule
2019 FIRC Schedule
2018 FIRC Schedule
2017 FIRC Schedule
2016 FIRC Schedule
2015 FIRC Schedule
2014 FIRC Schedule
2013 FIRC Schedule
2012 FIRC Schedule
2011 FIRC Schedule
2010 FIRC Schedule
2009 FIRC Schedule
2008 FIRC Schedule
2007 FIRC Schedule
2006 FIRC Schedule
2005 FIRC Schedule
2004 FIRC schedule
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.