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 2024/2025 is:

Updated 13/1/2025

Previous Years FIRC schedules

2024 FIRC Schedule
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.