Learn about the competency based training course designed to help applicants for a flight examiner rating (FER) gain the required knowledge and skills to exercise the privileges of the rating and flight test endorsements.
Who should read this information?
- All flight examiners.
- All approved testing officers.
- All flight training operators.
- Holders of regulation 61.040 approvals.
- Operators with a Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR) 217 training and checking organisation.
What is the Flight Examiner Rating Course (FERC)?
The FERC is a competency based training course designed to meet the requirements set out in Part 61 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) for the grant of a flight examiner rating and/or a flight examiner endorsement.
The course has been developed by CASA to transition the authorised testing officer (ATO) and CASR 61.040 approval holder training to competency based training principles and compliance with the CASR Part 61 Manual of Standards.
It is designed to prepare flight examiner applicants to conduct flight tests and proficiency checks in a manner that is consistent with the regulations.
The course comprises five phases:
- eLearning modules
- classroom workshop
- industry mentoring
- interview
- flight test.
Note: not all applicants are required to complete the five phases.
What flight examiner rating endorsements are covered in the FERC?
The FERC will provide training and assessment for the flight examiner rating endorsements—aeroplane and helicopter categories—listed below:
- private pilot licence flight test endorsement (category specific)
- commercial pilot licence flight test endorsement (category specific)
- air transport pilot licence flight test endorsement (category specific)
- multi-engine class rating flight test endorsement
- type rating flight test endorsement (type specific)
- instrument rating flight test endorsement (category specific)
- night visual flight rules (VFR) rating flight test endorsement (category specific)
- night vision imaging system rating flight test endorsement
- low-level rating flight test endorsement (category specific)
- aerial application rating flight test endorsement (category specific)
- flight instructor rating flight test endorsement (category specific).
What learning pathways are available?
Each applicant will be provided with a learning pathway which recognises their flight examiner qualifications and the specific flight examiner endorsement they are applying for.
The learning pathways available are outlined below:
Scenario:
Peter currently holds a private pilot licence flight test endorsement and is seeking a commercial pilot licence flight test endorsement. He would have all the eLearning modules made available to him—modules 1, 2 and 3 would be available but due to his qualifications he would only be assessed on modules 4, 5 and 6 (plan, conduct and complete). Peter would also be required to participate in the classroom workshop, industry mentoring and complete a flight test.
Are there any pre-requisites for the FERC?
Before you can enrol you must demonstrate you have met the following requirements:
- hold the licences and endorsements identified in Column 3 of Table 61.1310 of CASR Part 61 for the relevant examiner endorsement
- provide evidence of meeting any experience requirements outlined in CASA Form 61-FER
- have completed a flight instructor rating proficiency check with a CASA flight training examiner or flying operations inspector in the preceding 24 months prior to the application
- meet fit and proper person requirements
- have submitted CASA Form 61-FER and supporting documentation.
Who can enrol?
You can enrol in the FERC if you are:
- a flight examiner wishing to obtain additional endorsements
- a new applicant wishing to gain a Part 61 flight examiner rating for the first time.
How do I enrol?
To enrol, you must submit a completed CASA Form 61-FER, along with the required supporting documentation to flighttesting@casa.gov.au – please allow up to 28 days for processing.
Once enrolled, you can access FERC via Aviation Worx. When you have successfully logged in, you will be redirected to the Flight Examiner Community.
When can I start the eLearning modules?
The modules will be made available to flight examiner applicants as soon as their application is accepted by CASA.
How long will it take to complete each eLearning module?
Applicants enrolled in modules one, two and three should allow up to one and a half hours to successfully complete each module.
Applicants enrolled in modules four, five and six should allow up to two hours to successfully complete each module.
How long do I have to complete the FERC?
Applicants will have 90 days from the date of enrolment to successfully complete the eLearning modules relevant to their learning pathway. If you do not complete all modules within the 90 day period you will need to re-enrol in the course and start again from phase one.
You must complete the flight examiner rating flight test no later than six months from the date of your course enrolment. If you do not undertake a flight test within the six month period you will need to re-enrol and recommence the course from phase one.
CASA’s Flight Testing Office (FTO) Manager may consider an extension to these timeframes under exceptional circumstances.
What do I do if I don’t pass one of the modules?
If your mark falls below 80 per cent you will be temporarily suspended from the course. The Flight Testing Office (FTO) will contact you to discuss your options.
What is the role of an industry mentor and how is one assigned to me?
Mentoring will be provided by a senior industry examiner approved by CASA. The role of an industry mentor is to provide guidance and feedback on your professional development and help you to optimise your learning by sharing their knowledge, skills and experiences.
Applicants are required to recommend to the FTO an examiner they would like to use for the industry mentoring phase. The nominee must hold the same flight examiner endorsements as those being sought by the applicant, and have significant experience in conducting those flight tests.
To become a recognised industry mentor, the nominated examiner must email their resume, including a detailed description of their aviation experience, to flighttesting@casa.gov.au.
How often will the classroom workshops be held?
A calendar of workshops, including nominated dates and the maximum number of participants for each location will be published on the CASA website.
You can enrol in a classroom workshop once you have submitted eLearning Module 6 and it has been assessed by a CASA flight training examiner.
Will I be automatically enrolled in a classroom workshop?
On successful completion of the eLearning modules you will receive an email notification advising that you can progress to the next stage of the course. You will then need to register for the workshop via the AviationWorx website.
Enrolment for a classroom workshop must be received by CASA 21 calendar days prior to the date of the workshop. Enrolments will be processed as they are received and some applicants may not be assigned their preferred date. If this happens, you will be offered the next available workshop.
If you experience any difficulties when registering for a workshop, please email flighttesting@casa.gov.au.
How much does it cost to complete the FERC?
As the course is designed to provide learning pathways which recognise an applicant’s qualifications and the flight examiner endorsement being sought, the course fee will depend on the learning pathway you choose.
Once a flight examiner has received notification from CASA that their application has been successful they are required to pay all course fees in full prior to commencing their learning pathway.
The course fees for the learning pathways are outlined below.
Course fee structure:
Pathway 1: $2175; Pathway 2: $1800; Pathway 3: $1790; Pathway 4: $1420
Additional training or assessment: $160 per hour
Note: Fees are subject to change without notice. The fees include an administrative fee of $240 but do not include costs for re-enrolment.
Am I entitled to a refund if I withdraw or don’t complete the course?
If you cancel your enrolment before you start your first eLearning module—module one (new flight examiners) or module four (existing flight examiner rating holder)—CASA will refund the fees in full, —less an administration fee.
If you withdraw from the course after you start the eLearning modules you are also entitled to a refund. CASA will deduct costs for administrative processing and any fees applicable to the attempted or completed module(s).
For example, if an examiner withdraws after completing two of the six modules, the refund would include the costs for four modules and the remaining phases of their learning pathway.
If you are unable to complete the course due to medical reasons you must provide a certified true copy of an original medial certificate before CASA will consider issuing a refund.
Applicants are not entitled to a refund if they:
- fail the eLearning modules and do not complete the remaining components of the course
- do not complete the eLearning modules within 90 days from the date of enrolment
- do not complete the flight examiner rating flight test within six months from the date of enrolment
- have not been given an extension by the FTO Manager.
Scenario 1:
New flight examiners for PPL testing, who do not currently hold an examiner rating, will be required to undertake eLearning modules one to six followed by participation in the classroom workshop (PPL, CPL, IR and FIR endorsement), industry mentoring, an interview and the flight test. If the examiner withdraws after completing two modules CASA will refund the balance of four eLearning modules and the remaining phases of the learner pathways minus a fee of $240 to cover administrative processing and course management fees.
Scenario 2:
An existing flight examiner who is looking to gain either a PPL, CPL, IR or a FIR endorsement is required to undertake modules four, five and six followed by participation in the classroom workshop, industry mentoring and the flight test. If the examiner withdraws after completing two of the three modules CASA will refund the balance of one eLearning module and the remaining phases of the learner pathways minus a fee of $240 to cover administrative processing and course management fees.
Want to know more?
More information on the course is available in the CASR Part 61 Flight Examiner Rating Course Profile 2017.
Email flighttesting@casa.gov.au for all course enrolment enquiries.
For enquiries relating to system or technical issues with AviationWorx, email aviationworx.admin@casa.gov.au
