Section 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) .(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 .(c) Completion of the requirements in paragraphs (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) 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.Doc. No. 28471, 61 FR 30742, June 17, 1996; 61 FR 34927, July 3, 1996; 62 FR 3739, Jan. 24, 1997; Amdt. 121-264, 62 FR 23120, Apr. 28, 1997; Amdt. 121-344, 74 FR 34235 , July 15, 2009; Amdt. 121-355, 76 FR 35104 , June 16, 2011; Amdt. 121-366, 78 FR 67837 , Nov. 12, 2013; Amdt. 121-382, 85 FR 10922 , Feb. 25, 2020 85 FR 10922 , 4/27/2020; 89 FR 51426 , 7/18/2024