Recurrent Ground
Training Instructions

Austin S. Collins
Manager of Training / FAA-designated Check Airman

Every person who acts as pilot in command under Part 135 must complete recurrent ground training in accordance with FAR section 135.351. Don't get confused; this recurrent ground training is totally different and totally separate from the recurrent checkrides that all line pilots have to do periodically. (For complete and detailed information about the recurrent checkrides, read "How to Ace Your Recurrent Part 135 IFR-PIC Checkride.")

Recurrent ground training must be finished every twelve caldenar months measured from the month in which you completed your initial ground school . . . regardless of when your recurrent checkrides are due.

EXAMPLE:
Freddy Freight Dog completed his initial ground school in January (month 1) of 2000. He comes due for his IPC in July (month 7) of 2000 and his VCC/line check in January (month 1) 2001. He also comes due for his recurrent ground training in January (month 1) 2001.

In April (month 4) of 2001 Freddy upgrades into the Baron. This "resets" his base month for the recurrent checkrides. Now he will be due for his IPC in October (month 10) 2001 and his VCC/line check in April (month 4) of 2002. But he will still be due for his recurrent ground training in January (month 1) of 2002. See how this works?

  • If you are due in the Cessna 210, we meet the requirements of section 135.351 with a self-test that you can download HERE.

  • And if you are due in the Baron, we meet the requirements of section 135.351 with a self-test that you can download HERE.

    Here is what to do:

    1. Select a day that you are not scheduled to fly. (Normally this will be a Saturday or a Sunday, although it can be any day that Dispatch confirms that you are not scheduled to fly.) Advise the Manager of Training by phone which day you have selected. He will forward this information to Dispatch and to the Chief Pilot as well as to the Director of Operations.

    2. On that day, note your on-duty time and off-duty time on your normal daily Pilot Duty Record just like you always do when flying the line. It takes 4 or 8 hours to complete this program, depending upon whether it is for the Baron or the 210. YOU MUST BE ON DUTY FOR AT LEAST 4 or 8 CONSECUTIVE HOURS (AS APPLICABLE)! Make sure that this will not cause a conflict with your next anticipated duty assignment.

    3. WARNING! EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! You must call in your on-duty and off-duty times to Dispatch before you can be proposed on duty for your next assignment! If, for example, you completed your recurrent ground training on a Saturday or Sunday, you need to advise the Dispatcher of your on-duty and off-duty times for that training before going on duty to fly your regular run on Monday morning.

    4. Fill out the Recurrent Ground Training Special Pay Request (included at the end of this test). Otherwise you won’t get paid!

    5. Fill out the Recurrent Ground Training Certificate (also included at the end of this test.)

    6. Answer all of the questions in the following 8 modules, using the appropriate reference materials.

    7. Submit the test, the record, the request and the certificate to the Manager of Training. Use the U.S. Postal Service, not company mail. (The date on all four of these documents MUST MATCH!) They will be kept on file for the FAA to inspect for a period of not less than 12 calendar months.

    8. Please do not staple the four documents listed above together. (It is OK to staple the test together, but do not staple the other three documents to it.)

    WARNING!

    You are not allowed to fly for us if you are overdue for recurrent ground training! The FAA can prosecute such cases with fines and certificate suspensions or revokations.

    The FAA does check to make sure that pilots were actually recorded as being on duty for the required amount of time on the correct date, so be sure to call this information in as explained above.

    Also, remember that THE TEST ITSELF is kept on file for the FAA to review and check for a period of not less than 12 calendar months, possibly longer. Make sure your answers are correct and legible!

    Our policy is to ensure that every line pilot completes his recurrent ground training DURING HIS BASE MONTH. We do not want to find ourselves in the last week of your late grace month wondering if you are going to be legal to fly on Monday! It's not a chance we are willing to take. So if you have some extremely compelling reason why you absolutely, positively can't possibly get it done in your base month, call Ernst and let him know well in advance. He may, in some extreme cases, authorize going into your late grace month. If you are late getting it done, I will have to keep calling you and verbally harassing you until I have it on my desk, because you better believe that Ernst and Matt will be asking me about it! Thanks a lot for your cooperation.

    Click HERE to return to the Flight Express Pilot Information Page.