Flight Instructor Refresher Course
Registration is open for FIRC 26-02 beginning on May 5, 2026
https://www.navpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FIRC-2026-02-Poster-VAC.pdf
Join us for Professional Development of your aviation instructional techniques and renewal of your Aeroplane Flight Instructor Rating. This Transport Canada approved three day course offers engaging and stimulating activities such as presentations, videos, group exercises, workshops, open discussions, role-playing, assignments and quizzes. Enhance your competencies as an aviation instructor as you actively participate in the professional development of your aeronautical knowledge, skills and attitudes during learner-centered instruction. Upon completion of one of these innovative and engaging training courses you will be more competent, confident, effective and safer as a pilot and as a flight instructor.
The Canadian Aviation Regulations Standard 421.66 identifies three ways to renew your flight instructor rating and that includes one of these three means:
- by successfully completing a flight test
- by successfully completing a flight instructor refresher course
- by instructing experience over the past two years
Flight Instructors may select one of the above means and are responsible for ensuring their personal eligibility for renewal. The preferred method for renewing your Flight Instructor Rating is by successfully completing a Flight Instructor Refresher Course with NavPath Aviation. This course enables you to renew your flight instructor rating in a classroom environment where you will meet your peers and learn from each others’ operational experience. The Flight Instructor Refresher Course is available for all flight instructors to renew their flight instructor rating, either Class 4, Class 3, Class 2 or Class 1.
NavPath Aviation now offers four courses per year, spaced three months apart, to provide flight instructors a reasonable opportunity to renew their rating within the 90 days before the day on which their rating would otherwise expire. Our next course will begin on May 5, 2026, at Pitt Meadows Airport, hosted by Vancouver Aviation College. If your flight instructor rating is valid to June 1st, July 1st or August 1st, you may attend the course to renew your rating and retain your existing valid to date. You will not be penalized for renewing early.
This course has been developed in consideration of the extensive experience in General Aviation of our Course Manager, Bob Leroux.
Bob has held a flight instructor rating since 1976 and has been a Transport Canada Civil Aviation Inspector for over 25 years in the Pacific Region and National Headquarters in Ottawa. While in Ottawa, Bob’s duties included providing national oversight of the Flight Instructor Refresher Course Program and the Pilot Examiner Program. He has conducted presentations on the Flight Instructor Refresher Course for over 30 years in the Pacific Region, the Prairie and Northern Region, and the Ontario Region.
When Bob was with Transport Canada in the Pacific Region, he trained many senior industry flight instructors to be appointed as a delegate of the Minister of Transport to conduct flight tests. Bob has conducted over 750 flight tests including over 300 flight tests for the flight instructor rating; initial, upgrade and renewal of Class 4, Class 3, Class 2 and Class 1 flight instructor ratings.
Scheduled Courses – Flight Instructor Refresher Course
| Date | Category | Location | Venue | Fee | GST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 6, and 7, 2026 | Aeroplane | Pitt Meadows Airport Pitt Meadows, BC | Vancouver Aviation College | $700 | $35 |
| August 4, 5 and 6, 2026 | Aeroplane | Langley, BC | Kwantlen Polytechnic University | $700 | $35 |
| November 3, 4 and 5, 2026 | Aeroplane | Langley, BC | Kwantlen Polytechnic University | $700 | $35 |
Click here to download a poster for the next course
https://www.navpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FIRC-2026-02-Poster-VAC.pdf
Registration is open for FIRC 26-02
Registration and Fees
Full course details and registration will normally be available approximately two months prior to the scheduled course. Seating for these courses is limited so pre-registration and payment of the course fee is required to reserve your position on the course. Please be prepared with your Aviation Document Booklet.
When you register for the FIRC be sure that you enter your name as it appears in your Aviation Document Booklet on page 2 and your licence number including CA or AA as it appears on page 3 of your most recent Booklet Label.
Click here to Register and then pay $735.00, including GST, for your course through Interact e-Transfer to info@navpath.com.
You may also attend, on a space available basis, and pay at the door through Interact e-Transfer to info@navpath.com, or with cash.
The course is also ideal for flight instructors who are planning to upgrade to a Class 2 or Class 1 Flight Instructor Rating. We will help you to prepare for the additional privileges, duties and responsibilities of the higher class of flight instructor rating. The course fee for a person planning to upgrade their rating is greatly reduced by 50% from the regular price of $700 to only $350 plus GST! What a great way to get ready for your written examination and upgrade flight test with a Transport Canada Inspector or Pilot Examiner. Please register on-line then submit your course fee via e-Transfer to info@navpath.com.
Additionally, the course is also suitable for those planning on obtaining an initial Class 4 Flight Instructor Rating and meet the requirements of Canadian Aviation Regulation section 421.69. Your attendance at this course will benefit you as a pilot and will lay the foundation for your future career as an instructor. If you hold a commercial pilot licence attendance at this course will count as part of your Transport Canada required ground school for your flight instructor rating. Be sure to bring along your Pilot Training Record and we will make an entry for 16 hours of ground school.
The course fee for a person training to obtain a Class 4 flight instructor rating is greatly reduced by 50% from the regular price of $700 to only $350 plus GST! What a great way to begin your career as an instructor. Please register on-line then submit your course fee of $367.50 via e-Transfer to info@navpath.com.
Other aviation instructors seeking Professional Development may also attend the course, such as flight instructors who do not require renewal of their instructor rating, instrument rating instructors, multi-engine class rating instructors, seaplane class rating instructors, simulator instructors, aircraft type rating instructors, ground instructors or aerobatic flight instructors. Other aviation instructors will find great value in attending one of these courses as well, such as instructors who normally teach in gliders, balloons, gyroplanes or ultra-light aeroplanes. Pilot Examiners are encouraged to make application to attend Flight Instructor Refresher Courses to keep abreast of new developments in pilot training.
Successful completion of the course requires your attendance at all of the scheduled training sessions and your active participation in the learning activities. Upon successful completion of this course you will be issued a Course Completion Certificate which may be used for renewal of your flight instructor rating with Transport Canada for the full term, the same as if you had taken a flight test. If you would rather renew your flight instructor rating by means of a flight test in an aeroplane, NavPath Aviation will make the arrangements with our Pilot Examiner to conduct your flight test.
Topics
All courses will include the following topics:
- Teaching Knowledge Requirements – Written Examination Results – Weak Knowledge Areas
- Teaching Flight Exercises – Flight Test Results – Weak Skill Areas
Courses will also include a sampling of the following topics:
- The Principles of Learning and the Techniques of Instruction – Flight Instructor Guide
- Managing Training – Supervision – Operational Control – Safety Management – Training Records
- Scenario-based Training – Developing Lesson Plans – Effective Use of Teaching Aids
- Human Factors – Threat and Error Management – Pilot Decision-making
- Preparing Students for Flight Tests – Flight Test Guides
- Aerodynamics for Flight Instructors
- Information Technology in Training
- Teaching Aircraft Systems
- Communication Skills
- Weather Briefings
- Medical Factors for Flight Instructors – CAME
- Insurance Considerations for Flight Instructors
- Teaching the Initial Class 4 Flight Instructor Rating
- Presentation Skills Workshop – Role Playing
Aeroplane courses may include
- Forced Landings
- Upper Airwork and Low Speed Manoeuvres
- Stabilized Approaches – TCH 50 – The Threshold Window
- Teaching Multi-Engine Rating and Instrument Rating
Training sessions will be presented by Subject Matter Experts who may hold a Class 1 Flight Instructor Rating, be a Pilot Examiner, be a Chief Flight Instructor, or have expertise in the subject matter being presented. NavPath Aviation instructors have been professionals in the aviation industry for many, many years and have varied experience and expertise in many fields including the following:
- Pilots and flight instructors on aeroplanes and helicopters
- Military pilots with experience in training and operations
- Corporate pilots and airline pilots with experience on domestic and international operations
- Lawyer with experience in aviation litigation
- Doctor authorized as a Civil Aviation Medical Examiner
- Inspectors with Transport Canada or the Transportation Safety Board
- NAV CANADA Operations Specialist
- Insurance specialist in the aviation industry
Reference Material
The following documents that pertain to your flight instructor rating should be reviewed and be available in class, either in paper copy or electronically. Most of the items can be obtained from the Transport Canada website at:
Getting trained as a pilot or crew member (canada.ca)
Flight Training Manual – Aeroplane
Flight Instructor Guide
TP 13747E Stall Spin Awareness Training
Pilot’s Operating Handbook for your typical training aircraft
Canada Flight Supplement
Cancellation Policy
To reserve your position on the course you must register and pay the course fee in advance.
NavPath Aviation reserves the right to cancel any course and those registered will be notified of any cancellation more than 14 days prior to the first day of the course. Where a course is cancelled by NavPath Aviation, all course fees paid will be refunded.
Where a person is registered and paid for a course and is then unable to attend the course, they must notify NavPath Aviation by email at info@navpath.com, or by telephone at 604-999-7284. When so notified, refunds will be processed after the course in accordance with the following policy:
- Where the person cancels more than 14 days prior to the course, there will be a $50 cancellation fee and the remainder of the fees paid will be refunded.
- Where the person cancels within 14 days and up to 7 days prior to the course, there will be a 50% cancellation fee and the remainder of the fees paid will be refunded.
- Where the person cancels within 7 days prior to the course, there will be no refund.
All administrative actions after the course will be completed by 30 days after the last day of the course. For refunds, you should receive an e-Transfer on or before that date.
We look forward to seeing you in class!
Course Manager: Bob Leroux
Class 1 Flight Instructor, Pilot Examiner and former Inspector with Transport Canada
… it’s an attitude!
