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What is the MEI Rating?

Published in Flight Instructor Ratings 2 mins read

The MEI rating is essentially the Multi-Engine Airplane Rating added to a Flight Instructor Certificate issued by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).

Purpose of the MEI Rating

Holding an MEI rating allows a certified Flight Instructor to provide ground and flight instruction in multi-engine airplanes. This specific rating is necessary if you wish to teach others how to fly aircraft with more than one engine or provide training towards a multi-engine pilot rating.

As highlighted in the reference:

A Multi-Engine Airplane Rating on your Flight Instructor Certificate will allow you to teach in Multi-Engine Airplanes.

Key Requirement for Providing Instruction

The FAA has specific requirements for flight instructors beyond just holding the rating. To provide instruction in a particular make and model of aircraft towards an FAA-issued certificate, the Flight Instructor must meet certain criteria.

The reference states a crucial requirement:

  • The FAA requires Flight Instructors to have at least 5 hours of Pilot-in-Command (PIC) time in a particular make/model of multi-engine airplane.
  • This 5 hours of PIC time in the specific aircraft type is required before the instructor can provide instruction in that airplane for a student pursuing an FAA-issued certificate or rating.

In summary, the MEI rating is the formal authorization on a Flight Instructor Certificate that permits teaching in multi-engine aircraft, subject to additional requirements like having sufficient PIC time in the specific airplane being used for instruction.