Ground instructor privileges

This regulation defines what ground instructors can teach and endorse based on their rating level.

A Basic Ground Instructor (BGI) can teach the ground knowledge for sport, recreational, and private pilot certificates, conduct ground portions of flight reviews for these levels, and recommend students for their knowledge tests.

An Advanced Ground Instructor (AGI) has broader authority—they can provide ground training for any certificate or rating *except* instrument ratings, conduct ground portions of any flight review except instrument, and recommend students for any knowledge test except instrument.

An Instrument Ground Instructor (IGI) specializes in instrument training: they can teach instrument ground knowledge, conduct the ground portion of instrument proficiency checks, and recommend students for the instrument knowledge test.

All ground instructors can make logbook endorsements within their rating limitations. However, ground instructors cannot provide the initial ground training for someone seeking to become a flight instructor—only an authorized flight instructor can do that.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*