CFI renewals, SOE limitation removals, R-ATP to Unrestricted ATP, Ground Instructor certificates, and Military Competency exams — processed online by an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner. No travel. No rescheduling drama. No surprises.
Each of these administrative actions can be processed entirely over a secure video meeting. Same price, every service: $200 flat.
The CFI certificate no longer expires (per the FAA's Dec 1, 2024 final rule) — but the 24-month recent experience requirement under 14 CFR §61.197 stays. Most pilots still call this "CFI renewal." Whatever you call it, the DPE-validated 8710-1 is still required, and Daytona DPE handles the entire administrative step virtually.
If you've graduated a FIRC, endorsed 5 students at 80%+ pass, completed examiner activity, passed an FAA inspector check, or completed the new WINGS-based option, you qualify. The 20-minute video appointment confirms identity, current certificate, recent-experience documentation, and your IACRA application. Same-call temporary certificate. The permanent plastic follows by mail.
No flying, no FSDO calendar, no in-person test. Pilots establish recent experience with Daytona DPE from all 50 states and internationally. Only requirement: a reliable video connection and the documents in the intake PDF.
A Supervised Operating Experience (SOE) limitation is a common temporary restriction stamped on certain Flight Instructor certificates. When a CFI applicant completes the practical test under specific conditions, the FAA may issue the certificate with an SOE limitation requiring supervised instruction time before the certificate becomes fully unrestricted. Once the supervised hours and required documentation are complete, an examiner can remove the limitation administratively — no additional checkride, no recurrent training.
The virtual SOE removal process at Daytona DPE works like this: after submitting the contact form, you'll receive an intake email with a specific documentation checklist (logbook entries with supervising-instructor endorsements, your current certificate, government ID, IACRA application). Bring those to a 20-minute Zoom appointment. We verify the supervised hours meet the limitation's removal criteria, confirm endorsements are present, sign the IACRA, and the unrestricted temporary certificate is issued on the call.
Pilots often delay SOE removals because the in-person scheduling process at FSDOs can stretch for months. Virtual processing closes that window — most pilots are scheduled within a few business days of inquiry. $200 flat, payable at the appointment via Zelle or Venmo.
A Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) certificate is issued to pilots who meet reduced aeronautical experience requirements under 14 CFR §61.160 — typically military pilots, graduates of approved aviation degree programs, or pilots over 21 with 1,500 hours. The R-ATP becomes unrestricted once the pilot reaches age 23 and meets the full 1,500-hour aeronautical experience requirement. At that point, the unrestricted ATP certificate is an administrative limitation removal, not a checkride.
Daytona DPE handles the R-ATP to unrestricted ATP transition virtually for $200 flat. You'll submit logbook documentation showing total time, cross-country, night, and instrument hours meet the unrestricted ATP requirements. On the video appointment, we verify hours against the regulation, review your current certificate, confirm your age, and process the IACRA application. The unrestricted ATP temporary certificate is issued same-appointment, with the permanent certificate following from the FAA by mail.
Because this is administrative and not a new practical test, no oral exam, no flight test, and no additional ground school is required. Pilots regularly complete the R-ATP removal during a layover, an off day, or from a hotel during recurrent — anywhere with a stable video connection. Most appointments take 25 minutes or less.
The FAA Ground Instructor rating comes in three flavors: Basic (BGI), Advanced (AGI), and Instrument (IGI). Each authorizes instruction in specific aeronautical knowledge areas — BGI for sport and private pilot ground instruction, AGI for commercial-level ground instruction, and IGI for instrument ground instruction. None of the three require a practical flight test. Each requires passing the corresponding FAA knowledge test (typically FOI plus the rating-specific knowledge test) prior to certificate issuance.
Daytona DPE issues all three ground instructor certificates virtually for $200 flat. Once you've passed the required knowledge test(s), submit the contact form, complete the intake checklist, and join the appointment. We review your knowledge test results, government ID, IACRA application, and any prior certificates. The certificate is issued same-appointment with a temporary printed certificate and the permanent following by mail.
Ground instructor certificates are popular with airline pilots seeking type-club or simulator-side teaching opportunities, retired CFIs who want to keep teaching ground without medical or flight recency requirements, and CFI candidates who want to teach ground while building flight time. The certificate doesn't expire from non-use as long as you've taught in the prior 12 months.
The Military Competency Exam (MCE) is an FAA pathway that converts U.S. military pilot experience into an FAA Commercial Pilot certificate with appropriate aircraft category and class ratings, plus an instrument rating where qualified. Eligible pilots include active duty, Reserve, Guard, and veterans who have logged the required pilot-in-command time in U.S. military aircraft and who hold (or have held) current military pilot qualifications. The pathway is established under 14 CFR §61.73.
Daytona DPE administers the MCE virtually for $200 flat. Before the appointment, you'll need to pass the FAA Military Competency knowledge test (administered at any PSI testing center — often free for active military), prepare military pilot worksheet documentation, pull together copies of your military flight records, and complete the IACRA application. On the video appointment, we verify all of the above, walk through any oral discussion the regulation requires for your specific situation, and issue the FAA Commercial Pilot certificate.
The MCE is one of the fastest routes for a military pilot to obtain a civilian commercial certificate — no civilian checkride, no civilian flight school enrollment, no duplicating training you've already received. Bring the documentation; we'll handle the conversion in a single 30-minute Zoom call.
The Military Instructor Competency Exam (MIE) converts U.S. military flight instructor experience into an FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate with appropriate aircraft category and class ratings, including instrument instruction privileges where qualified. Like the MCE, it's an administrative competency conversion pathway — built on the assumption that military-trained instructors have already met or exceeded FAA-equivalent instructor standards in their respective service branches.
Daytona DPE handles MIE applications virtually for $200 flat. Eligible candidates include active, Reserve, Guard, and veteran instructor pilots who can document instructor pilot designations from their service (typically an IP, SIP, or equivalent qualification with the required PIC-instructor hours). Before the appointment, pass the FAA Military Instructor knowledge test, prepare your military instructor pilot records and designation documentation, and complete the IACRA application. On the appointment, we verify the records meet 14 CFR §61.73(g) standards and issue the FAA CFI certificate.
Many military instructors pursue the MIE alongside (or shortly after) the MCE so they finish the conversion with both Commercial and CFI privileges — a complete set of civilian credentials in just two short appointments. MCE and MIE can be handled in the same booking window if records are ready.
Send a message describing your situation. I'll review it and tell you exactly what's possible — still $200 if it's one of the listed services.
Send a MessagePer current FAA guidance, some actions are eligible for virtual processing — others must be conducted in person. Here's the honest breakdown.
Most pilots are surprised how quick the virtual process is. From inquiry to temporary certificate — usually within a week.
Fill out the contact form below. Tell me which service you need and a bit about your timeline.
You'll receive an intake email with a PDF checklist of documents required for your specific service.
We connect over a secure video call. Document review, oral discussion where required, IACRA signed.
Temporary certificate issued the same day. Permanent FAA certificate follows in the mail.
I built Daytona DPE to help pilots. All too often I hear "no one was available in my area" or "the FSDO was backed up for months." Pilots shouldn't have to put their careers on hold waiting for an examiner slot, fly halfway across the country for a one-hour administrative task, or pay rates that swing wildly from one DPE to the next.
One flat fee — $200 — payable via Zelle or Venmo for convenience. Collected only at the time of the appointment, once we've confirmed you're qualified and eligible for the certificate. No cancellation fees. No unqualified fees.
If you don't see your question here, just ask — fastest reply on the runway.
Fill out the form and I'll respond within 24 hours with next steps, payment info, and a service-specific PDF checklist of what you'll need. $200 flat — no surprises.