Managing Your Certificates
Summary
Record your pilot certificates in the FlightSense iOS app so the information is available for endorsements, compliance tracking, and training workflows. You can add, edit, and delete certificates, including the certificate number, issue date, and optional expiration date.
Who this is for
- Students tracking their pilot certificates and ratings
- Instructors recording their Certified Flight Instructor credential so they can sign endorsements
Before you begin
- You must be signed in to the FlightSense iOS app
- Have your physical certificate (or a digital copy) handy so you can enter the certificate number and dates accurately
Steps
1. Open the Certificates screen
Tap the hamburger icon in the top-left of the screen to open the side drawer, then tap Certificates.
2. Review your existing certificates
Your certificates appear as cards in a list, sorted alphabetically by name. Each card shows:
- The certificate name
- Number—your certificate number
- Issued—the issue date
- Expires—the expiration date, if one was set
If you have no certificates yet, the screen shows "No Certificates" with the message "Add certificates to track your pilot credentials."
3. Add a certificate
Tap Add in the top-left toolbar. On the Add Certificate form:
- Certificate Type—tap to pick from the list. Common types are ordered Student Pilot, Sport Pilot, Recreational Pilot, Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor.
- Certificate Number—type the number exactly as it appears on your certificate.
- Issue Date—tap to pick the date the certificate was issued.
- Set Expiration Date—toggle this on if the certificate has an expiration date, then pick the Expiration Date.
Tap Save in the top-right when the form is complete. Save stays disabled until you've picked a type and entered a certificate number.
Certified Flight Instructor certificates require an expiration date. If you pick that type without toggling Set Expiration Date on, you'll see the warning "Certified Flight Instructor certificates require an expiration date." and Save will stay disabled.
4. Edit a certificate
Tap a certificate card to open Certificate Details, or swipe left on the card and tap Edit. You can update the certificate number, issue date, and expiration date. The certificate type can't be changed after creation—delete and re-add if you picked the wrong type. Tap Save when you're done.
5. Delete a certificate
Two options:
- From the list—swipe left on the certificate card and tap Delete. Confirm on the "Delete Certificate" alert.
- From the details sheet—open the certificate, scroll to the bottom, and tap Delete Certificate. Confirm on the alert.
Deletion cannot be undone.
What happens next
- Your certificates list refreshes to reflect the change
- Certificates you add become available to instructor and school workflows that reference them (for example, an instructor recording an endorsement against their CFI certificate)
- School staff can see your recorded certificates when reviewing compliance
Common issues
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Save button stays disabled | Certificate Type or Certificate Number is empty, or CFI is selected without an expiration date | Pick a type, enter the number, and for CFI toggle Set Expiration Date on and pick a date |
| Warning "Certified Flight Instructor certificates require an expiration date." | CFI selected but Set Expiration Date is off | Toggle Set Expiration Date on and pick the expiration from the certificate |
| Wrong expiration date showing on a card | The date was entered incorrectly when the certificate was added or last edited | Tap the card, toggle Set Expiration Date and pick the correct date, then tap Save |
| Can't change the certificate type on an existing certificate | Type is fixed after creation | Delete the certificate and add a new one with the correct type |
| Error alert appears after saving | Network or server issue | Tap Acknowledge, confirm you have a connection, and try again |
How this works
Why certificates matter
Certificates you record here support other workflows in FlightSense:
- Endorsements—Instructors who record endorsements reference their CFI certificate. Without a Certified Flight Instructor certificate on file, endorsement workflows that require it cannot be completed.
- Compliance—Schools and chief instructors can see the certificates associated with their students and instructors when reviewing compliance.
Expiration dates
Only the Certified Flight Instructor type requires an expiration date in the app. For other certificates the expiration field is optional—leave Set Expiration Date off if the certificate does not expire, or toggle it on if you want to record a date (for example, for planning purposes).
Certificate types
The list of selectable certificate types is provided by the app. The most common pilot progression—Student Pilot through Certified Flight Instructor—is shown in order at the top of the picker.