PROCEDURE FOR RECEIVING A U.S. FAA PILOT CERTIFICATE
BASED ON YOUR
FOREIGN PILOT CERTIFICATE
With proper documentation you simply go to an Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standards District Office (FSDO)
and they will issue you a U.S. Private Pilot certificate with the
ratings and limitations as shown on your country’s certificate. You then
go to a flight school and have to complete a U.S. Biennial Flight Review
(BFR) which includes ground training and flight training. This is
usually done in one ground training session and one flight for current
pilots. The review is good for two years. At Chandler Air Service this
also meets the requirements for a checkout for rental of an airplane.
You first thing to do is to apply to have your foreign
certificate verified by the FAA.
- Go to the FAA website
www.faa.gov and
click on Licenses & Certificates
- Next click on “airman certification”
- Next click on “verify the authenticity of a foreign license,
rating or medical certification” and follow the direction on that
page. You will be asked which FSDO you would like to go to and put
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
- Submit the application and attachments BY MAIL OR FAX
The next thing that will happen is you will be sent a “LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY” from the FAA, which you MUST BRING TO THE U.S. WITH YOU. A duplicate of this letter will also be sent to the Scottsdale FSDO as the letters will be matched up when you arrive.
The FAA says to allow at
least 90 days for the letter to come. It usually takes a lot less time
but plan ahead. We are able to call the FSDO and check if your letter
has arrived in case you wish to know. Do not call before your letter comes to you.
Upon your arrival you can set the appointment and go to the Scottsdale FSDO to have the certificate issued. However, be aware, they do not do this on the weekends. If your schedule is tight, you can set the meeting in advance. You do not need the license to do the Flight Review and checkout. You will need it before you can go Solo or P.I.C. (Pilot In Command) It is quite normal to fly upon arrival, and get the certificate issued in the next day or so. The FSDO office has no way of tracking your incoming letter. They only know when it arrives. There is a process on the FAA website to check the status of your letter.
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