FAA "Restricted Licenses"[Editorial note: PPL/IR Europe is happy to help people achieve the FAA IR. It is currently more accessible and realistic for the Private pilot than the JAA IR. However, anyone about to embark on this route should be aware that various European states are considering restrictions on the use of foreign registered aircraft based in Europe, which, if it were to happen, will severely curtail the usefulness of an FAA IR. Our hope and expectation is that the EU and its member states will take a sensible pragmatic view and that FAA IRs will continue to be recognised...but Caveat Emptor.] The Federal Aviation Regulations provide for the issuance of a U.S. private pilot certificate based on a person holding a foreign (non FAA issued) pilot certificate. This subject is addressed specifically in FAR 61.75 (14 CFR Part 61, Section 61.75), and these licenses are popularly referred to "restricted" or "piggy back" licenses. For the remainder of this article I shall refer to such a license as a restricted license. A restricted certificate can have an FAA IR attached to it on the basis of your foreign IR. No flight test is required, but you need to pass the "restricted IR" knowledge test before applying for your FAA certificate. Other ratings (multi, float, type ratings etc) will be transferred straight over. Note that it is advisable to get all the ratings done in one go as the entire verification process described in this article must be repeated every time you wish to add a rating to a restricted certificate. A full FAA IR can be added to an FAA PPL certificate that was issued on the basis of FAR 61.75, however a current FAA letter of verification must be available at the time that you take your IR checkride - even if you already have the restricted license. If the letter of verification you used to get your original restricted license is over 6 months old then you must get another one prior to your checkride other you will NOT be allowed to perform the checkride. I have provided the necessary links and references at the end of this article, and will now describe the process to get and maintain your restricted license. Verification of your foreign licenseIf you are applying for an FAA certificate issues on the basis of a foreign license, rating, or medical certification then you must have the Civil Aviation Authority that issues those certificates verify the validity and currency of the foreign license and medical certificate or endorsement before you apply for an FAA certificate or authorisation. There is an FAA page that describes that process that can be found here. You need to print this page to ensure that you get all of the information required to complete and send the form. You need to provide the information using the Verification of Authenticity of Foreign License, Rating, and Medical Certification (PDF) form. Whilst it is possible to mail that form and the required documentation to the FAA, the best thing to do is to fax them to the FAA Airmen Certification Branch, AFS-760 on +1 405 954-9922 Note that the UK CAA requires CAA form SRG1160: UK License Verification Authorisation for License Validation to be completed and faxed into them before they will release the information to the FAA required for the verification due to data protection issues. You can enter your credit card details on this form to make payment. If you have a different CAA then you would be advised to check with them if they need any paperwork to authorise license verification and validation. The paperwork generally takes about 3-4 weeks, and will be valid for 6 months. You need to present this letter together with your license application form and other required paperwork (ie current license, medical etc) to an FAA Operations Inspector. As part of completing the verification form you need to designate the Flight District Standards Office (FSDO) where you intend to make your application. Please be aware that most FSDOs require you to make an appointment and I would strongly suggest you call them and ensure they have received a copy of your Foreign License Verification Form before going to see them. This is all well and good if you intend to visit the US to perform your training or will be visiting the US for any other reason, however it is possible to get a restricted license without visiting the US by one of the DPE's based in Europe from the New York International Field Office (IFO) - see http://www.faaeurope.us for more information. If you change your mind about where you want to meet an FAA Operations Inspector it is possible to go somewhere else, but you will need to contact the original New York IFO or FSDO and get them to send the verification letter they have on file for you to the new FSDO location and ensure that the new FSDO location has received it before you get there. Keeping a restricted certificate currentOnce you have your restricted FAA PPL license, the currency requirements can be broken down into two. Firstly, the foreign license on which the FAA certificate is based must meet all validity and currency requirements, including its medical and all ratings. Secondly, all FAA currency requirements must be met, including FAA biennial flight reviews, instrument competency checks, instrument currency and night currency. A newly issued FAA PPL is considered "already timed out" because the certificate was issued without a flight test and so a flight review must be performed before the certificate can be used. What happens if the foreign license changes?If your foreign license number changes, whether becuase of reissue for JAR compliance or any other reason, an existing restricted FAA certificate issued on the basis of that original license becomes invalid. You must then reapply for a new certificate and go through the complete process again. MedicalsThere is no need for an FAA medical to maintain a restricted certifcate, including any ratings transferred from the foreign license. Equally, having an FAA medical will not substitute for a national medical. However, if you add a full FAA IR (or any other rating not existing on your foreign license) to a restricted FAA PPL, you need to maintain an FAA medical in addition to your foreign medical. This is not for the basic PPL which is supported by your foreign medical, but for the IR or other rating since it is not supported by your foreign medical (since you don't have a foreign IR) The alternative - a full FAA PPL licenseHaving reviewed the above process it is worth considering if you may be better getting a full (standalone) FAA PPL license. If you are looking at an FAA "restricted" license with the intention of going to the US to get an FAA Instrument Rating then it is worth considering getting a full FAA PPL whilst you are there. Provided that you do your FAA PPL written examination before you go to the US you should be able to get both your FAA PPL and FAA IR whilst you're out there. Contact your preferred training facility and discuss this with them before you go. Links and referencesNote: This document was last updated on 16 May 2008, but due to the current security climate some of this information may change. Please ensure you check the FAA and CAA websites to get the latest information and send any changes or updates you may find in to
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