FAA foreign based license

[Dan4573]

I didn't find any information about my problem in regulations or FAA website, so could anyone help me.
I have my plastic FAA private license with a note on the backside: ISSUED ON BASIS OF AND VALID ONLY WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY LITHUANIA PILOT LICENSE NUMBER(S) LT.FCL.PPL-***
I have a valid Lithuanian license and medical certificate. So, it is valid!
But, I was said to get a new letter of verification, because the old letter is expired 2 month ago.
Am I allowed to fly in USA as private pilot?
Do I need to get new letter every 120 days?

[Tinstaafl]

New letter not required. Your US FAR 61.75 licence is valid just as it says.

[Dan4573]

And what if I going to add instrument rating to my FAA 61.75 certificate?
In this case, do I need the new letter of verification?

[Mark 1]

You will need a new licence verification if the old one is more than six months old when upgrading the 61.75 airman's certificate.

You will also need to go through the TSA approval process (https://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov/afsp2/?acct_type=c&section=WN) before commencing IR training.

Also an appropriate visa if training in the US.

[flydive1]

I do not think he will need TSA approval or visa to add the IFR to his 61.75.
It is just a 50 questions written exam.

[Pace]

Flydive1

So you just need exams to get a IR? Any foreign citizen training in the USA requires TSA approval

Pace

[flydive1]

So you just need exams to get a IR?

Yes, to add IR to the 61.75 is just a multiple choice exam, usually done on a computer

Any foreign citizen training in the USA requires TSA approval

You do not need any training, so I guess no TSA approval required

[chrisbl]

You need a visa and TSA approval to do the FAA IR in the US its not just a question of doing the written exam, there is the check ride with a DPE and you will need to present a fresh in date validation letter addressed to the FSDO who supervises the examiner as well.

[flydive1]

There is no training involved, just a written exam.

So no TSA I would say and for sure no VISA required

[worldpilot]

DAN4573

And what if I going to add instrument rating to my FAA 61.75 certificate?
In this case, do I need the new letter of verification?If you want to add instrument privileges to your FAA 61.75 licence, you must first attain the IR privileges on your Lithuanian licence in order to do that. FAA validation process is necessary to add that to your FAA 61.75 licence.

FAA 61.75 states:

(d) Instrument ratings issued. A person who holds an instrument rating on the foreign pilot license issued by a contracting State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation may be issued an instrument rating on a U.S. pilot certificate provided:
(1) The person's foreign pilot license authorizes instrument privileges;
(2) Within 24 months preceding the month in which the person applies for the instrument rating, the person passes the appropriate knowledge test; and
(3) The person is able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating limitations on that applicant's pilot certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft.
WP

[Maoraigh1]

And what if I going to add instrument rating to my FAA 61.75 certificate?
Do you mean to:
A. Add to your FAA license an IR, which you already hold from Lithuania.
B. Add to your FAA license an IR, which you already hold from EASA.
C. Train for a FAA IR in the US.

[flydive1]

C not applicable.

The only valid option is A , if he has an IR

(or B, but only if his Lithuanian license, so same as A)

[Dan4573]

Thanks a lot. It's clear now.

[Dan4573]

Quote:
Do you mean to:
A. Add to your FAA license an IR, which you already hold from Lithuania.
B. Add to your FAA license an IR, which you already hold from EASA.
C. Train for a FAA IR in the US.


I need to get instrument rating training in US for my 61.75 FAA license and then pass the CPL checkride to get fully independent FAA commercial license.

[flydive1]

I believe you are mixing things up a bit.

To add IR to your 61.75 (if you have an IR on your Lithuanian license) you do not need training, just a written exam.

A full CPL(and IR) is a totally different thing.

[MarkerInbound]

There are two paths you can go down to get an IR on a 61.75. IF your foreign license has an IR you can pass the Foreign Pilot Instrument knowledge test and have the IR added to the 61.75. No checkride required. It would only be valid when the IR on your foreign license is valid.

Or you could pass the regular IR knowledge test, get the required training and pass the IR checkride. You would then have the IR with the remark US TEST PASSED.

[Maoraigh1]

Is this correct: you have no IR at present, and wish to train in the US for both FAA IR and CPL.

[Mike Cross]

It all gets more understandable if you understand that the 61.75 certificate is not a license in the ICAO sense. It is a document that in ICAO speak "renders valid" a foreign license as set about in Annex A to the Chicago Convention. Which is why it is only valid when accompanied by the valid foreign license specified on it.

Annex A

1.2.1 Authority to act as a flight crew member
A person shall not act as a flight crew member of an aircraft unless a valid licence is held showing compliance with the specifications of this Annex and appropriate to the duties to be performed by that person. The licence shall have been issued by the State of Registry of that aircraft or by any other Contracting State and rendered valid by the State of Registry of that aircraft.

1.2.2.2 Recommendation.— A pilot licence issued by a Contracting State should be rendered valid by other Contracting States for use in private flights.

FAR 61.75 A person who holds a foreign pilot license issued by a contracting State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation may be issued a U.S. private pilot certificate based on the foreign pilot license without any further showing of proficiency, provided the applicant:...... note the word " private"

[flydive1]

FAR 61.75 note the word " private"

Yes, now is like that.

[Dan4573]

Is this correct: you have no IR at present, and wish to train in the US for both FAA IR and CPL.

Yes, that is correct.
Am I allowed to fly IFR flights with 61.75 private pilot certificate if I would have US test passed?

[Mike Cross]

Here (http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFar.nsf/FARSBySectLookup/61.75) is the FAA guidance.

(d) Instrument ratings issued. A person who holds an instrument rating on the foreign pilot license issued by a contracting State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation may be issued an instrument rating on a U.S. pilot certificate provided:]

(1) The person's foreign pilot license authorizes instrument privileges;
(2) Within 24 months preceding the month in which the person applies for the instrument rating, the person passes the appropriate knowledge test; and
(3) The person is able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating limitations on that applicant's pilot certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft.

My reading of this is that you cannot add an FAA IR to a 61.75, you have to have the rating on your foreign license to have it added to a 61.75.

The choices appear to be to get a Lithuanian IR and get it added to the 61.75 or to get a standalone FAA certificate and do the FAA IR. That course would require TSA approval.

[Mark 1]

Sorry to have to correct you Mike, but you most definitely can add an IR to a 61.75 certificate. Indeed I have such a certificate with Instrument and Single Engine Sea privileges added with 'US test passed'.

It requires going through the TSA approval process, taking the exam, getting the required training and experience and taking the check-ride.

One good feature of the US system is that you can practice 'under the hood' without an instructor, just a safety pilot, and you can both log the time. And all your practice approaches are paid for by the US taxpayers.

[Mike Cross]

Nice one, thank you for the information.

Logically of course there's no reason why not. I have a sailplane rating on mine, even though such a thing does not exist on my UK CAA license and is there simply as a result of an old BGA Bronze C certificate.

Perhaps it reflects the US "can do" approach. I suspect it comes down to who you're dealing with from the FAA.

[MartinCh]

Mk1 is spot on as few others.

What annoys myself, is the change to 61.75 regs few years ago limiting the validation to ONE issuing country and not 100% sure if also not one class/category. Haven't tested/researched that. Some FSDO guys may not have known for some time, as I had to show the regs to guy 'giving up' my Czech glider validation to have SEP VFR validation from elsewhere done, towards FAA IFR. Then can't fly some gliders other than solo and as solo, in USA, no passengers. Not huge issue, but silly for semi-experienced pilot flying on older student cert on medical and solo sign-off.

Another thing to be aware is that FAA should/may refuse doing NEW validation once you obtain full/standalone FAA license in same or different category. I kept mine and strictly speaking one can have aeroplane validation and later do checkride and keep/not give up validation.

If every planning to do more training or get FAA commercial, do so rather earlier, as it's house of cards keeping FAA specific ratings on validation but no full faa private or commercial.


Yes, Mike, it's bit fuddled up/not obvious and legalese, but yeah, as mentioned. My IACRA was messed up and 8710 on paper was needed as the system wasn't set up for someone having rotary commercial and doing instrument on other category on private validation.

If having VFR PPL/CPL from abroad, 61.75 validation can be 'license to tack on' FAA IR (US test passed) after checkride with FAA DPE/FSDO inspector.

For foreing PPL/CPL with same issuing authority IR, one only needs to sit the 'IFP' Instrument Foreign Pilot written through PSI (ex Lasergrade) or CATS locations - basically most FBOs/flight schools, for 150 USD (last time I checked) with possible AOPA 10 bucks discount - ask for it and book over the phone, not with the location, who may not mention it. That is, if you are AOPA or similar member that provides the discounts or fancy supporting US GA advocacy etc.

Every validation needs FLIGHT REVIEW in USA/with CFI even if current 'back home' before exercising the privileges, ie PIC on flight. Shouldn't be an issue, as before renting a/c you're likely to do check flight or two with company instructor. The FAA guys will likely remind you of it doing the Temp airman cert.

As for IPC and instrument currency after getting foreign IR transferred to validation either at initial request or later on (but need the verification letter 6 months old or less, silly I know), I'd have to check the regs. I only have uncurrent FAA IR on aeroplane private from elsewhere and full FAA heli ratings. Using the validation as basis for flight test (if not having full FAA licence later on) ie for commercial, also requires current validation letter, even if not redoing/having the piggyback re-issued. So are any changes to ratings, adding ratings or changing address.

The keeping current/building hood time as Mk1 mentions, falls under some specifics, so best be aware if tyring to do so. While under hood, the 'seeing' pilot is the Acting PIC responsible for collision avoidance in VFR and needs to be rated/current. If in IMC, also instrument rated and current. The logging is FAA thing, limited advantage to European pilots needing time for further ratings, but doable with some caution and caveats.