Originally Posted by
George Semel
Mine is thirty years old. Its still in my wallet with my medical and certificate. They did away with the requirement to have one in the States back in the 1980's I guess. Burt you know when the did that?
From the first link provided in Panama Jack's post.
On October 26, 1996, the FCC released a Report and Order in WT Docket No. 96-82, FCC 96-421 (text, WordPerfect), eliminating the individual licensing requirement for all aircraft operating domestically.
At least one person on each aircraft flying or communicating internationally must have a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit. This requirement is in addition to the requirement to have an aircraft radio station license for the aircraft. No Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit is required to operator VHF radio equipment on board an aircraft when that aircraft is flown domestically. You may obtain a Restricted Permit using FCC Form 605. No test is required to obtain this permit. The FCC will mail the permit to you and it will be valid for your lifetime. The fee for a Restricted Permit is in addition to any fee paid for an aircraft license.
All US certificated pilots should have been aware of this requirement to posess a limited radiotelephone operators permit prior to 1996, as it was then required for all operators of aircraft transmitters. However, I didn't find out until 1990! Once I did, obtaining the required piece of paper was painless and, at that time, cost nothing. Nor was any permanant record made by the FCC of who they issued these permits to. Yet they recognize these old permits as valid as long as it is properly completed with the FCC seal affixed. If I were to lose mine, or if it becomes completely illegible, I will simply be required to fill out the form and pay the fee as if I had never had one.
Best regards,
Westhawk