Oh the joys of the US FAA...
When you pass your Checkride etc, you are given a paper cert valid for 120 days. The Examiner/DPE does all the paperwork. You submit nothing to the FAA and you pay nothing.
Then maybe 30-60 days later - you get the credit card size plastic certificate with all your information on it. All you have to do is carry it along with a government issued photo-id.
All very civilized.
The FAA are contemplating adding a photo-id to the cert but are still mulling over that one. The last suggestion was that the AME would take the piccy at medical renewal time.
Great.... Meanwhile ive got to watch a really nice bank holiday weekend pass, watching from the ground despite finishing the PPL 2 weeks ago
