And you thought the CAA was bad . . .

[FBS]

Whenever I have had to contact the CAA it has been relatively straightfoward.

Today I had to contact the FAA. So I tried via their website. The answer to the specific question was, of course, not answered in the FAQs and so I searched for an email address or a telephone number. There is a number, it is a freephone in the US so standard rate from outside, and that gave me recorded menus that were next to useless.

So I searched the site for the office that was most likely to be able to answer my question and tried calling a couple more times (racking up the money as I listened to even more unsuitable menu choices).

Their system is totally impenetrable. The CAA is a breeze by comparison.

If anyone from the FAA is looking at this C'mon guys, this is stupid.

Some people have genuine need to talk to someone to answer questions in order to keep everything safe and legal.

Why confuse them so much they wish they had not bothered?

[Chilli Monster]

Have you tried any of the following?

Airman Certificates: 001 405 954 3205

Aircraft Certificates: 001 405 954 3131

(Not knowing your query that's the best I can do at the moment).

[FBS]

Have you tried any of the following?
Airman Certificates: 001 405 954 3205
Aircraft Certificates: 001 405 954 3131
(Not knowing your query that's the best I can do at the moment).

No, but I will do, Where the hell did you find them?

They are very, VERY good at somewalling!

[B2N2]

From their website:
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/

Phone numbers for all their regional offices.

Or is this what you are looking for?
http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/foreign_license_verification/

[Julian]

I have emailed them before (with a query on MELs) and got response next day when I rolled in for work.

J.

[FBS]

Incidentally, not had time to call again due to pressure of weather (too good not to fly) but still had no reply from the email I sent.

I could not get the phone numbers from the website to load.

Probably my browser but still not impressed with them.

The only time I got though on the phone was "leave a message we will call you back".

[tunalic2]

Costs me 0p a minute to call the usa (after3p connection)
http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/
and when I've called an FSS (I think it stands for flight service station but I may be wrong) (remembering the time difference of course , 5hrs behind GMT east coast 8 for west) I've never had a problem getting through, or getting an answer from them , usually very quick and helpful.
BTW the CAA have been helpfull but perhaps a bit more 'jobsworth' on occaison
T2