How I got my FAA 61.75 PPL Certificate
How I got my FAA 61.75 PPL Certificate
Recently got my Australian PPL converted to the FAA 61.75 PPL. The PPL is the highest Certificate that you can get via an administrative process without taking a checkride. Was a fairly seemless process though could be daunting if you don't have any guidance. I thought I would share the process here
1. Fill up the form in IACRA https://iacra.faa.gov/IACRA/Default.aspx " Start the foreign verification process"
a. Choose the Scottsdale Arizona FSDO to work with
b. You can choose another FSDO, but you will need to get the letter "transferred" to the FSDO that your chosen DPE-FPE works with if it's not the same (it happened to me, it's not hard and takes only 1 or 2 business days - just a simple email to the FAA verification branch)
2. After submitting IACRA application, submit Form 452 to CASA immediately
^^I was impressed, the above steps took only 3 business days - FAA will email CASA and CASA will email your details to the FAA. CASA will then email you letting you know that they have sent your details to the FAA
3. A few days later, FAA will write to you to let you know that the Verficiation Letter is in your IACRA account
4. Now the fun part. In theory, you can write to your nominated FSDO to arrange for an appointment. I wrote to my nomintated one, who said that they don't do appointments for this, and to find a DPE-FPE to process this. I heard there are some FSDO who are still accepting Physical or Zoom appointments (e.g. Portland FSDO? but I don't know who they are (and didn't bother scouring the United States)). I wrote to 2 DPE-FPE who seemed to offer this service online, 1 didnt get back and one got back really quick (https://checkrides.us/ - he is friendly and efficient and gave a step by step process on how to get this done). His fee was US$150 + paypal charges for foreign based applicants. Sent him the requisite documents and filled in another IACRA form + scheduled a Zoom appointment with him a few days later.
And now I am in posession of a FAA Temporary Airman's Certificate, 1.5 weeks after first starting the process.
NB the downside of using a DPE-FPE to process your application is that they charge a fee. If you do it via a FSDO it is free. But you will need to find one who is processing this in-person or via Zoom still. And I did not want to travel to the US.
1. Fill up the form in IACRA https://iacra.faa.gov/IACRA/Default.aspx " Start the foreign verification process"
a. Choose the Scottsdale Arizona FSDO to work with
b. You can choose another FSDO, but you will need to get the letter "transferred" to the FSDO that your chosen DPE-FPE works with if it's not the same (it happened to me, it's not hard and takes only 1 or 2 business days - just a simple email to the FAA verification branch)
2. After submitting IACRA application, submit Form 452 to CASA immediately
^^I was impressed, the above steps took only 3 business days - FAA will email CASA and CASA will email your details to the FAA. CASA will then email you letting you know that they have sent your details to the FAA
3. A few days later, FAA will write to you to let you know that the Verficiation Letter is in your IACRA account
4. Now the fun part. In theory, you can write to your nominated FSDO to arrange for an appointment. I wrote to my nomintated one, who said that they don't do appointments for this, and to find a DPE-FPE to process this. I heard there are some FSDO who are still accepting Physical or Zoom appointments (e.g. Portland FSDO? but I don't know who they are (and didn't bother scouring the United States)). I wrote to 2 DPE-FPE who seemed to offer this service online, 1 didnt get back and one got back really quick (https://checkrides.us/ - he is friendly and efficient and gave a step by step process on how to get this done). His fee was US$150 + paypal charges for foreign based applicants. Sent him the requisite documents and filled in another IACRA form + scheduled a Zoom appointment with him a few days later.
And now I am in posession of a FAA Temporary Airman's Certificate, 1.5 weeks after first starting the process.
NB the downside of using a DPE-FPE to process your application is that they charge a fee. If you do it via a FSDO it is free. But you will need to find one who is processing this in-person or via Zoom still. And I did not want to travel to the US.
Last edited by zegnaangelo; 18th Oct 2023 at 06:45.
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Work mate was doing sim in the US and a FAA chap happened to be in the crew room, wrote him up for a license then and there, not that he ever had any need or ever used the privilege.
Conversely, the nice chaps at FSI West Palm were happy to write me (the visiting Aussie) up for the annual sim check on the S76, but CA$A refused to acknowledge it, because it wasn't done by one of their FOIs. I should have paid for someone to accompany me there - but nobody in CA$A was current on S76 or qualified on 76B - though that wasn't going to stop them.
AC, should have aligned your trip to when one of our instructors was doing his two yearly trip, don't think our FOI was rated, when I asked he was not permitted to ride along.
FAA bureaucracy
In 1976 I walked into the FAA office at Montgomery Field in San Diego, and handed the man behind the desk my Aus CPL. I asked was it possible to obtain an FAA licence? He
disappeared into the back office and was gone for about 15 mins. I was a bit unhappy about having to wait so long for the answer to a simple question.
But he returned and handed me back both my Aus licence AND my new FAA CPL licence (annotated not for commercial ops).
An hours check ride to the east of San Diego in the late afternoon (with my westward return following I8 into the San Diego smog) left me fully checked out for private flying.
The good old days.
Seabreeze
disappeared into the back office and was gone for about 15 mins. I was a bit unhappy about having to wait so long for the answer to a simple question.
But he returned and handed me back both my Aus licence AND my new FAA CPL licence (annotated not for commercial ops).
An hours check ride to the east of San Diego in the late afternoon (with my westward return following I8 into the San Diego smog) left me fully checked out for private flying.
The good old days.
Seabreeze
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I just spent 7 weeks in the US and followed the process as above but called for an appointment with a FSDO. The receptionist at the FSDO asked me to send an email to request an appointment with an inspector. I received an acknowledgement via email but no appointment was made despite me phoning multiple times. I was told the inspector would make contact with me for an appointment that didnt happen.. The verification was the easy part.
I had hoped to do the CPL tests while I was there or convert my ATPL but I couldn't find anyone who would tell me what exams I needed to sit.
I returned back to Australia without a FAA license. Better luck next time.
I had hoped to do the CPL tests while I was there or convert my ATPL but I couldn't find anyone who would tell me what exams I needed to sit.
I returned back to Australia without a FAA license. Better luck next time.
Ahhh the fun and games!
If you want the FAA ticket then yes you need a DPE to take you on a check flight.
There mere validation of your Aus lic for FAA PPL is relatively straight forward as described above.
As for getting Flight Safety or CAE ratings / recurrents / IPC (ok need to have done the theory first) is also a simple process. Fill out CASA form can’t remember, fill out credit card payment bit, send forms ratings on the CASA ticket. This is fact as I’ve done it twice so far and once for the IPC.
If you want the FAA ticket then yes you need a DPE to take you on a check flight.
There mere validation of your Aus lic for FAA PPL is relatively straight forward as described above.
As for getting Flight Safety or CAE ratings / recurrents / IPC (ok need to have done the theory first) is also a simple process. Fill out CASA form can’t remember, fill out credit card payment bit, send forms ratings on the CASA ticket. This is fact as I’ve done it twice so far and once for the IPC.
