FAA PPL and New York. Please Help
 

I am subjecting myself to a weeks trip to New York on business at the end of February and conveniently I need to get my FAA PPL application validated at the New York field office before the end of March so I intend to combine the trip.

This is to get issued a FAA PPL on the back of my CAA PPL. I already have the letter from the FAA confirming that I am who I say I am and my ratings etc but now you have to meet a real American who checks that I am definately who I say I am.

I want to know if anyone has done this before. The office for the FAA is at JFK where I am flying in and out of. Do you know if you can just waltz in there and get this done.

I have tried to call them but can never get hold of the guy who I have previously spoken to and he never returns calls of emails but he is still working there. I figure there is not much point complaining as when I spoke to him last time he made out that he was doing me a favour issuing one of these (maybe he is as a British person doesnt have an automatic right to it I suppose) and it seems he is the boss anyway so I dont know who to complain to.

I am obviously going to try to get the best info I can before I go but has anyone else done this before and can you give me any tips. Is the FAA office easy to find at the airport and also does anyone know how long it takes to travel from JFK to New York Centre (Hilton Hotel) as I have never been to the big apply before.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Meetings for licence issue at FSDOs are by appointment only. You'll need to persevere.

JFK-Central New York is very variable depending on traffic and time of day. Budget anything between 30 minutes and an hour or so. The taxi is fixed fare though, so every cloud has a silver lining.

2D

I managed to get an appointment to see an FAA inspector at New York by calling them on the day on the off chance and got straight in to see them. It was rather a non-event (even post 9/11) and they were quick to do the paperwork, half an hour at most.

You do have to get past the 'Noo York' attitude at first, which can be a little offputting.

2Donkeys is quite right: you do need a prior appointment. Quite possibly they can accomodate you at the last minute, but I wouldn't count on it.

If you can't get through via telephone or email, I'd suggest getting in touch with Oklahoma City and they will almost certainly straighten things out for you (it goes almost without saying that you will want to be tactful and not use this as an opportunity to complain about the fellow in NYC).

Many Americans (not just New Yorkers) can be rather off-putting; but if you are pleasant and polite, the great majority of them will reciprocate.

Thanks for your help
 

Oklahoma seems a bit far to walk so maybe I will just have to persevere with New York office but thanks anyway.

I have only been to Floriday before where everyone says "have a nice day" without meaning it.

I am looking forward to NY and to getting my shiny FAA PPL so my "N" reg Bonanza can go abroad next summer instead of being stuck in the UK.

I will try giving them another call tonight and see if I get any further.

Stuart

I happen to know Johnm is going to the NY FSDO at the end of Jan to get a US licence based on his JAA one, and (I think) has the meeting all organised. You may want to pm him to find out what he did.

Phil

you may want to try a chap called Bruce at Chester county A/P in Connecticut.If you have a car its an hours drive and he was very helpfull when i was there. Took care of everything and included the check ride in with the flight to Hertford where the FAA live all done in five minutes and no landing fee at a place the size of Gatwick. I seriously think you could do a lot worse than just give him a ring. Also remember when doing a check ride there the magnetic variation is large!!!! you have been warned!

pistongone

I think you may have a crossed wire. The original poster wants to have a US certiifcate issued on the basis of his existing European licence. No checkride is required - this is a paperwork exercise.

2D

Ha ha ha. :rolleyes:

Presumably the above was tongue-in-cheek, but just in case: Oklahoma City is the FAA headquarters. If you telephone the "Airmen Certification Branch", they will assist you in making an appointment with the NYC FDSO. The toll-free number is (866) 878-2498.

PhilD is slightly optimistic;-) As yet I don't have an appointment. I intend to call them tomorrow, it's best to call before 2pm EST ie. 7.00pm GMT. I don't anticipate a big problem since I've exchanged emails with one of the inspectors.

Contact details for the NY FSDO are here

http://aea.faa.gov/aea200/ea29/

I'll let you know if I have any problems.

J

2d's

Are you 100% sure about Stuart not needing a BFR?

The reason I ask, is that when I got my FAA PPL based on my Irish JAA licence, the guy at the FSDO made it very clear to me (because I asked) that I would need to do a BFR before I could use my FAA PPL.

Yes, Stuart can collect this FAA PPL without doing the BFR, but will he not need to do a BFR before exercising it's privilages?

dp

A BFR will be required. But I was sticking in the first instance to the subject of the enquiry, the issue of the certificate.

The BFR can only be completed once this is achieved.

2D

I now have an appointment, inspectors very helpful indeed, just called the switchboard and asked to talk to one.

Wow I got through!
 

I got hold of the guy today but I still havent got an appointment. He says I need to call a few days before because their diaries change so much but he was a little more helpful.

I just hope I dont call a few days before and they say they cant fit me in!!!

In respect of the BFR I understood differently because I am gaining my FAA PPL on the back of my CAA PPL and in my reading of the rules the FAA one is current so long as you maintain your CAA one. This is different from obtaining a full normal FAA PPL.

I am pretty sure this is correct but maybe the readers can put me straight. The letter says I am applying for a U.S. Airmen Certificate.

Stuart,

I was in the same position as you. I was getting my FAA PPL, based on my JAR PPL. Like you I assumed that as long as my JAR one was current, I could use my FAA one, which was based on it.

But to be sure I asked the guy in the FSDO, and he made it very clear, that I must have a BFR before being able to use my FAA PPL, and every two years there after. This is in addition to keeping my JAR one current.

dp

Hmm
 

I have just read on the FAA site and it doesnt say that. It seems to say:

(b) Certificate issued. A U.S. private pilot certificate that is issued under this section shall specify the person's foreign license number and country of issuance. A person who holds a current foreign pilot license issued by a contracting State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation may be issued a private pilot certificate based on the foreign pilot license :without any further showing of proficiency

Now I am confused.

Stuart,

I won't claim to be an expert on FAR's. I'm not. I just asked the guy who game me the licence the question. It also seems to be backed up by the opinions of other, more knowlegable people than I, that I have spoken to.

You above quote seems to refer to the issue of the licence. And yes, absolutely you will not have to show any competence whatsoever to be issued with the licence. And this licence never needs to be renewed. However to get yourself current, you will need a BFR.

I wouldn't fret about it though. Mine was nothing more than a club check out.

dp

Checkout
 

Thanks for that. I suppose I can ask them as well. The only problem is I will need a check out in Blackpool when I get back but there are no FAA instructors around these parts although I do have a number of a very helpful guy from Coventry.

I suppose I could fly my N reg plane on my UK PPL to Coventry to check if I am safe to fly it back on my FAA PPL :)

FSDO are very good. Last year I messed up some paperwork for an instructors renewal and the inspector gave me a b*llocking, quite right, then went to a lot of trouble and made several phone calls he didn't have to make and straightened the matter out.:ok:

Stuartforrest, your FAR quote relates purely to the "issue" of your licence. No show of proficiency is required to get the thing issued.

However, you should refer to FAR 61.56(c) which confirms the requirement for a BFR prior to being able to exercise the licence.

The long and the short of that is that if you find yourself in a position where you are depending on your FAA ticket (N-reg aircraft in France for example), your BFR must be current, in addition to meeting all the requirements for your underlying licence.