A small point, but I believe that for non-US citizens exercising the privileges of an FAA 61.75 or standalone certificate, the only form of gov't issued photo-id that's acceptable is a passport.

If you've not flown in the US before, then I strongly recommend you get a copy of "FAR/AIM 2009". £11.50 from Amazon UK. It's an inch and a half thick, but at the beginning there's a section where it says what you need to read as a PPL (a small fraction of it). Do read the recommended sections, as airspace, radio, circuit (or rather "pattern" in US terminology) procedures are all rather different in the US. Nothing dramatic, but it helps enormously to have read it before you arrive.

Or you can access the FAR/AIM free at:

GPO Home Page

New development
 

A friend just back from the USA was charged $75 for his 61.75 licence.
DO.

Charged by who?

He went to the FSDO, and the inspector there charged him cash for issuing it?

You sure that it wasn't an instructor charging for doing the BFR?

Charged by the FSDO. It was an initial application.
DO.

That is interesting as there is no charging scheme for an FSDO for these services. If he had gone to a local DPE then they can make a charge but that is not FSDO.

Hi Bose,
That may be the case.
DO.

A passport is likely to be the only valid photo-id for all of us operating on FAA licences over here (based on and standalone/ US Citizen and non-Citizen)). From memory, all of the other photo-ids are specifically US Federal IDs or US State IDs.

You shouldn't have to do that if you have an FAA CPL. All you have to do is apply for a new ticket because by doing the CPL you must have passed a check ride with an examiner, and one of the pre-requisites of holding a CPL is being able to talk English! I just paid my $2 and did it online.....

My CPL did not state English Proficient so while I was there with my friends I checked into it hence the reason I got to meet the very pleasant Mr Baggett and the reason why I know there is not a charge for a 61.75 certificate issued by an FSDO.

I see....Just wondered what Mr Baggett did to add English Proficient to your ticket - For us CPL holders without EP, all we do is fill out a form online, pay $2, and a week later a new ticket came through the post......

I have no idea what he did, however it now says English Proficient. Why would I want to pay $2 and have it done by post when I was stood in the office anyway?

Dunno - I thought that all FAA certificates came from a central source ("The FAA") - seeing as they are a natty plastic card containing all your details, certificates and ratings. I'm surprised if they actually manufacture the cards at each FSDO!

I could understand it if someone had to prove that their "based on" certificate needed the English Proficient statement - then you'd have to prove it to the FSDO man, and he'd submit the application back to the FAA saying you were indeed proficient and even possibly issue a "temp" certificate....But of course one can't have a based on CPL - see the confusion?

Still, you live and learn....

They don't they issue a little bit of paper, that says all the relevant stuff including English Proficient, the natty card follows later.....

Did it online, got the English language added onto my CPL, came through the post in just over a week. May have to do it again in the near future as I beleive they are still intending adding a picture ID onto the plastic card certificate. Would be a good idea, save having to carry seperate ID around.

Photo certificate? Where did you hear about that?

I know I could have done it online, I think Al missed the point, I was already in the FSDO on other business so I sorted it while I was there......

I seem to recall being told something about it from my KingAir instructor while at SIMCOM last year. Makes sense I guess.

P.S If anyones interested AOPA make a nice little leather wallet thing that holds the FAA licence and the medical on the reverse...

What is the latest on the PPL FAA license-english proficiency.
I have been told that the only way is to go to the USA. I do not want to do this because of time and costs. Surely someone in the UK or the FAA station at Le Bourget could do this.:sad:

G-ROAR,

Take a look at the FAA web site and read the posts above. If you have a stand alone FAA certificate, you are "English Proficient," that's part of the requirements to get an FAA certificate. However, that was too confusing for some countries so now the FAA is adding EP to all certificates. Send OKC 2 dollars and they'll send you a new one with the EP endorsement.