FAA - lost license - advice please?
 

Hi,

I'm after some advice from anyone who's familiar with the inner workings of the FAA and US Imigration as to how to best handle this situation:

Around a year ago, I visited the US to do some flying. I was issued with two FAA licenses: one based on my UK (JAR) PPL, and I also got a student license which I used for solo night flying (since my UK license, at the time, didn't allow night-flying). I still have my student license, but, despite turning my entire house upside-down, I can't find my license based on my foreign license.

Although it's a long way off, and I don't have any definite plans yet, I'm considering returning to the US to get my JAR CPL towards the end of 2003, about 9 or 10 months from now.

According to the FAA website, I can get a replacement license. I need to send them a downloadable form (no problem), and tell them my license number (which is a problem - their website allows me to search for myself, and I've found all my details, including details of both my licenses - but no license numbers). I also need to send a cheque for a small amount - the money isn't a problem but getting a cheque written out in US Dollars may be.

The alternative is to get a new license. Since I will need a Visa for my most-probable next flying trip to the US anyway (because I intend to undergo training), would it be simpler to get a new license at the same time?

Or can I survive without a license at all? All the flying for the CPL (as far as I know) is dual - so I would be flying on an instructor's license anyway. Can I do a JAR CPL course in the US without an FAA license?

Any ideas would be welcomed!

FFF
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FFF,

Call a FSDO and ask to speak to an inspector. Then call another FSDO and ask to speak to an inspector, if the stories match I'd say you had been given good advice. The FAA understands the concept of customer service.

If you have a US Social Security Number then that will be your certificate number unless you told them not to use it. In that case it will be a number the FAA generates. Did you rent using your permanent certificate? If so, the flying school probably has a copy, you could call them.

If you want a replacement certificate, and the original was based upon a UK licence, you need to have the CAA verify your details and you have to turn up to a FSDO for the replacement. I'd just get a visa and an unrestricted FAA CP-ASEL when you come over for your JAA CPL.

You really want to fly solo when practicing for these ratings, you don't want an instructor next to you all the time. Instructors get in the way, and where is the fun in that? :)

Cheers

I concur with what slim has to say. Just call the FSDO and they will take your name and pull it up in a second. Then the issue of paying them maybe hard. But you should do this as your FAA commercial requires tyou to do about 10 hrs of solo flying.
Also, in order to get a CPL the pre-requisite is to have a private, so you will need it then to give it to the examiner if you plan to do a FAA CPL. So i would definitly make the call to the FSDO closest to where you plan on training.

...and best of all, the FSDO does not charge for the service.
If a replacement from OKC is required a whole $2 is the last charge I remember quoted.
Do it quick...if dubbya has his way, big time charges ahead for many...:(

Thanks for the advice... seems like getting a replacement is the thing to do. I've also received a private message from someone in the FAA who will help me sort out the currency issues as well as hopefully find my license number (no I don't have a US social security number, and I don't think my UK national insurance number is going to help!)

FFF
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FFF
It's worth seeing if they will take Visa or Mastercard, then the card company will take care of the currency conversion for you.

Chippy,

I know the cost o the retailer of a credit card transaction, and it's more than the $2 cost of the replacement license - so the FAA would actually come out in the red if they accepted cards for such a low amount!

Thanks for the thought, though!

FFF
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