New FAA Certificates.

[rltoma]

BLAKEY UNVEILS NEW PILOT CERTIFICATES
Starting immediately, the FAA will begin issuing new pilot certificates made of plastic instead of cardboard that will feature nostalgic graphics. FAA Administrator Marion Blakey made the announcement at EAA AirVenture on Thursday. The credit card-sized certificates incorporate new security features, such as a hologram of the FAA seal. "The new certificate's durability and features will further protect pilot identities and add one more element of security to our aviation system," Blakey said. The certificates will be issued to all new and existing pilots as they achieve higher certificate levels or additional ratings. It will replace certificates that have been lost or damaged.

 

[chawbein]

Huh, I just laminated mine.

 

[rice]

Here's the link

http://www2.faa.gov/index.cfm/apa/1062?id=1762

 

[LA Confidential]

This will have an effect only to further complicate things. Yet another type/design of valid cert floating around out there which TSA and LEO’s will need to become familiar with.

As with all the other FAA cert changes we’ve seen over the years they are not mandatory.
If you never upgrade, change your addy or just request the cert your old one will still be valid and usable.

My father still has his PPL issued in 1978, it’s old but in good shape, it’s hard laminated and he keeps it inside a plastic pouch with his medical inside his logbook. He is current; a member of a club that owns two planes and flies as often as he can.

I never upgraded to the cert, which has the front, and back print, I don’t need to.

Besides, yet again, I ask the Feds, just how many of those hijackers were licensed pilots with legit certs?

This is nothing more than touchy-feely-good changes whose sole purpose is to make the sheeple feel safer. Until the bureaucrats close the freaking borders and just refuse to allow people from countries on the terrorist watch list into our countries and begin to round up those here illegally, allowing local LEO’s the authority to arrest for INS violations etc…

We are bound to repeat history again and again…

With governments like ours who the hell needs enemies!

 

[dmspilot00]

Personally after spending thousands of dollars I'd like something a little nicer than a crappy piece of thin cardboard. I stuck mine in the window of my wallet (without laminating it) and the ink stuck to the plastic in the window. Not to mention the edges are are curvey because I can't cut straight

I sent in that request to the FAA about four weeks ago to have my cert. number changed, I wonder which type of certificate I will get back.

 

[DCitrus9]

...neither!

When I renewed my CFI, the inspector at the FSDO recommended that I not change my cert. number due to several "lost file" problems. It was enough to convince me to tear up the change app. Has anyone else heard of this?

 

[banned username 2]

Re: ...neither!

When I renewed my CFI, the inspector at the FSDO recommended that I not change my cert. number due to several "lost file" problems. It was enough to convince me to tear up the change app. Has anyone else heard of this?

I changed my certificate number back in January, went off without a hitch, had all new certificates in about 2 1/2 weeks. I would especially recommend changing your number if you travel outside of the US because your certificate number goes on an ICAO flight plan... I always hated having my SSN out there in the 3rd world countries.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Re: Re: ...neither!

I changed my certificate number back in January, went off without a hitch, had all new certificates in about 2 1/2 weeks.

Be careful when you make that change. I got the new certs without the SSN but the problem is that the medical folks track your EKG with your old cert #. Thus I got a letter threatening to revoke my 1st class medical because they didn't have an EKG on file that was taken after I turned 35. The AME that did my EKG in 2000, Dr. Stewart-Morris in OAK, wanted $50.00 just to go through his files and fax the original to the Feds. I spent a good part of a day talking with different people in OKC until I finally stumbled upon the one that actually knew how to fix the problem.

 

[generaltso]

I am pretty sure now a days if you apply for a new rating and you still have your SSN they automatically issue you a new one. This is what happened to me.

I think the new certs are a good idea, long overdue. At least I won't have to laminate everytime it gets reissued. Also it will dismiss that whole idea of "are you allowed to laminate it" (is it considered altering). I had a DE once tell me it was... I argued with him. Of course I had passed the checkride at that point.

On another note, what kind of a$$hole puts his certificate in his wallets window?

 

[flx757]

The FAA gives you two options when you apply for a new certificate number. One is to assign a new number to your certificate(s) only , while retaining your SSN as a tracking number by the Airman Certification Branch. The other option is that your SSN will not appear on any certificate nor will it be used to identify your airman records. If you select this option, you must agree and understand that you are not to furnish your SSN on any application for an airman or medical certificate.

It seems to me that most of the problems with tracking can be prevented by checking option 1 when you apply for a new certificate number. However, I suppose there are people who want their SSN completely removed from their records. If you choose this option, be prepared for some tracking problems here and there. After all, we are dealing with the FAA.

 

[banned username 2]

Re: Re: Re: ...neither!

Be careful when you make that change. I got the new certs without the SSN but the problem is that the medical folks track your EKG with your old cert #. Thus I got a letter threatening to revoke my 1st class medical because they didn't have an EKG on file that was taken after I turned 35. The AME that did my EKG in 2000, Dr. Stewart-Morris in OAK, wanted $50.00 just to go through his files and fax the original to the Feds. I spent a good part of a day talking with different people in OKC until I finally stumbled upon the one that actually knew how to fix the problem.

I wasn't required to get an EKG until a couple months ago, already had the new certificate number by then. I guess it was good to change to the new number before getting that first baseline EKG at 35.

 

[dmspilot00]

On another note, what kind of a$$hole puts his certificate in his wallets window?

What is wrong with that? Maybe I had more than one window. Maybe I didn't want to laminate it. Maybe I got my pilot's certificate before I got my driver's license. You're the a$$.

 

[bobbysamd]

Airman certificates

[W]hat kind of a$$hole puts his certificate in his wallets window?

What is wrong with that? Maybe I had more than one window. Maybe I didn't want to laminate it.

So did I. What is wrong with carrying your certificates in wallet windows? My certificates fared just fine - and I was always sure they were on me because my wallet was always on me.

Personally after spending thousands of dollars I'd like something a little nicer than a crappy piece of thin cardboard.

Dmspilot000 has a point. I recall seeing a pilot certificate issued by some non-U.S. country - possibly Italy. It was a very nice affair that looked something like a passport. Not the chinsy piece of thin cardboard that we get. So, although I appreciate LA Confidential's points, it would be nice to have something a little more elaborate. And, having said all that, the fact that my certificates are small cardboard cards makes me no less proud of them.

 

[350DRIVER]

Personally after spending thousands of dollars I'd like something a little nicer than a crappy piece of thin cardboard. I stuck mine in the window of my wallet (without laminating it) and the ink stuck to the plastic in the window. Not to mention the edges are are curvey because I can't cut straight

Exactly.... I could not have said it any better.
The current certificate is on nothing more than "scrap paper", it is about time this has changed. I believe that this change is way overdue and I am happy that it has finally been approved.
any link to a picture.?

3 5 0

 

[Gulfstream 200]

who gives a dammm what the certificate is made of???

can be paper or gold, who cares?...

All I care is what it can make ME!! (as in green)


PS - I do also keep it in a wallet window, whats wrong with that? Its the easiest way to quickly show Customs and Imm. EVERY time we come back to our hangar...

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Bruce,

I hear they are now requiring a MANDATORY psychological screening process for ANY medical.

 

[generaltso]

You keep it in the window just in case your at the grocery store and you want to let the person next to you in line know that you are a pilot? Or for all those ramp checks so you can quickly have it available and flash it to the FAA? Give me a break

 

[Gulfstream 200]

hey bey-atches,

take it outside....

and I got $50 on the chinese food guy, he seems pretty F'n mean.

 

[ShawnC]

Wow, I think these new certificates are a long time coming, I can take my scanner, and make myself a pilot certificate with the same credentials as Mr. Concorde said he had.

So I for one think it's a good thing. For what little my opinion is worth.

Edit: Shouldn't post when tired. Now it makes sense.

 

[A Squared]

Also it will dismiss that whole idea of "are you allowed to laminate it" (is it considered altering). I had a DE once tell me it was... I argued with him. Of course I had passed the checkride at that point.

Not surprised you had a DE who believed this crap. It's one of thos persistent Old Wives Tales in aviation which just won't die. Just for the record, it is perfectly legal to laminate your certificate, and no it is not "altering" it. If you run into an Inspector or a DE or anyone else perpetuating this myth, tell them to take a look at thier Inspector's handbook FAA Order 8400.10, Volume 5, Chapter 9, Section 5. Here's the relevant excerpt:

NOTE: Airmen may either use clear laminating sheets to protect permanent FAA-issued certificates or have the certificates professionally laminated as long as the airman’s signature is placed on the certificate before lamination. Without the signature, the certificate is not valid.



Hopefully someday this myth will die.