Student been flying ILLEGALLY - HELP!!!

[Gumbo]

My student certificate expired in August 2001 and I've done a lot of my solo flying since then (all my cross countries). I just found out that a student certificate has an expiration (one of my instructors told me in the past that it didn't). I renewed my 3rd class medical in August of 2002, but they gave me a white medical (form 8500-9), not a yellow medical-student certificate.

Can I take that medical to a flight examiner and get a new student certificate from him (I'm 3 hours away from a FSDO)? Should I make sure it's an examiner that I'm not taking my checkride with since he'd then know I flew my cross countries and solo time without a valid student certificate? I'll be taking my checkride within the next month.

Another stupid FAA rule - why do student certificates expire as long as you keep up your medical? Are you going to go below age 16 or forget how to speak English or something. But, nonetheless, it is a rule - what do I do to fix the problem now?


Thanks for you help.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I'll bite on the duplicate post.

Question: Didn't your CFI check your certificate any of the last 6 times she endorsed your logbook?

 

[Gumbo]

I'll bite on the duplicate post.

Question: Didn't your CFI check your certificate any of the last 6 times she endorsed your logbook?

Obviously not. Thank you for your helpful post.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Sorry for my skepticism, but considering that the length of time that a student certificate is good for is a fairly standard question on a pre-solo exam, this sounds a teenie bit like a troll.

The straight answer is that any DPE can issue you a new student certificate. All he needs to see is the old one and some ID. But rather than search for one, I'd sit down with my CFI (especially the last one who gave you an endorsement) first.

 

[Gumbo]

Sorry for my skepticism, but considering that the length of time that a student certificate is good for is a fairly standard question on a pre-solo exam, this sounds a teenie bit like a troll.

The straight answer is that any DPE can issue you a new student certificate. All he needs to see is the old one and some ID. But rather than search for one, I'd sit down with my CFI (especially the last one who gave you an endorsement) first.

Thank you for your insight. I assure you I'm no troll. My original instructor was not the ideal CFI - I knew more regs than he did - but obviously not this one. He ended up taking off in a snow storm in zero visability after being instructed not to by the tower only to land unhurt in Buzzard's Bay off Cape Cod - needless to say, his good landing did little to insulate him from the 30 degree water).

I will wait and talk to my current CFI before I take any further action.

 

[bobbysamd]

Student certificates

I have to say that Riddle students I worked with were up on the regs governing student certificates. Just the same, your
instructor(s) should have been supervising you better. You are tied to your instructor until you earn your Private, and your instructor(s) clearly abrogated their responsibilities. On the other hand, you should have known not to fly on an expired certificate. You obviously know that now.

A DE can issue you a new student certificate if you don't want to make the drive to FSDO. Good luck with the rest of your training.