Rejuvinating an old Licence

[freereality]

This is a bit off topic. However, my question is in the general area of what is required by the FAA to obtain a pilot license(s).

 

Many years ago (26) I had a commercial rotorcraft & instrument ticket. This was obtained courtesy of the US Army. I have no idea when it expired as I have not flown or had an aviation medical exam since 1972.

 

What is the likelyhood of the FAA still having records from that long ago? Is it possible to renew that license? What would the general requirements be?

[gmsemel]

First of all an FAA pilot certificate dose not expire, what you do go get a medical. then you would have to do a BFR and then get current on instruments and you are done. Now if you lost your pilot certificate, then, you can request a replacement. Go to the FAA web sight and you can pull up your own records. Use the Address you gave the FAA when it was originally issued.

[67november]

First of all an FAA pilot certificate dose not expire, what you do go get a medical. then you would have to do a BFR and then get current on instruments and you are done. Now if you lost your pilot certificate, then, you can request a replacement. Go to the FAA web sight and you can pull up your own records. Use the Address you gave the FAA when it was originally issued.

 

you don't need the address from back then just your full name and Liscence # which should be the same as your SSN

[freereality]

Thanks for the help gmsemel & 67november.

 

It seems that I can not order a replacement certificate because I am not able to establish an online account because that requires a certificate number. I tried using my SSN, that didn't work either.

 

I was able to search the airman records and did find that the FAA does still show the certificate exists. I'll call them on Monday.

 

The reason for my interest is that I have an acquaintance that has a ranch and a beach house about 50 miles apart and a B47 in his barn. The 47 was used a an ag bird and has been in the barn about 6 years. He says that he is going to have the spray rig removed and all necessary maintenance performed. He will provide the aircraft and pay all the expenses for me to become, current and insurable if it is a reasonable cost, in return for a couple of trips a week between the ranch and beach house.

[67november]

Thanks for the help gmsemel & 67november.

 

It seems that I can not order a replacement certificate because I am not able to establish an online account because that requires a certificate number. I tried using my SSN, that didn't work either.

 

I was able to search the airman records and did find that the FAA does still show the certificate exists. I'll call them on Monday.

 

The reason for my interest is that I have an acquaintance that has a ranch and a beach house about 50 miles apart and a B47 in his barn. The 47 was used a an ag bird and has been in the barn about 6 years. He says that he is going to have the spray rig removed and all necessary maintenance performed. He will provide the aircraft and pay all the expenses for me to become, current and insurable if it is a reasonable cost, in return for a couple of trips a week between the ranch and beach house.

 

boy that is a sweet deal, just remember that you have to pay something for the recurrent training, there is no such thing as a free ride according to the FAA.

[freereality]

No free rides huh? You reckon the FAA will worry about who pays the instructor?

 

Can an individual that is current in a B47 and a IP train me, or must he/she be an instructor for a certified flight school? I assume I would have to take a check ride with an examiner and some type of written exam. I don't think getting current on instruments will be possible. Hopefully the FAA can delete the instrument rating.

[67november]

No free rides huh? You reckon the FAA will worry about who pays the instructor?

 

Can an individual that is current in a B47 and a IP train me, or must he/she be an instructor for a certified flight school? I assume I would have to take a check ride with an examiner and some type of written exam. I don't think getting current on instruments will be possible. Hopefully the FAA can delete the instrument rating.

 

2 things, 1) i beleive not as the trainer goes,being certified that is. 2) read part 61 thru the FAA web site, also order a hard copy for further review.

 

I use www.helicoptersonly.com you can also use www.asa2fly.com for that and other books

[rick1128]

No free rides huh? You reckon the FAA will worry about who pays the instructor?

 

Can an individual that is current in a B47 and a IP train me, or must he/she be an instructor for a certified flight school? I assume I would have to take a check ride with an examiner and some type of written exam. I don't think getting current on instruments will be possible. Hopefully the FAA can delete the instrument rating.

 

First of all, I believe that a little time reading the FAR's would be time well spent. First the instructor. They are not officially IP's (military term) they are CFI's. By regulation they must hold a Helicopter CFI and have a minimum of 5 hours PIC in type (except Robinsons) before instructing. Unless you or the FAA can not product a copy of your FAA pilot records, you will not have to take a written, just a bi-annual flight review and enough time for proficiency. Just because your instrument rating is not current does not require you to surrender it. Before you use it however, you will have to take an instrument proficiency ride. The instructor may or may not work for a flight school. Considering it is a BH47, you are more likely to find an independent instructor for that helicopter.

 

Your certificate was issued prior to the FAA's brillant idea of using ssn's for certificate numbers. Try looking in Landings.com in the database section for your full name. It may be listed there. Generally pilot names are not removed unless the certificate is revoked, surrendered or the FAA is notified of the pilot's death. To find your information you can call the FAA pilot records section in Oklahoma City. You will need your Full name, date of birth and ssn.

 

Good luck.

[Witch]

Your certificate was issued prior to the FAA's brillant idea of using ssn's for certificate numbers.

 

Did you know that by law, ones ssn is to not be used as a means on identification?

 

Food for thought.

 

Later

[rick1128]

Did you know that by law, ones ssn is to not be used as a means on identification?

 

Food for thought.

 

Later

 

You, understand of course, that they are the government. They don't have to follow or obey the law or regulations.

[Gomer Pylot]

Well, yes, they do. Government agencies have to follow the laws passed by Congress, regardless of what the current administration may try to do. It's not illegal to use SSNs for certificate numbers, it's just a bad idea, and you can request a new certificate number if yours is currently your SSN.

[gmsemel]

No All you need to do is find a Flight Instructor that has been flying or has flown Bell 47's, the 47 is what I learned in and be willing to work with you some. Its going to take a little study on your part FAR's AIM and some flight time to get you back up to speed. Sign you off on a BFR, and that it. Along with a new medical. I could do it all with exception of issuing you a medical. The AMA dose not like guys praticeing medicine with out having gone to med school and have a lic to pratice. Oh well there goes an extra 90 bucks.

[rick1128]

No All you need to do is find a Flight Instructor that has been flying or has flown Bell 47's, the 47 is what I learned in and be willing to work with you some. Its going to take a little study on your part FAR's AIM and some flight time to get you back up to speed. Sign you off on a BFR, and that it. Along with a new medical. I could do it all with exception of issuing you a medical. The AMA dose not like guys praticeing medicine with out having gone to med school and have a lic to pratice. Oh well there goes an extra 90 bucks.

 

As I understand the original post, he doesn't have a copy of his certificate. He is going to need that to operate the helicopter legally. Plus the insurance company will really like to have the actual certificate number for their records. Try the B47 Helicopter Assn. website. They have several instructors listed that are BH47 qualified.

[Goldy]

Free Reality- There are two schools in L.A. area that teach in the 47, one in VNY the other in Chino. You may want to start working out your left arm....collectives on the 47 I have flown all tend to require some HP from you to keep them up.

 

Good Lcuk, where ever you are !

 

Goldy

Edited January 21, 2008 by Goldy

[Gomer Pylot]

ISTR (it has been almost 40 years, so maybe my memory is faulty) that the 47 has collective friction. I don't remember having to hold the collective in place in a TH13.

[freereality]

Thanks for all the info everyone. The suggested websites were very helpful. The FAA emailed me a certificate number, I located a medical examiner. The next problem is obtaining flight records. I understand that there was a fire some years ago and that many military records were lost. I'm guessing that the insurance company is going to want records of flying experience.

 

I met with the BH-47 owner this week. The aircraft is not in a barn. It is in a hanger, on a dolly at the ranch and cocooned(sp) in foam material. The main and tail rotor have been removed and also wrapped in foam. The owner has sent the logs to the maintenance facility. They are supposed to send a truck to pick up the aircraft in the next week or so. Could not tell much about the bird except that it appears to have been properly prepared for storage.

 

The owner says it is going to get a new panel & avionics package including a transponder and GPS. He didn't mention what this is going to cost. How much is a BH47 worth?

 

It appears that I was incorrect in thinking he wanted to travel between the ranch and the beach house, which isn't on the beach but on the inland side of a bay and still under construction. He travels for business 2-4 per month and wants to travel between either the beach house or the ranch and airports served by airlines. Some he mentioned, PBI, MCO, MLB, TPA, RSW & SRQ.

 

I'm worried enough about just learning how to hover again, now it looks like I'm going to have to learn high traffic area rules, regs and procedures.

 

The bright spot is he is willing to pay well and provide a benefit package. The dark spot is that many of his trips are, day trips and will require early departures and late arrivals....lots of night time and early morning fog.

[rick1128]

Thanks for all the info everyone. The suggested websites were very helpful. The FAA emailed me a certificate number, I located a medical examiner. The next problem is obtaining flight records. I understand that there was a fire some years ago and that many military records were lost. I'm guessing that the insurance company is going to want records of flying experience.

 

I met with the BH-47 owner this week. The aircraft is not in a barn. It is in a hanger, on a dolly at the ranch and cocooned(sp) in foam material. The main and tail rotor have been removed and also wrapped in foam. The owner has sent the logs to the maintenance facility. They are supposed to send a truck to pick up the aircraft in the next week or so. Could not tell much about the bird except that it appears to have been properly prepared for storage.

 

The owner says it is going to get a new panel & avionics package including a transponder and GPS. He didn't mention what this is going to cost. How much is a BH47 worth?

 

It appears that I was incorrect in thinking he wanted to travel between the ranch and the beach house, which isn't on the beach but on the inland side of a bay and still under construction. He travels for business 2-4 per month and wants to travel between either the beach house or the ranch and airports served by airlines. Some he mentioned, PBI, MCO, MLB, TPA, RSW & SRQ.

 

I'm worried enough about just learning how to hover again, now it looks like I'm going to have to learn high traffic area rules, regs and procedures.

 

The bright spot is he is willing to pay well and provide a benefit package. The dark spot is that many of his trips are, day trips and will require early departures and late arrivals....lots of night time and early morning fog.

 

The lost of a logbook is a common situation, so check the FAA website. I believe there is a section that covers that. The gist of that is to get a new logbook and make a one line entry of your flight time to the best of your memory and have it certified. Insurance companies do not normally ask to see your logbook. You are only required to log the flight time to show currency and flight time for additional certificates and ratings. If your new boss is going to put in so new avionics, then ensure he puts in an encoding altimeter, that will be needed in some of the airspace he plans to go into.

 

Plus a talk with him about weather might be helpful.

 

Fly safe.

[freereality]

I have been in contact with the folks at military records in St Louis. They want to know the form numbers of the records I desire. Does anyone know the number of the military form that shows flight hours and qualifications?

 

rick1128;

 

Had the weather talk with the owner. He seems pretty realistic. The company he founded (it is now a public Co. and he is still a board member) has had a fixed wing for many years. He understands weather limitations and maintenance costs. He is also aware of the payload, speed and range of the BH47.

 

 

The new panel he mentioned is all new flight instruments, radios and the transponder will be encoding. He does know that it will only be a VFR ship.

[rick1128]

Had the weather talk with the owner. He seems pretty realistic. The company he founded (it is now a public Co. and he is still a board member) has had a fixed wing for many years. He understands weather limitations and maintenance costs. He is also aware of the payload, speed and range of the BH47.

 

 

The new panel he mentioned is all new flight instruments, radios and the transponder will be encoding. He does know that it will only be a VFR ship.

 

You are quite fortunate. A lot of times they are not and will push you on weather issues. Part 91 is nothing like the airlines or the military where there are rules/regulations that back you up. Know your limitations. And fly safe.