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7 Answers

Student Pilot Certificate

Asked by: 8489 views Student Pilot

  I turn 16 on February 20th, hopefully I will solo then.  Before that time I need my Student Pilots Certificate, as well as my medical certificate.   Since my birthday is on a Sunday, can I get the certificate before I turn 16?  How exactly does the whole process work?


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7 Answers



  1. MaggotCFII on Jan 17, 2011

    Found this in the “Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners – 2011” at faa.gov, in the General Information Section, page 9:
    “9. Who May Be Certified
    a. Age RequirementsThere is no age restriction or aviation experience requirement for medical certification. Any applicant who qualifies medically may be issued a Medical Certificate, FAA Form 8500-9(white), regardless of age. Examiners also have been delegated authority to issue the combined Medical Certificate and Student Pilot Certificate, FAA Form 8420-2 (yellow), which is age restricted because it is an airman medical and student pilot certificate (student license and medical certificate). For issuance of the combined certificate, the applicant must have reached his or her 16th birthday.
    Minimum age requirements for the various airman certificates (i.e., pilot license certificates) are defined in 14 CFR part 61, Certification: Pilots and Flight Instructors, and Ground Inspectors as follows:
    (1) Airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate: 23 years(2) Commercial pilot certificate: 18 years(3) Private pilot certificate: powered aircraft – 17 years;gliders and balloons – 16 years(4) Student pilot certificate: powered aircraft – 16 years;gliders and balloons – 14 years”
     
    It appears that the “yellow” Medical & Student Pilot Certificate are age restricted.
    Here is a link to the Guide:
    http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/media/guide.pdf
    You also should review FAR Part 67.  I have generally found AMEs helpful and have only run across 1 tyrant – talk to other pilots that you know for their recomendations.
    Good Luck!

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  2. Wesley Beard on Jan 17, 2011

    I have heard AME’s issue a medial/SPC with approval to pilots under the age of 16  with a limitation that it is not valid till age 16.  Also you can get your medical only per the comment above and have your designated pilot examiner issue you a student pilot certificate on Sunday.
     
    Congrats on your future solo.  It’s a day to remember.

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  3. skyboyCFI on Jan 18, 2011

    Join Civil Air Patrol while your at it. You’ll get lots of help in their cadet program.

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  4. Micah on Jan 18, 2011

    You can also get an SPC from an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner.  If you cannot get the “combo” medical from your DME then you and your instructor should contact a DPE and ask to receive an SPC that fits your condition.

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  5. Joshua on Jan 18, 2011

    I was a member of CAP for two years.  They were disorganized, and did not do much if any aviation.  

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  6. Brian on Jan 18, 2011

    Joshua,
     
    I think that really depends on the people that run CAP in your area. The CAP program by my college in New Hampshire was apparently great and gave a descent amount of flight time to the members. I was not a member, so I can’t speak to this first hand. Only what I heard from fellow students.

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  7. Vincent Smith on Mar 16, 2015

    My 15 year daughter was just issued a third class medical and was advised that a stipulation could be added to her student pilot certificate that it wouldn’t be valid until her 16th birthday. The AME could not add this stipulation for some reason and now all we have is her third class medical and no student pilot certificate. I know she is not eligible until her 16th birthday, but the AME called FAA in Oklahoma City and they volunteered that she could get both with the provision that her student pilot certificate would not be valid until her 16 birthday. How are other students soloing on their 16th birthday? Are they getting the medical and soloing on the same day?
    Thank.
    SP

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