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4 Answers

Foreign License Validation – Can the BFR be substituted by a German IR check flight?

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Private Pilot

Hi,

I'm a German private pilot and will travel to the US in April to do some flying. For this, I'll get my license validated by an examiner. As a next step in order to be current, I would have taken a Flight Review with an instructor.

Now a friend told me that I don't need the Flight Review, since I recently had my yearly IFR checkride for my German instrument rating, which according to him counts as a check flight and therefore substitutes the Biannual Flight Review.

I couldn't find anything about this in the FAA regulations. Does anybody know about this?

Thanks
Jan

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4 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Mar 04, 2019

    The US regulation is 14 CFR 61.56.

    61.56(d) lists the exceptions. A proficiency check would be a check conducted by a check airman or inspector for operations conducted for a Part 135 or Part 121 air carrier, proficiency check conducted by a U.S. Armed Forces examiner or a 61.58 check for operating a large or turbine powered airplane (for example). A practical test would need to be conducted by an examiner. 14 CFR 61.1 defines Examiner as:

    “Examiner means any person who is authorized by the Administrator to conduct a pilot proficiency test or a practical test for an airman certificate or rating issued under this part, or a person who is authorized to conduct a knowledge test under this part.”

    The Administrator does not authorize German examiners.

    Also, when you said that you would get your license verified by an examiner, I hope you understand that you need to make a request to the FAA to validate your German license with your authorities. The process can be found on http://www.faa.gov under Airmen Certification.

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  2. Jan F. on Mar 04, 2019

    Thank you, Kris, very helpful. I\’m aware, of course, that I need to get a letter of authenticity first.

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  3. Jan F. on Mar 04, 2019

    How is an “check airman” defined?

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  4. Kris Kortokrax on Mar 04, 2019

    A check airman is an individual employed by an air carrier who is approved by a letter from the FAA to conduct proficiency, competency and/or line checks for an air carrier. The FAA would not be approving a check airman for a German air carrier.

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