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Adding ASEL( private privileges) to FAA ME outside of USA

Asked by: 1197 views FAA Regulations

Good morning, 

Im a current FAA ME rated pilot living outside of the USA.  Is it possible to add single engine (private privileges) to my license here in my home country with access to an FAA CFII and N reg aircraft, without having to travel to the USA ? 

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1 Answers



  1. LTCTerry on Aug 18, 2021

    Yes. Though I think you left out the most important part of “with access to…”

    Is this an FAA certificate issued under 61.75 or a “real” one? Are you already a SE pilot in your home country?

    If 61.75 and ICAO SE in your home country, you can go through the 61.75 process again and get SE that way. Done. Easy.

    You can add ratings to a 61.75 certificate, so if you are FAA ME Private on 61.75, you can train with an “authorized instructor” (Your available FAA CFII) and take a checkride with a DPE – which will be the hard part to do. There are not many overseas. If your instructor is active with any real FAA-based instruction then he/she should know how to find a DPE. No knowledge test required. If you are 61.75 and not SE in your home, this would be a great time to get an independent Private Certificate.

    If you already have a “real” FAA Private Certificate with ME rating, it’s the same as above – train to proficiency, take a checkride with a DPE. No written.

    FAA training overseas must comply with the same TSA rules as training in the US. Your instructor must sign up to have a foreign student. Permission is required for an initial certificate (probably not you?), ME rating (not you), and an instrument rating (not you, yet).

    I don’t see on the AOPA web site that adding SE to an existing private certificate requires TSA approval. But I would not assume that is correct. Your instructor should check this. You should understand the rules, too.

    If you are 61.75 and want to get an independent Private Certificate then TSA says that counts as an initial one, too.

    What you want to do is easy with some planning and research. Both you and your CFII have some work to do.

    The airplane for the training and checkride does not have to be N-registered as long as you/your instructor are legal to fly it as registered and the DPE agrees.

    If you have to fly a DPE to your location and pay for food, hotel, etc, you may just find it easier to set all this up by phone/email in the US and make a ten-day trip.

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