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2 Answers

Out of country

Asked by: 1812 views Private Pilot

I  earned my PPL in the US but neither it or my medical are current.  I presently live outside of  the US.  What hurdles need be negotiated to regain the full privileges of my PPL?  I fully expect that this will need to be accomplished within the US and won't be an issue as I visit often.

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2 Answers



  1. jay2712 on Jun 18, 2018

    This good news is once earned, the PPL does not expire per se. You will need to work with a CFI to obtain a current flight review. How involved the flight review will be will depend on how long it’s been since you flew last and how quickly your skills come back. Once the flight review is signed off, you can exercise your PPL privileges. The flight review will also involve some ground training. You can prepare in advance for this by reviewing the suggested sections of Part 61, 91 and the AIM which can be found in the first few pages of the AIM for study towards the private pilot certificate. A good current working knowledge of these sections will reduce the amount of time a CFI needs to spend reviewing this with you.

    As for the medical, fill out the online FAA medical application and see an AME for a current medical. Another way to proceed, since you previously held a medical, would be to qualify under Basic Med. Your personal physician can complete the checklist and you take the AOPA or Mayo Clinic online course and you can then fly under the basic med authorization. Basic Med will work for recreational flying with the PPL. If you plan to obtain a commercial license and fly for commercial purposes, you will need the Second class medical.

    Good luck and welcome back to General Aviation!

    Jay
    CFI-A

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  2. John D Collins on Jun 19, 2018

    A basic med will work in the US and the Bahamas, so if all your flying is in the US, this is a good plan. You will need at least a third class medical if you wish to exercise your US pilot license privileges outside the US in a US registered aircraft.

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