The preparations for a foreign pilot to operate a US registered airplane require some planning and time to execute. I had to obtain endorsements on my Canadian pilot's license and Instrument Rating. Once the endorsements are granted they remain valid as long as your “home” country license and ratings are also valid.
Getting the Instrument endorsement requires writing a Foreign Pilot Knowledge Test but does not require a flight test. This takes some studying – at least it did for me! I would strongly suggest if you are going to write the instrument knowledge test, that you study the ASA Instrument Rating Test Prep guide, the FAA Instrument Procedures Manual and have a copy of the FAR/AIM Manual for reference. The questions in the test prep. guide are from actual tests. If you are comfortable with the questions in this text you should not have any trouble passing the actual computerized test.
The licensing endorsement procedure is well documented on the FAA website. It first requires submission of a number of documents to the FAA in Okalahoma. This can be done by fax. The FAA office will issue a letter to the applicant and to the FAA District Office of your choice for issuance of the endorsement. Although the site states that one should allow 90 days for processing, my authorization letter arrived in less than 3 weeks.
I took my test at The Pilot Shoppe in San Antonio, Texas. Janet and Justin Shires were very helpful and supportive and their well stocked pilot shop provided all the maps, charts and documents I needed to fly out of San Antonio and up to Toronto after I finished transition training and licensing in Texas. Thanks Janet and Justin……..
Norm Taking Delivery of “Nang Fah” at the Mooney Factory in Kerrville , Texas .
The Pilot Shoppe Owners – Janet and Justin Shires, San Antonio, Texas.
Federal Aviation Administration…….
I also found the entire team at the FAA to be extremely helpful, professional and courteous. Not only were the documents handled more quickly than expected, every inquiry I made to Okalahoma or San Antonio, was responded to accurately and in detail usually offering me more helpful information and guidance than I had requested. My experience with the FAA was really tremendous and I would like to thank everyone who helped me obtain my endorsements. Special thanks to Bill Bumps, Aviation Safety Inspector at the FAA Flight Standards District Office in San Antonio , who corresponded faithfully and arranged appointments on short notice….. Thanks very much Bill and the entire San Antonio FAA team.
The last part of my Texas workload came with the help of the great team at Flight Training Inc. Flight Training does the transition training for new owners on behalf of the Mooney Airplane Company. This training consists of two days classroom instruction covering your new airplane systems and equipment and then the Garmin 1000 systems. Following the classroom instruction you move with your personal instructor to the San Antonio airport for a minimum of 3 days flight training in your new airplane.
Norm happily receiving FAA endorsements from Mr. Bill Bumps of the FAA, San Antonio office…….
Norm with Steve White……last training flight in San Antonio
Not only was this a great transition training experience to the Ovation 3 it was wonderful to fly with a very experienced instructor, in my case Steve White of Flight Training, to review flight planning, regulations and general techniques in preparation for my solo departure from Texas. Thanks to Steve and Trey Hughes for your systematic and patient instruction and friendship…….
