Sutdent Pilot Certificate processing time

[rob]

Does anyone know how long the FAA usually takes to process applications for a Student Certificate on IACRA? I applied on 4-10-22 and am still waiting. Thanks!

[3Dreaming]

You should be able to log into your account and print a temporary certificate after just a few days. It will take quite a while before you will gwet the plastic hard copy.

[rob]

I can login and see my application, but nothing on there says it was approved or that I have a valid Student Pilot Certificate. hmmmm.

[3Dreaming]

Did you have someone from the FSDO, a DPE, or a CFI complete their part of the application?

[drseti]

After I (in my role as DPE) approve a Student Pilot Certificate application, it takes about a week for the background check (much longer for non-citizens) before the temporary certificate shows up on IACRA. The temp is good for 120 days, and the plastic card usually arrives in 90.

On a related note, FAA aircraft registration branch is significantly backed up. A bill of sale is good as a temp registration for (I believe) 90 days, but OKC is now taking four months or more to process a registration. Even renewals are taking three or four months, so apply early - don't let your acft registration run out because of bureaucratic inefficiency.

[arizonarotors]

A signed copy of the Aircraft Registration Application (8050-1) can be used, in most cases, for 90 days as a temporary registration when carried in the aircraft. When submitted to the FAA, the 8050-1 must be accompanied by an Aircraft Bill of Sale (8050-2).

Jim

[drseti]

Thanks, Jim. AOPA has recently reported numerous cases in which purchasers of aircraft followed that procedure, but FAA did not issue a registration card before that 90 day period had run out.

[arizonarotors]

Hi Paul,
You're exactly right. As of today, the FAA is processing requests received on January 6.

If someone is within a week or so of the end of the 90 day period, they can go to: https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificat ... _registry/

There is a link to request an extension. The extension will be emailed or snail mailed and is good for 120 days

Jim

[3Dreaming]

Yep, and they will process the extension almost immediately, but there is still a backlog for original issue registrations.

[rob]

Did you have someone from the FSDO, a DPE, or a CFI complete their part of the application?

My CFI completed her part. She is going to ask the DPE she works with to take a look.

[rob]

I checked IACRA this morning my temporary student certificate is there. Thank-you to everyone for your answers.

[StressRelief]

I checked IACRA this morning my temporary student certificate is there. Thank-you to everyone for your answers.

Thank you for posting a follow-up! So many times people don't check back in so others don't actually get an answer. So, based on the time line, it's roughly 6 weeks, not exactly speedy, but as far as government turnaround goes, that's light speed.

[3Dreaming]

We had a student recently who it to less than a week to get theirs.

[drseti]

We had a student recently who it to less than a week to get theirs.

I had two recent students receive theirs in just over a week.

[rob]

I think there was something my CFI forgot to do - once it was done, it took 6 days to get approved.