FAA Requirements

If you have any Panamanian pilot license, you will be able to receive a FAA U.S. Restricted Private Pilot License that will be based on your Panamanian license. In order to do so, you will have to apply for a “Verification of Authenticity” with the Federal Aviation Administration. This process consists of several steps:

• Fill out the “Verification of Authenticity of Foreign License, Rating, and Medical Certification” form and submit it with the appropriate paperwork to the FAA.
• The FAA will contact the Civil Aviation Authority of Panamá (AAC) to verify that your Panamanian license is valid and has not been revoked. Once this process is done, the FAA will issue you a “Letter of Verification/Authenticity”.

  The FAA will then notify you that you must meet with an inspector at the Orlando Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) after your arrival in Florida, and prior to beginning training at FIT.

  This process must be started immediately, because it may take as long as 1-3 months to be completed. This process is NOT necessary if you are only a Student Pilot seeking a FAA Private Pilot License. Information about the conversion process can be found at: http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/foreign_li...

• We will schedule a meeting with the Orlando FSDO, and transport you there soon after your arrival in Florida. You MUST bring the following items to the FSDO meeting:
  • Passport
  • Cedula Card
  • Panama driver’s license (if available)
  • FAA Form 8710 (which will be filled out with the help of an FIT flight instructor)
  • Unexpired and unrevoked Panamanian Pilot License
• An FAA inspector will issue the following documents:
  • US Restricted Temporary Private Pilot Certificate with the following limitation: “Issued on the basis of and valid only when accompanied by Panama License Number X-XXX-XXXX. All limitations and restrictions of the Panama License apply”.
  • A “Letter of Authenticity” containing an expiration date. You MUST be sure to complete your FAA checkride prior to this expiration date. (See sample “Letter of Authenticity” at the end of this document). You also MUST have the Letter of Authenticity in your personal possession when taking your checkride.