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7 Answers

Has anyone experienced significant delays in receiving certificates from the FAA

Asked by: 3822 views Flight Instructor

Has anyone been experiencing unusual delays from the FAA in receiving your plastic certificates since the 2 week govt shutdown

It usually takes about 2 -3 weeks for a new certificate to show up, but we are now at the 60 day mark and counting.

Prior to IACRA it was about 60 to 90 days

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7 Answers



  1. Jim F. on Nov 07, 2013

    Yup, my last one 1.5 years ago came in just under 3 weeks. I’m now right at 60 days for my current one, and not even thinking about plastic yet. A guy at my FBO got his a couple days before the shutdown, and that was on day 117 of the 120 day limit. The wonders of an inept government bureaucracy…

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  2. Jarett L on Nov 08, 2013

    It’s because the govt shut down. Nothing was being processed while they were closed.

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  3. MaggotCFII on Nov 08, 2013

    FIRC’d 08/23, plastic en-route as of yesterday.

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  4. luisjoujr on Nov 08, 2013

    Here you can check how much delay do they have: http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/

    As of today, they’re processing temp certificates issued on Aug 25th. I’m still waiting for my initial CFI plastic card (checkride passed Sep 17th… but it has to be mailed across the Atlantic! >_<)

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  5. Andy Erwin on Nov 08, 2013

    my PPL took 10 weeks, I did the checkride 6 weeks before the shutdown

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  6. Jarett L on Nov 09, 2013

    I took my multi commercial on sept 11 got my card yesterday

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  7. Bruce J. Sato CFI, CFII on Nov 19, 2013

    Took my CFII ride on Sept 11th, 2013 and also still haven’t received it, I hope its arriving soon! looks like it will by looking at (Jarett L)

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