Military Competency 

1. Please review 14 CFR Par 61.73 to ensure you meet the requirements for this service.  

2. If eligiable, assemble the required records that demonstrate your eligiability.

   • For an Airplane Multiengine Rating, you must have passed a qualification checkride and have logged 10 hours in a multiengine aircraft (Example T-1, T-38, C-130, P-3, E-2, F-18, C-26, C-17, etc.)

   • For an Airplane Single Engine Rating, you must have passed a qualification checkride and have logged 10 hours in a single engine aircraft (Example T-6, F-16, U-28 etc.)

   • For a Helicopter Rating, you must have passed a qualification checkride and have logged 10 hours in a Helicopter (Example HH-1, UH-60, etc).

   • For a Powered Lift Rating, you must have passed a qualification checkride and have logged 10 hours in a Powered Lift Craft (Example, CV-22)

   • To recieve a type rating, your military aircraft must have a civilian equivalent recognized by the FAA.  For instance a C-130H qualification would recieve an L382 type rating.  An F-15C would not.  A list can be referenced here.  You need records of qualification and at least 10 hours of logged flight time in that type to be eligiable.

   • Examples of records include official military documents that state you are a graduate of an approved undergraduate training course or other military documents such as flight evaluation forms, aviation records, military flight logs, service records, etc that demonstate your qualification to fly as a pilot in the US military. I also need to see your record of hours whether that is a military log or personal log.

3. Go to IACRA and set up an account.  This will create an FTN Number for you which is your record number with the FAA.  Why is this important?  Because the written test results will be tied to your FTN number.  

4. Study for the Written Exam.  A written exam is required and there are plenty of companies offering study material and assistance with finding a testing center.  One example is Sheppard Air.  The specific test you will look for is the Military Competency Non-Category or "MCN".  I do not have study material for you, so please find a comercial vendor.  

5. Take your Written Exam.  Exams can typically be taken within a reasonable drive of your home or even for free from a military installation education office.  Check your local or nearby military installation for FAA testing, free is always a good price!  Locate and register for your test here

6. Use IACRA once again to apply for your certificate.  

   • Please enter your hours as best you can.  There are multiple sources for assistance with converting military hours to civilian hours on the web, some are good and some are bad.  As a representative of the FAA, I am only concerned with the hours conforming to the requirements of Part 61.  

     1. Time logged before your wings while flying with an instructor is usually student time.  There are examples of people with a Private Pilot Certificate and a High Performance Endorsement who may log PIC time in the T-6, but this is rare.

     2. Solo flight time or even "Bro-lo" time (For example two student pilots in a T-44) should be logged as PIC time for the pilot flying.

     3. Time as an "Aircraft Commander" or otherwise in charge of the aircraft (Captain) is always PIC.

     4. Time as an Instructor Pilot is always PIC

     5. Time as any pilot in the seat other than the Aircraft Commander or Instructor Pilot, such as a Co-Pilot, can be logged as...

        1. SIC time if you were not physically flying the plane.

        2. PIC time if you were the sole manipulator of the controls... actually flying the aircraft.

   • What a particular future employer (Airline, Corporate Flight Department, etc) may want from your military records is out of my professional lane.  Again, I can only speak to what you may log from 14 CFR Part 61.  I can put you in contact with a few excellent career coaches for airline applications if you need a assistance with applications.  

   • While hours are not a requirement for a certificate per se, it is important you make them correct on the form.  The 8710 application is an official record that will go into your pilot file with the FAA.  It can be used as a record of your hours as of the date of application for the future should you lose your records.  In the end, take some time and ensure your hours are correct.

7. Contact me to set up an appointment to issue your certificate.  Appointments last about a 1/2 hour and I will go over your records and your application to ensure you are eligiable for the certificate.  Appointments should be in person, but reasonable accommodation for those stationed elsewhere can be made via other forms of face to face or video to video communication.  

8. Once I issue you a Temporary Pilot Certificate, you can exercise your privileges imediately.  Your permanent card will arrive in the mail within 120 days from the FAA.

The Flight Instructor Certificate requirements are essentially the same as the Commercial Pilot Certificate, except for a few small differences.

1. Please review 14 CFR Par 61.73 to ensure you meet the requirements for this service.  

2. If eligiable, assemble the required records that demonstrate your eligiability.

   • For an Airplane Multiengine Rating, you must have passed an instructor checkride in a multiengine aircraft (Example T-1, T-38, C-130, P-3, E-2, F-18, C-26, C-17, etc.)

   • For an Airplane Single Engine Rating, you must have passed an instructor checkride in a single engine aircraft (Example T-6, F-16, U-28 etc.)

   • For a Helicopter Rating, you must have passed an instructor checkride in a Helicopter (Example HH-1, UH-60, etc).

   • For a Powered Lift Rating, you must have passed an instructor checkride in a Powered Lift Craft (Example, CV-22)

   • For an Instrument Rating, you must hold an instrument rating in that category on your Commercial Pilot Certificate.

   • Type ratings are not listed on Flight Instructor Certificates.

   • Examples of records include official military documents that state you are a graduate of an approved instructor pilot training course or other military documents such as flight evaluation forms, aviation records, etc that demonstate your qualification to instruct in the US military. I also need to see your record of hours whether that is a military log or personal log.

3. Go to IACRA and set up an account.  This will create an FTN Number for you which is your record number with the FAA.  Why is this important?  Because the written test results will be tied to your FTN number.  

4. Study for the Written Exam.  A written exam is required and there are plenty of companies offering study material and assistance with finding a testing center.  One example is Sheppard Air.  The specific test you will look for is the Military Competency Instructor or "MCI". I do not have study material for you, so please find a comercial vendor.  

5. Take your Written Exam.  Exams can typically be taken within a reasonable drive of your home or even for free from a military installation education office.  Check your local installation for FAA testing, free is always a good price!  Locate and register for your test here

6. Use IACRA once again to apply for your certificate.  

   • Please enter your hours as best you can.  There are multiple sources for assistance with converting military hours to civilian hours on the web, some are good and some are bad.  As a representative of the FAA, I am only concerned with the hours conforming to the requirements of Part 61.  

     1. Time logged before your wings while flying with an instructor is usually student time.  There are examples of people with a Private Pilot Certificate and a High Performance Endorsement who may log PIC time in the T-6, but this is rare.

     2. Solo flight time or even "Bro-lo" time (For example two student pilots in a T-44) should be logged as PIC time for the pilot flying.

     3. Time as an "Aircraft Commander" or otherwise in charge of the aircraft (Captain) is always PIC.

     4. Time as an Instructor Pilot is always PIC

     5. Time as any pilot in the seat other than the Aircraft Commander or Instructor Pilot, such as a Co-Pilot, can be logged as...

        1. SIC time if you were not physically flying the plane.

        2. PIC time if you were the sole manipulator of the controls... actually flying the aircraft.

   • What a particular future employer (Airline, Corporate Flight Department, etc) may want from your military records is out of my professional lane.  Again, I can only speak to what you may log from 14 CFR Part 61.  I can put you in contact with a few excellent career coaches for airline applications if you need a assistance with applications.  

   • While hours are not a requirement for a certificate per se, it is important you make them correct on the form.  The 8710 application is an official record that will go into your pilot file with the FAA.  It can be used as a record of your hours as of the date of application for the future should you lose your records.  In the end, take some time and ensure your hours are correct.

7. Contact me to set up an appointment to issue your certificate.  Appointments last about a 1/2 hour and I will go over your records and your application to ensure you are eligiable for the certificate.  Appointments should be in person, but reasonable accommodation for those stationed elsewhere can be made via other forms of face to face or video to video communication.  

8. Once I issue you a Temporary Certificate, you can exercise your privileges imediately.  Your permanent card will arrive in the mail within 120 days from the FAA.