Request for a letter of authorization in lieu of a type rating
Letter of request · 14 CFR 61.31(b)
When you need it
Ferry/test flights without type rating
What the FAA does with it
The FSDO issues or denies the letter (valid up to 60 days), submitted by You send it to your Flight Standards District Office at least 30 days before the first flight; we give you step-by-step instructions.
What you'll need to provide
Pilot certificate and medical, flight time summary, aircraft, purpose and dates of the flights
What the FSDO looks for
Inspectors evaluate submissions using FAA Order 8900.1 guidance and, for certificate holders, SAS Data Collection Tools.
- 8900.1: V5 C9 S3 Issue a Letter of Authorization in Lieu of a Type Rating (CHG 950, Current)
- Advisory Circulars: None listed
- DCTs: n/a - Part 91 / non-SAS
Common reasons submissions are returned
- Aircraft data (make, model, serial, N-number) inconsistent across the application, the document and the registration certificate
- Outdated revision of a referenced AC, MMEL or template
- Missing signatures, dates or revision control on each page
- Missing required attachments: Pilot certificate and medical, flight time summary, aircraft, purpose and dates of the flights
- Submitting to the wrong office or by the wrong method (expected: You send it to your Flight Standards District Office at least 30 days before the first flight; we give you step-by-step instructions)
General issues drawn from the requirements above, not statistics.
Get it done for you
Flat fee $295. You see your order total before you pay anything, and your specialist gives you a delivery date. We prepare it, you review a proof, then you pay the balance. No hourly billing.
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Sources: the regulations, ACs and 8900.1 sections listed above (public FAA documents). Guides explain requirements; they are not the document and not legal advice.
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