Assistance for current and former military pilots getting their civilian licenses and ratings.
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Assistance for current and former military pilots getting their civilian licenses and ratings.
About Mil Comp DPE
FAA Designated Pilot Examiner Familiar with Military Pilot Experience and Qualifications
I'm an FAA DPE who ran my own defense contracting company for twelve years, doing Qualitative Evaluation at USAF and USN Test Pilot Schools, and target and chase for the 412th Test Wing. I have over 7,000 of flight time, including over 2,000 hours in former military aircraft. Let me help you convert your military pilot qualifications into civilian certificates today.
Overview of FAA Military Competence Certificate Issuance
Almost all current and former US military pilots can get FAA-issued certificates. Many certificate issuances can even be conducted remotely with new FAA orders. Some of the FAA certificates and ratings that can be issued based on US military qualifications are:
Commercial Pilot and Instrument Rating
- Airplane
- Rotorcraft
- Glider
- No glider instrument rating exists
- Powered-Lift
- Lighter Than Air
- Airship Balloon
Flight Instructor
- Airplane
- Single Engine
- Multi-Engine
- Instrument
- Rotorcraft
- Powered Lift
- Glider
- Lighter Than Air
Military pilots can also be entitled to type ratings in aircraft they are either rated in or have appropriate experience as a military pilot in.
All military pilot certificate issuance is governed by FAR 61.73 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-61/subpart-B/section-61.73). Let’s break it down.
Part (a) lists what somebody may be entitled to, but that they can’t have been removed from flying status for a lack of proficiency.
Part (b) says what has to be presented to an FAA Inspector or Designee to prove your experience and qualifications.
Part (c) outlines that some foreign military pilots may be entitled to get FAA certificates and ratings based on their experience in the US but with some critical exceptions, including that they have to have been on an exchange assignment AFTER training.
Part (d) discusses that a US military pilot may be qualified for an instrument rating.
Part (e) discusses that a military pilot may be entitled to one or more type ratings, but only in aircraft that have a civilian equivalent.
Part (f) says that if you already hold an FAA ATP and are issued a type rating based on military competency, it is at the ATP level, even though other mil comp issuances are all at the commercial pilot level.
Part (g) discusses how to qualify for a civilian Flight Instructor certificate based on military competency.
Part (h) describes the documents that have to be presented to establish qualification and experience.
Faa Order 8900.1 Vol 5, Chapter 2, Section 15 is very detailed in what is required for each of these. It can be found at the FAA Dynamic Regulatory System web site (drs.faa.gov).
Knowing what you may be qualified for can be tough, feel to reach out and we can discuss it.
What Am I Qualified For?
If you are or were a qualified military pilot:
You are likely qualified for a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating. To get this, you need to take and pass a written test, the Military Competency Non-Category test (PSI Exams Site https://faa.psiexams.com/FAA/login). Sheppard Air is an excellent resource to prep for the test (https://www.sheppardair.com/milcomp.htm). After that, collect the required documents which include:
- Your written test results
- Documentation showing you are a military pilot
- Note, this does NOT include remote pilots, unless you were winged in manned aircraft and are now assigned to RPAs or other UAS. Sorry, the FAA does not issue certificates to pilots who are “pure” RPA / UAS pilots.
- Documentation showing your graduation from military pilot training
- Typically aeronautical orders
- Documentation showing you passed a proficiency check and an instrument proficiency check in an aircraft as a military pilot OR documents showing ten hours as a military pilot in an aircraft of the appropriate category, class, and type (if applicable) for the certificates and ratings sought. Acceptable documentation for one of these requirements includes:
- USAF – Form 8
- Navy / Marine Corps – OPNAV 3710/2, /7, /31, 3760/32
- Army – Form 759, DA 7120, DA 7122
- Coast Guard – OPNAV 3710/31
- Documents to establish your identity
If you have these documents, fill out an application in IACRA (iacra.faa.gov) using Microsoft Edge (IACRA is very prickly with other browsers). You are applying for a commercial pilot certificate, likely with an instrument rating, on the basis of military competency. If you have any questions as to what you are qualified for, please contact me. For the flight hour matrix, you don’t need to fill everything out, just what you want to back up your records with the FAA.
We can complete this action remotely per FAA Order 8900.689 (https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_notices/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/1042555). I need to notify the FAA a few days in advance of the activity and provide a link in advance for them to be able to observe the meeting if they desire. Google Meet is my preferred application for this.
Note: If you graduated from pilot training in the last six calendar months, I know you don’t have any money, so I discount my normal fee of $250 to $150 for recent pilot training graduates.
If you are or were a military instructor pilot or examiner:
You are likely qualified for a flight instructor certificate IF you already hold an FAA commercial pilot certificate or airline transport pilot certificate appropriate for the flight instructor rating you are applying for (If not, you can likely also get the commercial pilot certificate and Instrument Rating with military competency also, see above).
You need to take and pass a written test, the Military Competency Instructor (MCI) test. After that, collect the required documents which include:
- Your written test results
- The test must be within the prior 24 calendar months
- Documentation showing you are or were qualified as a military instructor pilot or pilot examiner
If you have these documents, fill out an application in IACRA (iacra.faa.gov) using Microsoft Edge (IACRA is very prickly with other browsers). You are applying for a flight instructor certificate on the basis of military competency. Contact me to determine exactly what you wlll be applying for. For the flight hour matrix, you don’t need to fill everything out, just what you want to back up your records with the FAA.
We can complete this action remotely per FAA Order 8900.689 (https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_notices/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/1042555). I need to notify the FAA a few days in advance of the activity and provide a link in advance for them to be able to observe the meeting if they desire. Google Meet is my preferred application for this.
FAQ
I’m an RPA / UAS pilot, what am I qualified for?
It depends on whether you graduated from pilot training as a manned aircraft pilot who was then assigned to RPAs / UAS or were an RPA / UAS pilot throughout training. If you are the former and graduated from military pilot training as a manned aircraft pilot, then you can get a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating. If you went through training as an RPA / UAS pilot, then unfortunately you can’t get any civil ratings.
I’m a WSO / CSO / EWO, what am I qualified for?
Unfortunately this likely not the first time in your career you have heard this, but WSOs / CSOs / EWOs get kind of hosed here. You aren’t qualified for any civil certificates, sorry.
I’m flying an aircraft that has a civil equivalent (ex. KC-135, KC-46), can I get a type rating?
Yes, you can. The FAA publishes a type rating equivalency table (https://registry.faa.gov/TypeRatings/Type_Rating_Table.pdf) that shows what you may be qualified for. Let me know if you have any questions, I’m happy to discuss your specific circumstances. We can complete type rating additions to certificates remotely.
If you are flying an aircraft that does not have a civil equivalent but there are some civilian examples of it flying (ex. F-16, T-38/F-5, T-45 / Hawk), you likely can get it on your certificate with a few caveats. What would be added to your certificate is an Experimental Aircraft Authorization, and those cannot be completed in IACRA or remotely, so we would have to meet in person. Contact me with your specific circumstances and any questions.
I flew the T-6 / T-38 / T-45 in pilot training, can I get that on my certificate?
No, only aircraft you are qualified in after winging can be added to an FAA certificate.
I already have a civilian CFI and it expires soon, can I renew it based on military competency?
Recently, the FAA changed policy so that new CFIs no longer expire, instead you have to meet AND SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION SHOWING recent experience requirements for it to be valid. FAR 61.197 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-61/subpart-H/section-61.197) governs this. You can show recent experience if you have, in the prior 24 calendar months, passed a US military IP check (61.197(b)(iv)).
If your CFI has an expiration date on it, you still need to get a new one without an expiration date issued.
You still need to submit an application in IACRA to establish that you meet the recent experience requirement, and I can do that remotely based on military competency.
I had a civilian CFI but it expired, can I reinstate it based on military experience?
The applicable regulation here is FAR 61.199 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-61/subpart-H/section-61.199), and yes, you can. You will need to show documentation establishing that you have passed a military IP check in the six months preceding your application for reinstatement.
My civilian CFI expired and I don’t have a recent military IP check, can I reinstate?
Unfortunately no. Once you get a new military IP check, then you can reinstate, or you can meet one of the other methods to reinstate a CFI (FIRC if within three months of expiration, otherwise a practical test for reinstatement or an additional rating).
I’m a foreign pilot assigned to the US, can I get an FAA certificate?
Only if your assignment is not for the purpose of receiving flight training. If you are here for training, you are not eligible.
I’m a foreign military pilot assigned to the US acting as an IP, can I get an FAA certificate?
You are likely eligible for a FAA Commercial Pilot with Instrument rating, but not a flight instructor certificate. 61.73 only allows foreign pilots to get pilot certificates, not instructor certificates.
I separated or retired years ago, can I still get mil comp certificates?
Yes, you likely can. If you were a former military pilot, you can get FAA pilot and instructor certificates just like an active duty pilot. You will need to meet recency of experience and recurrency requirements to exercise the privileges of those certificates, but there is no time limit to have them issued.
Note, if you have ever held a civilian CFI then you can't have a new CFI issued based on mil comp unless you meet the reinstatement requirements of 61.199 (IP check in the prior six calendar months).
Contact Us and Fee Structure
How can I help?
Reach out if you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment.
I charge $250 for action on one certificate, if you have both a pilot certificate and flight instructor certificate actions to complete at the same time the fee is $350.
For individuals that graduated from pilot training in the past six months, I know you don’t have any money, so I discount my fee to $150 for the issuance of a commercial pilot certificate with instrument privileges.
Venmo is my preferred payment method.
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