Renting a plane in the US

[ditar]

I've asked a couple of people "in the know" this question and I've got conflicting answers. When I go visit a friend of mine in the US I've always wanted to find a local flight school and get checked out in a 172 or something to go buzz around. I mentioned to a colleague of mine the other day that I was going to get my license converted so I could do this next time and he said that's not required. He had rented a planes in the States before on the basis of his Canadian license and not had any issues. Other people have told me that I need an FAA license to fly American registered airplanes. Which is true?

[ahramin]

In order to fly a US registered aircraft in the US, you need a US licence, or a US validation of your foreign licence. You definitely can't just use a foreign licence. The process for converting your Canadian licence to a US one can be quite involved, for a one time thing you may be better off just trying to get a validation.

[GIMD]

I have looked into this before. You need a US license which you can get easily by converting your Transport Canada license (it will take several weeks but is relatively painless). The main problem I found was getting renter's insurance. Unlike in Canada, you are generally NOT covered under the FBO's or school's insurance plan in the USA. You definitely need liability insurance to protect yourself. I could not find any insurance company that would insure a Canadian without a US mailing address.

[Doc]

Walk into a GADO (general aviation district office) with your Canadian license, a passport and fill out a few forms. You're done. If you have a CPL or higher, they'll issue you a license marked "not for hire or reward". You'll get a temp license right then and there. Go rent the airplane. A real license will arrive in the mail in a few weeks. You're done.

[vova_k]

Walk into a GADO (general aviation district office) with your Canadian license, a passport and fill out a few forms. You're done. If you have a CPL or higher, they'll issue you a license marked "not for hire or reward". You'll get a temp license right then and there. Go rent the airplane. A real license will arrive in the mail in a few weeks. You're done.

Completely wrong... Just one thing (there are many others) from official FAA document - "Verifying the Authenticity of a Foreign License or Rating. A person who is applying for a U.S. pilot certificate or rating on the basis of a foreign pilot license must apply for verification of that pilot license at least 90 days before arriving at the designated FAA flight standards district office (FSDO) where the applicant intends to receive the U.S. pilot certificate. This initial step is the responsibility of the applicant and not the FSDO."

[just curious]

Yeah Doc, I got one of those too. Back in the day. My day was 1978. I think they made it longer and more painful, but not as bad as it could have been. You have an exam and a medical now.

[Pirate Pilot]

Yep, I did the same thing as EngineGuy....I was banging around Las Vegas with the gang and I was just tired of the casinos so I went out to North Las Vegas airport with my Canadian ppl looking for a checkride and then a rental. I was told "no way" but I was given the local FAA phone number to contact. I had a nice chat with some guy that was in the Las Vegas FAA office and I asked if I could come over....NOT ON A BET. That guy faxed me over all the forms I needed once I got back to Canada. I filled them out, faxed them to Oklahoma FAA (I named Spokane as the FAA office I would attend in person) and after a couple of weeks and assumably a check on my credentials I got the come ahead to attend in Spokane. There is a 6 month window from start to finish for this adventure. (2004) I kept putting it off and then I realized I only had 5 days left to complete. I had fully intended to fly the 182 down to Spokane but the weather closed in completely and I ended up driving like a crazed fool for 8 hrs. to get there. The FAA office is at Felts Field, Spokane, Wash. and you could not park within 100 yds. of the building. I had an appointment....walked across "no man's land" to the front door...An armed guard inside the door used the intercom to address me..."Yes?" he asked...I replied I had an appointment with Bill (something) The guard went inside and returned moments later with a very nice FAA guy (Bill) who stated "buzz him in, he's a Canadian" and then he smiled and said "isn't this a bunch of BS" Yep, was my reply. Bill had all the necessary documents for me to sign but I cooled my heels in the coffee room with some of the lesser workers while he "double checked" things. All was well about 20 minutes later. I received a United States of America Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration...Nationality Canada On the back...Limitiations issued on the basis of and valid only when accompanied by Canada Pilot license number XXXXXXX Limitiations and Restrictions on the Canada Pilot License Apply.
That was in the spring of 2004....So, Doc.....Walk into an FAA office.. ....It just would not happen in 2004. Maybe now, but not then.