Special purpose pilot authorization: Operation of
U.S.-registered civil aircraft leased by a person who is not a U.S. citizen.
(a) General. The holder of a foreign pilot license issued by a contracting
State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation who meets the
requirements of this section may be issued a special purpose pilot
authorization by the Administrator for the purpose of performing pilot duties.
(1) On a civil aircraft of U.S. registry that is leased to a person who is not
a citizen of the United States, and
(2) For carrying persons or property for compensation or hire on that aircraft.
(b) Eligibility. To be eligible for the issuance or renewal of a special
purpose pilot authorization, an applicant must present the following to an FAA
Flight Standards District Office:
(1) A current foreign pilot license that has been issued by the aeronautical
authority of a contracting State to the Convention on International Civil
Aviation from which the person holds citizenship or resident status and that
contains the appropriate aircraft category, class, instrument rating, and type
rating, if appropriate, for the aircraft to be flown;
(2) A current certification by the lessee of the aircraft--
(i) Stating that the applicant is employed by the lessee;
(ii) Specifying the aircraft type on which the applicant will perform pilot
duties; and
(iii) Stating that the applicant has received ground and flight instruction
that qualifies the applicant to perform the duties to be assigned on the
aircraft.
(3) Documentation showing when the applicant will reach the age of 60 years (an
official copy of the applicant's birth certificate or other official
documentation);
(4) Documentation that the applicant meets the medical standards for the
issuance of the foreign pilot license from the aeronautical authority of the
contracting State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation where the
applicant holds citizenship or resident status;
(5) Documentation that the applicant meets the recent flight experience
requirements of this part (a logbook or flight record); and
(6) A statement that the applicant does not already hold a special purpose
pilot authorization; however, if the applicant already holds a special purpose
pilot authorization, then that special purpose pilot authorization must be
surrendered to either the FAA Flight Standards District Office that issued it,
or the FAA Flight Standards District Office processing the application for the
authorization, prior to being issued another special purpose pilot
authorization.
(c) Privileges. A person issued a special purpose pilot authorization under
this section--
(1) May exercise the privileges prescribed on the special purpose pilot
authorization; and
(2) Must comply with the limitations specified in this section and any
additional limitations specified on the special purpose pilot authorization.
(d) General limitations. A special purpose pilot authorization is valid only--
(1) For flights between foreign countries or for flights in foreign air
commerce within the time period allotted on the authorization;
(2) If the foreign pilot license required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section,
the medical documentation required by paragraph (b)(4) of this section, and the
special purpose pilot authorization issued under this section are in the
holder's physical possession or immediately accessible in the aircraft;
(3) While the holder is employed by the person to whom the aircraft described
in the certification required by paragraph (b)(2) of this section is leased;
(4) While the holder is performing pilot duties on the U.S.-registered aircraft
described in the certification required by paragraph (b)(2) of this section;
and
(5) If the holder has only one special purpose pilot authorization as provided
in paragraph (b)(6) of this section.
(e) Age limitation. Except as provided in paragraph (g) of this section, no
person who holds a special purpose pilot authorization issued under this part,
and no person who holds a special purpose pilot certificate issued under this
part before August 4, 1997, shall serve as a pilot on a civil airplane of U.S.
registry if the person has reached his or her 60th birthday, in the following
operations:
(1) Scheduled international air services carrying passengers in
turbojet-powered airplanes;
(2) Scheduled international air services carrying passengers in airplanes
having a passenger-seat configuration of more than nine passenger seats,
excluding each crewmember seat;
(3) Nonscheduled international air transportation for compensation or hire in
airplanes having a passenger-seat configuration of more than 30 passenger
seats, excluding each crewmember seat; or
(4) Scheduled international air services, or nonscheduled international air
transportation for compensation or hire, in airplanes having a payload capacity
of more than 7,500 pounds.
(f) Definitions.
(1) International air service, as used in paragraph (e) of this section, means
scheduled air service performed in airplanes for the public transport of
passengers, mail, or cargo, in which the service passes through the air space
over the territory of more than one country.
(2) International air transportation, as used in paragraph (e) of this section,
means air transportation performed in airplanes for the public transport of
passengers, mail, or cargo, in which service passes through the air space over
the territory of more than one country.
(g) Delayed pilot age limitations for certain operations. Until December 20,
1999, a person may serve as a pilot in the operations specified in paragraph
(e) of this section after that person has reached his or her 60th birthday, if,
on March 20, 1997, that person was employed as a pilot in any of the following
operations:
(1) Scheduled international air services carrying passengers in nontransport
category turbopropeller-powered airplanes type certificated after December 31,
1964, that have a passenger-seat configuration of 10 to 19 seats;
(2) Scheduled international air services carrying passengers in transport
category turbopropeller-powered airplanes that have a passenger-seat
configuration of 20 to 30 seats; or
(3) Scheduled international air services carrying passengers in
turbojet-powered airplanes having a passenger-seat configuration of 1 to 30
seats.
(h) Expiration date. Each special purpose pilot authorization issued under this
section expires--
(1) 60 calendar months from the month it was issued, unless sooner suspended or
revoked;
(2) When the lease agreement for the aircraft expires or the lessee terminates
the employment of the person who holds the special purpose pilot authorization;
(3) Whenever the person's foreign pilot license has been suspended, revoked, or
is no longer valid; or
(4) When the person no longer meets the medical standards for the issuance of
the foreign pilot license.
(i) Renewal. A person exercising the privileges of a special purpose pilot
authorization may apply for a 60-calendar-month extension of that
authorization, provided the person--
(1) Continues to meet the requirements of this section; and
(2) Surrenders the expired special purpose pilot authorization upon receipt of
the new authorization.
(j) Surrender. The holder of a special purpose pilot authorization must
surrender the authorization to the Administrator within 7 days after the date
the authorization terminates.
[Amdt. 61-102, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; Amdt. 61-103, 62 FR 40902, July 30,
1997]