Repairman Certificate

[rodsmith]

I applied for my repairman certificate in April. The week before Oshkosh I got an email from Lonnie with the Salt Lake FSDO saying he would be on vacation for two weeks but when he got back he would work on my application. The Tuesday after Oshkosh he contacted me again and said my application had a couple errors. I corrected them and sent the application back. He had me put an app on my phone called Teams, similar to facetime etc. We got online so he could verify my identity with my drivers license, then issued my temporary certificate. Better than a few years ago when you had to fly to Salt Lake to complete the process. We chatted afterwards, he said he was close to retiring and was going to build a plane. He had been thinking an RV but said a Bearhawk was now tempting him. Don't wait too long to apply for your repairman certificate as the FAA moves slowly.

[Nev]

You'll really enjoy that Rod. In NZ they call it Maintenance Approval, and It requires that we have built the aircraft, a 2 day course on the legal aspects, a written exam, then 3 x 100 hour checks under supervision of a licensed engineer/mechanic (A&P). With it you can complete your own 50/100 hour checks and sign them off. I did my own Maintenance Approval when my BH was being test flown. I thoroughly enjoy doing the checks, and it also brings the cost of maintenance way down. I'm lucky to have a friend who is an A&P in the next hangar who helps with anything above my pay grade. He also casts an eye over the Bearhawk on alternate 100 hour checks - an extra set of eyes is great.

[svyolo]

I had the opposite, but just stupid luck. I sent an email to the SEA FAA office on Monday, two weeks before last Turkey Day. He calls me the next morning, and tells me he is leaving "for the holidays" at the end of the day, could I do the interview today. This is 9 am, and the FAA office is a 2 hour drive. Of course I said yes. Very knowledgeable guy. Had my Temp Cert by 2 pm.

It was a 10ish story office building. All FAA. 95%+ offices dark, lights off.

[alaskabearhawk]

I got my repairman’s certificate in less than a week. I guess it depends on which FSDO district you are in. The same thing happened with my aircraft registration application. Many said the registration takes at least 6-8 weeks to process, sometimes up to 4 months. Upon the advice of my DAR, I mailed in my application months early. After I mailed it, I flew to WA to visit family for 10 days. It was waiting for me in the mail when I got back to AK!