FAA-2004-19630 Comments Due by December 16th, 2004

Tuesday morning, the FAA decided to shake up the way that pilots fly aircraft requiring type ratings outside the USA. This was done in light of the fact that a number of foreign aviation authorities have made it clear that they intend to enforce ICAO type-rating standards for S-I-C crewmembers. The S-I-C type rating would NOT be required for US operations and requires no pratical test or exam. The rule would require an appropriately rated PIC or a type-rated CFI to verify that the required S-I-C training was given. A completed FAA Form 8710-1 would then have to be presented, in person, to a FSDO or a designated examiner, accompanied by the applicant’s logbook or training records. 

According to the FAA, "The FAA proposes to establish a second-in-command (SIC) pilot type rating for those persons who complete the required SIC training. The purpose of this proposal is to conform the FAA pilot type rating requirements to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) pilot type rating standards and alleviate the difference that the FAA currently has on file with ICAO. The intended effect of this proposal is to allow U.S. flight crews to continue to operate in international airspace without the threat of being grounded for not holding the appropriate pilot type rating."

FMI: FAA NPRM FAA-2004-19630