The FAA is proposing that all pilot certificates include photos of the certificate holder. The agency also proposed that the pilot certificates be made of plastic and contain security features, such as a hologram and an ultraviolet-sensitive layer, to prevent tampering, altering and counterfeiting.
Congress has passed a law requiring pilots to be issued biometric IDs but instead that FAA said they will add photos.
Under the proposal, pilots would obtain new certificates with their photograph with a proposed expiration date of eight years. At the end of that time period, pilots would need to update their photo and obtain a new certificate.
If the proposal is finalized as proposed, all new certificates would have to include a photograph. Existing pilots with a current commercial pilot certificate would have four years to comply, while a pilot with an airline transport pilot rating would have three years to obtain a new certificate with a photo. Existing private, recreational or sport pilot certificate holders would have five years to comply with the new requirement.
The cost of the new pilot certificate would be $22. ![[end]](/resources/bullet/thirdfactor-4.gif)
