FAA Requests Instructors Sign Off Applicants in IACRA as Soon as Ready for Practical Tests

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An FAA/Industry group has been working to decrease delays in scheduling of practical tests that are being experienced in some regions recently. As this work continues, an effort to better understand where and why some of these delays are being experienced is underway. In an effort to better understand this, the Industry representatives have committed to the FAA to encourage instructors to sign-off students in IACRA as soon as they are ready for a practical test, not to wait until the day the actual test takes place.

The FAA tracks the data points of when an applicant is signed-off in IACRA for a practical test and when the actual test is completed. The difference of time between these helps them gauge how long an applicant has waited for a practical test. While this may not always be possible for all fight training providers based on the scheduling of a practical test and when all items for training are completed, but whenever possible it is being asked that instructors complete the IACRA application and submit it as soon as the applicant is ready for the practical test. This will help provide better data to the FAA to enhance FAA/Industry efforts to understand where excessive delays are present for applicants needing practical tests.

Easily Look Up FAA Knowledge Test Codes Free at www.FAATestCodeLookup.com

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Tired of trying to look up FAA Knowledge Test Codes for your student or applicant in a pdf file or on a scrolling website?

So was I.

So, I created a website that does it for you with help from Andy Millin of Kalamazoo Software – http://kal-soft.com/). And it’s free.

Check out http://www.FAATestCodeLookup.com to enter and report the subject areas associated with the knowledge test codes on your, your student, or your applicant’s knowledge test report.

The site works for both pilot and maintenance FAA Knowledge Test reports.

Use it to look up the codes, or to the site’s full capacity by entering your and/or your instructor’s email along with the knowledge test ID code to create a record that could be used in the event of loss of the knowledge test report to still have a record of the code to input into IACRA.

In either case, the site makes it easier to create a record and report of the knowledge test codes and the associated topics for review and study prior to further testing.

So, here you go, feel free to use it, and make your lives all easier as you use this site to determine what knowledge test codes were “found to be deficient” on a FAA Knowledge Test Report at http://www.FAATestCodeLookup.com.

Beyond the Purchase Price of an Aircraft – Considering and Calculating the Real Cost of Aircraft Ownership and Operation

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Determining how much it costs to buy, own, and operate an aircraft isn’t just about the initial purchase price. There is much more to consider, including things like maintenance, hangar costs, insurance costs, any loan costs you may have, or anything that breaks and needs to be fixed on the aircraft. This doesn’t even take into consideration general wear and tear on items, reserves for components that will need to be replaced over time, or the cost of fuel to fly. These other costs are things that many buyers forget, and it costs them later. In addition to actual dollars cost, it can also lead to less flying or even an unsustainable aviation future.

It is easy to get excited when we find an aircraft our budget will allow us to purchase, but before you take the leap and write a check, transfer the funds, or get a loan, you should take the time to carefully consider what the real operating expenses of the aircraft will be and if they are justifiable and logical. Continue reading →

Finding the Correct Aircraft Code for IACRA Applications – A Search Link

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Ever have a hard time determining the correct aircraft model, make, or code to enter into IACRA for an applicant’s practical test? I know I have! Some aircraft are much harder to find than others, so here is a little help that may make it easier.

First, if you don’t know what I am talking about just yet, when you are entering an IACRA application for a pilot certificate, under the “Certificate Sought” tab there will be an option to “Click here to Enter the Completion of Required Test Information“. Clicking this will bring you to a page where you will need to enter the information about the aircraft that will be used on the rest.

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