IACRA as only means of applying for checkride?

jrh

jrh

Well-Known Member
I've been meaning to bring this up for a while and haven't gotten the time until now...

Has anybody heard of FSDOs requiring the exclusive use of the IACRA online application system for taking checkrides? For those of you unfamiliar with IACRA, it's basically an electronic version of the traditional 8710 form that is used to apply for a new certificate or rating.

Here's a little story to show why I'm asking...

Last week when I went for my MEI checkride the internet was down at the flight center I had trained at. I knew the examiner preferred using IACRA, but I just filled out a paper version of the 8710 form, had my instructor sign off on it, and went for my checkride.

When I showed the paper to the examiner, he got upset and said the Spokane FSDO doesn't even accept paper 8710s anymore--they require everything to be submitted electronically through IACRA.

We used the internet at his FBO to fill out my IACRA form, then sent it to my instructor for approval. My instructor tried to digitally "sign" it, but the IACRA system wouldn't allow him to endorse me because he had only taken *his* MEI checkride a few days previous and the database didn't recognize him as an MEI yet. He called the IACRA help desk and they said there was nothing they could do to override the system--I'd have to use a paper 8710--which supposedly wouldn't be accepted by the Spokane FSDO.

By that point, the examiner was much less upset at me and had more of a "Screw the FSDO, they're getting a paper copy whether they want it or not," attitude. We used the 8710 I had originally brought, did the checkride, and that's all I know up to this point--I'm not sure what the FSDO will think when they get it in the mail.

What's the moral of the story? I guess for you new instructors who might be sending students on checkrides soon, make sure to check with the examiner before the checkride and find out what system (paper or IACRA) they prefer (or require!).
 
jrh said:
I've been meaning to bring this up for a while and haven't gotten the time until now...

Has anybody heard of FSDOs requiring the exclusive use of the IACRA online application system for taking checkrides? For those of you unfamiliar with IACRA, it's basically an electronic version of the traditional 8710 form that is used to apply for a new certificate or rating.

Here's a little story to show why I'm asking...

Last week when I went for my MEI checkride the internet was down at the flight center I had trained at. I knew the examiner preferred using IACRA, but I just filled out a paper version of the 8710 form, had my instructor sign off on it, and went for my checkride.

When I showed the paper to the examiner, he got upset and said the Spokane FSDO doesn't even accept paper 8710s anymore--they require everything to be submitted electronically through IACRA.

We used the internet at his FBO to fill out my IACRA form, then sent it to my instructor for approval. My instructor tried to digitally "sign" it, but the IACRA system wouldn't allow him to endorse me because he had only taken *his* MEI checkride a few days previous and the database didn't recognize him as an MEI yet. He called the IACRA help desk and they said there was nothing they could do to override the system--I'd have to use a paper 8710--which supposedly wouldn't be accepted by the Spokane FSDO.

By that point, the examiner was much less upset at me and had more of a "Screw the FSDO, they're getting a paper copy whether they want it or not," attitude. We used the 8710 I had originally brought, did the checkride, and that's all I know up to this point--I'm not sure what the FSDO will think when they get it in the mail.

What's the moral of the story? I guess for you new instructors who might be sending students on checkrides soon, make sure to check with the examiner before the checkride and find out what system (paper or IACRA) they prefer (or require!).
Click to expand...

IACRA SUCKS!!! Too many bugs in the system and until it improves I use the paper 8710's for my students and the Wichita FSDO has no problem with it at all.
 
From the Spokane FSDO:

Mr. Grayson:

All of the DPE's that perform certification flight checks for the FSDO are encouraged to use IACRA which is a paperless process. They have been doing flight checks this way for over three years and with few exceptions has worked well. In the near future all of the paperwork for a flight check will be done on IACRA. How ever there are still provisions to complete the flight check paperwork using the old methods. I hope this answers your questions if you have any other questions please contact me at the FSDO.

Jim Bening
Phone: (509) 532-2343
E-mail: jim.bening@faa.gov

 
aloft said:
The SLC FSDO requires use of IACRA too. Personally, I think IACRA could use some VIAGRA.
Click to expand...

Please complain about it. I did several years ago. I resent having to use IE only. The director said it was necessary to do their database stuff. I told him that I developed database web applications for a living and I knew the browser had nothing to do with the database side of things, since that took place on the server. He never responded.

Aso, having to keep track of another number in addition to a login id and password is a PITA.
 
I'm having my first experience with IACRA trying to renew my CFI. What a piece of crap. So I got the whole thing filled out, submitted, and printed. Now what do I do with it? Just make an appointment to go into a FSDO to get my temp issued?

Thanks...
 
IACRA does suck. It took me forever to find the correct aircraft i.d. for the Alarus. We have one examiner who says the same thing that the FSDO will not accept the paper 8710 which is crap. They will accept it, he just does not want to do the extra work. As far as the CFI renewal you just fill it out as usual and they will pull it up at the FSDO and print you out a temp. certificate. Although when I did mine last year the first temp. almost expired so I had to get another one. I guess they were overloaded at the time.
 
scflyin said:
It took me forever to find the correct aircraft i.d. for the Alarus.
Click to expand...
Shoot, I had a hard enough time trying to find the aircraft ID for the 172. Didn't recognize 172, Cessna 172, C172, C-172, CE172, or CE-172. In te search it wouldn't even give a suggestion on any of those. I finaly found that they break it all the way down to the exact model, CE-172-R. I hope nobody cares that on the time in aircraft question I put total 172 time rather than trying to find the number of hours in the R model.
 
flyguy said:
I hope nobody cares that on the time in aircraft question I put total 172 time rather than trying to find the number of hours in the R model.
Click to expand...
Ruh Rho, you have just falsified a government document for which you could go to jail....and admitted to it on the world wide internet:buck:
 
EatSleepFly said:
I'm having my first experience with IACRA trying to renew my CFI. What a piece of crap. So I got the whole thing filled out, submitted, and printed. Now what do I do with it? Just make an appointment to go into a FSDO to get my temp issued?
Click to expand...

Yup, that exactly what you do next. Just go to the FSDO and they'll pull up your submitted application in their computer and print your temporary. It's actually pretty easy.
 
Is there any time limit, other than when my CFI actually expires? I did the IACRA thing a couple weeks ago, but I've been busy flying, and I have to get my company to send me a copy of my training capt. qualification so I can renew based on that. I'm due at the end of the month, so I guess I better light a fire under it.
 
nosehair said:
Ruh Rho, you have just falsified a government document for which you could go to jail....and admitted to it on the world wide internet:buck:
Click to expand...
Well, technically, it was my student who falsified the document. I may have helped him fill it out but it was his application and he signed it. He's relocated out of the country now, so I think he'll be safe.
 
bumping this thread to add to the IACRA hate.

When I first registered, I filled everything in. Email, name, certificate number, username, password; all the normal stuff. Just like registering at Amazon.com or something. After thats all done, it throws up a FTN number. If you don't copy down that number YOU'RE SCREWED. At the time I registered, I was in a hurry, as I was using someone else's computer (IE doesn't exist for Linux), and I had just assumed they'd send me an email with all the pertinent information in it anyways (like every single other site on the internet). If you lose that number, the only thing you can do is call the FAA. The number listed on the IACRA site is no longer valid. and if you call the 1-800 number listed on the FAA.gov website, you'll get tosses around from audio menu to audio menu until you finally get put on hold for 20 minutes.

And then, when you actually get the number and get the electronic 8710 filled out, you have to write down the number each application gets. If you miss this number, you have to call the FAA and have them retrieve it for you. The DPE can't do anything until they get that number.

Shoot, I had a hard enough time trying to find the aircraft ID for the 172. Didn't recognize 172, Cessna 172, C172, C-172, CE172, or CE-172. In te search it wouldn't even give a suggestion on any of those. I finaly found that they break it all the way down to the exact model, CE-172-R. I hope nobody cares that on the time in aircraft question I put total 172 time rather than trying to find the number of hours in the R model.
Click to expand...

Tell me about it. The Cessna 152 is listed as "CE-152-152"

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? How is anyone expected to know that? If you put in "152", "C-152", "CE-152", "Cessna 152", you get nothing.

There are two examiners in my area. One insists on using IACRA, the other one doesn't. Guess who all my students are going to from now on...
 
The idea of IACRA is great. Actually after getting used to it I almost prefer it over the traditional 8710. But man, there are a lot of bugs in it. I think if they can get the bugs worked out it might be a pretty good system.
 
At Skymates an examiner would NOT do a checkride if you didn't use IACRA. Refused to do anything without it.

I think it's an amazing system. Few quirks-

1- Too many e-signatures, little easier to do paper.

2- Will not take a written exam, unless it was taken more than 48 hours ago. Lasergrade only talks to FAA computers every 2 days, so if you take a written and then take the checkride the next morning, IACRA will NOT accept your written.

Other than that, I ran into NO problems.
 
Had the same problem with my DPE back in 2005 when I attempted my private. The IACRA system was down, but I was to be prepared for anything, so I brought along the paper copy. My DPE went stupid on me real fast as if the problem was something I precipitated. Comments such as my sending him back to the stone age annoyed me, but I pressed on with the admin aspects of the exam anyway. It got to the point I felt uncomfortable with his lack of professionalism and potential not to be unbiased, and I withdrew from the examination.

Took the checkride the next week. . .with someone else.

He was an idiot; those guys are few and far between, but they are around. IACRA, when working, gives me no problem.
 
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