Here's a paragraph from
The Killing Zone that you may find of interest:
"You must be careful to get the correct endorsements after receiving your flight training in these advanced airplanes. I witnessed a very unhappy site when a commercial pilot flew across the state to take the flight instructor practical test with an FAA inspector. First on the agenda was to check the applicant's documents and endorsements. Sure enough, he had the wrong one. He had flown to the checkride in an airplane he was not endorsed to fly. Needless to say, he did not get his flight instructor certificate that day and had to retake his commercial checkride later." (p. 266)
Here's my take on your missing endorsements:
- Pre-Solo Flight Training at Night: Did you ever do solo night flying? If not, you don't need it. (I don't normally give this endorsement)
- Aeronautical Knowledge Test: Not required to be in your logbook. If you take a course from King or Sporty's they mail you a certificate and an endorsement. You had to produce an endorsement to take the written test so you must have had one. My instructor signed the endorsement in the back of my Gleim book, and I threw it away after I had my PPL.
- 2 Solo X-C Endorsements: Required to be in your logbook. [61.89(c)]
- Practical Test Endorsement: Required to be in your logbook [61.103(d)] (BTW, I find it hard to believe the examiner never checked for this endorsement. It's normally the second thing they ask to for -- the first being their check.)
If the FAA ever dug into your logbook, they'd have good reason to revoke your certificates since the required endorsements are not there. Their case would be something like: Since you can't prove you were ever authorized to make 2 solo cross-country flights, you have not completed the training required for the PPL. All your other ratings are predicated on having a PPL. I think you'd have a tough time proving you should keep your certificates -- the regs are black and white and private pilots are required to read, speak, write and understand English.
Now, I doubt you'll have trouble in an interview, but if I was in your shoes I'd try to get this cleared up pronto. Can you reach your old CFI? If so, have him sign your old logbook with the proper endorsements with the date when he should have done it.
As a last resort you could always loose your logbook. I have all my flights recorded in an electronic log, but not the endorsements. If I ever lost my book I'd only be able to reconstruct the flights but not the endorsements. My argument would be that at one point I presented my logbook & required endorsements to a duly appointed representative of the FAA for inspection, who reviewed them and issued me a certificate that required those endorsements. My flight time has been reported to the FAA on every 8710 I have submitted, and that can be used as a basis to reconstruct my logbook.
Even so, electronic logbooks are accepted today on par with paper ones, so you may just transfer you flights from paper to electrons and "dispose" of the paper book.
anic:
