FAA headquarters in Washington, D.C. [Credit: Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
A pilot's name on their certificate must match their government-issued identification, making an update necessary after a legal name change (e.g., marriage).
The process to change a name on a pilot certificate requires an in-person appearance at an FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).
Applicants must provide a valid government-issued photo ID, their current airman certificate, and a legal document verifying the name change (like a marriage license), and complete FAA Form 8710-1 to receive a temporary certificate.
Question: I am a flight instructor and I have just taken on a client who is soon to be married and is concerned about the legal ramifications of taking her spouse’s last name and her aviation career.
How big of a hassle is it for her to change her name on her pilot certificate? Can she still fly with her old (maiden name) ID, or does she have to get a new one to be legal?
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
