Options for the US address
Since many foreign FAA licence holders do not have their own address in the USA, a market has already developed for service providers who offer the provision of a US address as a service. Two prominent providers are:
- Qualit AirThis provider offers a discount of 15 % for members of AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association).
- ValiairAnother specialised service provider with a comparable offering.
These providers act as so-called "Agents for Service", which means that they act as the official point of contact between the FAA and the licence holder. They receive official notifications and forward them to the respective pilot.
New platform: "U.S. Agent for Service System" (USAS)
To manage and register the addresses, the FAA will introduce a new online tool, the so-called "U.S. Agent for Service System (USAS). This system is designed to enable licence holders to pass on information about their chosen service provider directly and easily to the FAA.
The USAS platform is not yet live, but the FAA has announced that data entry will be possible shortly. The new system will provide a central point of contact for registering addresses and updating contact details.
Legal notices and further information
The FAA has published the details of this regulation and the corresponding procedures in the Advisory Circular AC 3-1 published. This guide contains detailed instructions on how to comply with the requirements and describes the role of the "Agent for Service".
In addition, the FAA emphasises that this measure serves to ensure that all pilots can be informed in good time about important changes and obligations, for example in connection with legal issues or licence renewal.
Effects on pilots outside the USA
For many foreign pilots who hold an FAA licence, this new regulation poses a challenge, as setting up a US address can mean additional costs and administrative work. However, the newly created services offer a viable solution that ensures timely fulfilment of the requirements.
Outlook
The introduction of the USAS system marks a further step towards the digitalisation and simplification of administrative processes in aviation. It remains to be seen how well the new system will be accepted and what experience pilots and service providers will gain from its implementation. The FAA plans to provide regular updates and improvements to make the implementation of this regulation as smooth as possible.
For further information and updates on the USAS platform, we recommend regularly checking the official FAA website and the AOPA newsletter.
Source references:
AOPA