Regulation Text
§ 61.29 Replacement of a lost or destroyed airman or medical certificate or knowledge test report.
(a) A request for the replacement of a lost or destroyed airman certificate issued under this part must be made:
(1) By letter to the Department of Transportation, FAA, Airmen Certification Branch, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, and must be accompanied by a check or money order for the appropriate fee payable to the FAA; or
(2) In any other manner and form approved by the Administrator including a request online to Airmen Services at http://www.faa.gov, and must be accompanied by acceptable form of payment for the appropriate fee.
(b) A request for the replacement of a lost or destroyed medical certificate must be made:
(1) By letter to the Department of Transportation, FAA, Aerospace Medical Certification Division, P.O. Box 26200, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, and must be accompanied by a check or money order for the appropriate fee payable to the FAA; or
(2) In any other manner and form approved by the Administrator and must be accompanied by acceptable form of payment for the appropriate fee.
(c) A request for the replacement of a lost or destroyed knowledge test report must be made:
(1) By letter to the Department of Transportation, FAA, Airmen Certification Branch, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, and must be accompanied by a check or money order for the appropriate fee payable to the FAA; or
(2) In any other manner and form approved by the Administrator and must be accompanied by acceptable form of payment for the appropriate fee.
(d) The letter requesting replacement of a lost or destroyed airman certificate, medical certificate, or knowledge test report must state:
(1) The name of the person;
(2) The permanent mailing address (including ZIP code), or if the permanent mailing address includes a post office box number, then the person's current residential address;
(3) The certificate holder's date and place of birth; and
(4) Any information regarding the—
(i) Grade, number, and date of issuance of the airman certificate and ratings, if appropriate;
(ii) Class of medical certificate, the place and date of the medical exam, name of the Airman Medical Examiner (AME), and the circumstances concerning the loss of the original medical certificate, as appropriate; and
(iii) Date the knowledge test was taken, if appropriate.
(e) A person who has lost an airman certificate, medical certificate, or knowledge test report may obtain, in a form or manner approved by the Administrator, a document conveying temporary authority to exercise certificate privileges from the FAA Aeromedical Certification Branch or the Airman Certification Branch, as appropriate, and the:
(1) Document may be carried as an airman certificate, medical certificate, or knowledge test report, as appropriate, for up to 60 days pending the person's receipt of a duplicate under paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of this section, unless the person has been notified that the certificate has been suspended or revoked.
(2) Request for such a document must include the date on which a duplicate certificate or knowledge test report was previously requested.
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; Amdt. 61-103, 62 FR 40896, July 30, 1997; Amdt. 61-121, 73 FR 43065, July 24, 2008; Amdt. 61-124, 74 FR 42548, Aug. 21, 2009; Amdt. 61-131, 78 FR 56828, Sept. 16, 2013]
Research Notes
Research Notes — § 61.29 Replacement of Lost or Destroyed Certificate
Regulatory Context
Section 61.29 establishes the procedures for replacing lost or destroyed airman certificates, medical certificates, and knowledge test reports. The regulation provides two primary channels — postal mail to the FAA Airmen Certification Branch in Oklahoma City, or online through FAA Airmen Services — and creates a 60-day temporary authority document to cover the gap while a replacement is processed.
Primary Regulatory References
Governing Regulation: 14 CFR § 61.29 — this section is self-contained. No companion Advisory Circular exists specifically for replacement procedures.
AIM Cross-Reference: The Aeronautical Information Manual does not address certificate replacement procedures; this is purely a regulatory matter under Part 61.
Related Sections: § 61.3 (requirement to carry the certificate while acting as PIC); § 61.13 (application procedures for certificates generally).
FAA Airmen Services — Online Replacement
The FAA's online portal for certificate replacement is accessible at FAA Airmen Inquiry and through the IACRA system. Pilots can also request a replacement through the FAA Airmen Services portal. The online request satisfies paragraph (a)(2) and is the fastest method — typically faster than postal mail.
Current Fee Structure
The FAA charges a fee for replacement certificates. Current fee schedules are published in FAA Certificate Replacement guidance. Fees are subject to change; confirm the current amount before submitting payment.
The 60-Day Temporary Authorization (Paragraph (e))
Paragraph (e) allows a pilot whose certificate has been lost to obtain a temporary authority document from the FAA Airmen Certification Branch or Aeromedical Certification Branch. This document may be carried in place of the actual certificate for up to 60 days. Important constraint: this authority does not apply if the pilot has been notified of a suspension or revocation — a distinction that matters in enforcement contexts.
Medical Certificate Replacement
Medical certificate replacement is handled by the FAA Aerospace Medical Certification Division, a different branch from airman certificate replacement (which goes to the Airmen Certification Branch). The addresses are different. Sending a medical certificate replacement request to the wrong address causes delay.
Amendment History Note
The most recent substantive amendment to § 61.29 was Amdt. 61-131 (2013), which modernized the online submission language. The section has been stable since 2013, reflecting well-established administrative procedures.
Amendment History
AOA Notes
These notes correspond to the highlighted phrases in the regulation text above. Each one flags something worth knowing — a common misread, a checkride gotcha, or a practical pro tip.
CFI Commentary
Highlighted phrases in the regulation text above link to instructor notes at the bottom of this page. Look for the amber or blue highlights — each one flags a gotcha or a pro tip worth knowing.