I’m done with FAA written exams for a long time. I took both the Flight Instructor Airplane and Advanced Ground Instructor exams today. It’s a pretty difficult exam and I got the lowest scores I’ve ever gotten on an FAA exam: an 83 and an 88. They’re both pretty much the same test. I don’t know that I’ll need an Advanced Ground Instructor certificate for anything, but the only thing you have to do to get it is pass the written exam. (You don’t even have to be a pilot.) Considering the required exam is pretty much the same, I figured I’d just go ahead and take both of them so I won’t have to at some later point.

Unfortunately, because the school doesn’t have a course for Advanced Ground Instructor, they couldn’t issue me the certificate. So I had to drive up to the Flight Standards District Office to get my certificate. They won’t let anyone in the door without an appointment– fortunately I knew this ahead of time. The FSDO is on the top floor of a large office complex. You can tell which door it is because of the absurd security notices posted on the door and the little glass window with a slot underneath. And an intercom thing.

Fortunately, getting in was the hardest part. After looking at all the required paperwork, an inspector issued me the certificate in just a couple of minutes.

I’m not really sure what they’re scared of or just how they think a fancy door and requiring appointments alleviates those fears.