Expired pilot certificates and re-issuance

This regulation addresses pilot certificates that have expiration dates printed on them—a practice the FAA discontinued decades ago. Modern pilot certificates don't expire (though you must maintain currency and medical requirements separately).

The key practical rule: You cannot act as pilot in command or required crewmember using an expired certificate, even if it lists the appropriate category and class.

The regulation then specifies which very old certificates are permanently expired and won't be reissued (mainly those issued before 1945 or 1949, depending on type), and which ones can be reissued without an expiration date. If you somehow have an old certificate with an expiration date that falls within the reissuable categories, you can apply to have it replaced with a current one.

For nearly all pilots today, this regulation is irrelevant—your certificate has no expiration date printed on it and this rule doesn't apply.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*