Hey everyone, I need y’alls professional opinion on a dilemma I have. Someone I know is claiming to have obtained an FAA license in a foreign country. Is it possible to fly in America with a foreign FAA license? Does such a thing even exist or full of bs? Thanks.

It is possible. There are military flying clubs that have a doe or faa rep present that can issue licenses

It's not a foreign certificate it's just an FAA certificate. As long as the issuing authority (DPE, APM, etc.) is FAA approved/accepted it's a valid certificate. If you have doubts you can check the pilot database on the FAA website or (if you really wanna stalk the guy) FOIA his records.

Not BS...! If you look at the certification requirements, they don't specify geographical requirements but rather licensing requirements, if you meet them then you get the certification just like there are some schools in the US that can issue the EASA license without being actually on European soil.

Agreed. Completely possible to do all FAA licenses and ratings outside the USA.

Why is that such a big surprise?
For the last 20+ years European students have trained in the US for European licenses.
Most of the Major EU Airlines train their cadets in the USA.

AFAIK there is one FAA designated pilot examiner in NW Europe that pretty much created a monopoly for himself by complaining to the FAA about every other DPE arhat travelled to Europe to do checkrides.

- No N-reg required for training
- FAA ( Part 61) certified instructor of which there are 100’s in Europe
- FAA designated Examiner.
- online IACRA

Done.......

( Technically has to be a dual rated instructor to solo the student and to authorize cross countries. )