For the 3rd consecutive year I am going to try and fly to the states from Alaska!

I spent some time on the FCC website to buy the coveted radio operators license which AOPA says is a requirement for the Alaska through Canada trip and for the life of me I cannot figure out what to purchase or how to purchase it. I find the FCC website confusing.

Can anyone tell me what I’m actually buying and how much it costs?

I’ve read a bunch of times this document isn’t important and to not waste my time getting it but I’m trying to do the right thing. I’ve used the links from AOPA and fly2ak.com that take a guy to the FCC website but from there it goes downhill fast.

Thanks.

Go here: https://apps.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do

Register for an FRN.

Using your FRN, log into the FCC License Manager: https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/licManager/login.jsp

In the License Manager, click "Apply for a New License" in the orange menu on the left hand side.

Select "RR" from the Service dropdown menu.

Answer No to the three questions about fee exemption (Unless you are exempt from government fees because you are a silent operator or other such silliness)

Answer the rest of the info.

Pay $70 plus CC fees.

Wait between a week and 6 months for your approval. I did my request during the Covid government shutdown, so it took months.

I can't recall if I got a paper license, but it is a lifetime license that is easy to look up with the FRN system in the future.

Does a FCC amateur radio license satisfy this requirement?

You might also try this third-party service: http://nationalicense.com

I have used them for licensing of non-aviation radios. Pretty quick and efficient, and well worth not having to navigate all the bureaucracy on your own. Ask for Peggy. Note there's only one "L" in the URL.

-DP

Zzz wrote:Does a FCC amateur radio license satisfy this requirement?

No. The FCC requires the RR permit for aircraft using HF and flying internationally.

https://www.fcc.gov/commercial-radio-op ... se-program

Coincidentally I am doing the same thing for a different reason.
I am planning to support the Canadian relief effort in lower BC. Being from Seattle I need to cross the border.

Be aware there are 2 separate FCC licenses required. One for the radio operator and a different one for the airplane. I have had the operators license for decades but to legally cross the border my plane requires a radio station license. Same website but $170 for the station license.

I’ve never heard of anyone ever having been asked for a license. The Canadians will never ask for one..

I am not certain what it is currently called but the one that I have in my wallet from 1977 when I was a student pilot is called a "Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit" and at that time was required for pilots in the US. Later that requirement was dropped for domestic use but required for international use. It does not expire. It is what was required for international flights when i worked for an airline. It is not a Radio Operators License which requires passing an electronics knowledge test. You would also as previously stated need a radio station license for the aircraft which used to expire every 10 years, I don't know if that is currently the case.

Tim

Thank you for the questions and updated links folks. I’ll revise http://Fly2AK.com with your inputs.

Best,

Ted

Dirt911 wrote:I’ve never heard of anyone ever having been asked for a license. The Canadians will never ask for one..

Have been flying to and from Colorado to Alaska via stops in Canada the last few years for work. So far I've never been asked for this from either side.

When traveling through Canada they're concerned about your CBSA TRC filing, C19 status via the ArriveCan App, Passport, your license, and your flight plan. There's even a chance they'll waive you through without anything more than a telephone call.

At the US Ports of entry- expect a thorough review of your e-APIS filing, DTOPS Decal, Passport, Pilots License, and Pilot Medical.

This is based on experiences at clearing customs in Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince Rupert, Ketchikan, Seattle, & Spokane.

Curious I don't need one but I had the 'required at the time' radio license in mid 80's. Reported here that they never expire. Is it possible to get a copy? Don't intend to get a copy, just wondering if I still have the license in some gov't file somewhere.

Just went north cross border to Canada today. Filed eapis, filed flightplan, called CANPASS 2 hrs before arrival. Opened flightplan airborne and received my discreet border-crossing transponder code. The only thing I was asked for was a passport and covid vaccination via the ArriveCAN app.

Trying to think where I've been asked for a "restricted radio operator licence" in the last 40 years. Maybe getting a licence validation in some officious African country.

Doesn’t the aircraft also need a non free and it does expire radio station (I think thats what it is called) license?

I’ve never been asked for these documents before, in-fact I have not been asked by customs for my pilots certs ether, I’d wager if they ask for your radio license good chance that for whatever reason they are planning on popping you for something no matter what.

When I started taking flying lessons in 1984 My instructor told me the acronym ARROW to remember what paper work is required to be in the airplane.

A-Airworthiness certificate
R-Radio operator permit
R-Registration
O-Owners manual
W- Weight and balance form

The Radio operators permit I got then is an FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator permit. It is an FCC form 753. I looked it up on the FCC forms website and it says Form 753 has been replaced by Form 605

FCC forms https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/forms to see expired forms click on "Expired or Replaced Forms" at the top of the list.

I updated http://fly2alaska.com with a link on the "Customs" page for people to directly download the FCC Form 605 and associated FCC Form 605 Schedule C. Apparently if one wants to apply for a Radio Station License both forms are required.

Both PDF's can be downloaded here without having to navigate thru any FAA or FCC website(s): https://fly2ak.com/?page_id=24 ...scroll down the page to the "Radio Station License" section.

As an FYI, both the aircraft radio station license and the restricted radio operators certificate are ICAO requirements, so required for international travel.

MTV

Thank you for the update MTV. I further updated the "Customs" page with the below information. In addition to your helpful addition, further research says one also needs a FCC Registration Number (FRN). All gov't horse-hockey, as Colonel Potter on Mash used to say.

Radio Station License

Here are links to the required forms to apply for a “Radio Station License.” Again, please note that (to date) I have never been asked to present this form either by Canadian or U.S. Custom’s officers.

To add insult to injury, it seems one needs to first apply for a “FCC Registration Number” …aka “FRN”. Here’s the text noting such from the application Form 605 instructions: “All parties and entities doing business with the Commission must obtain a unique identifying number called the FCC Registration Number (FRN) and supply it when doing business with the Commission. Failure to provide the FRN may delay the processing of the application.” So here is the link to apply for that FRN: (https://apps.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do) along with some helpful (?) instructions (https://cfiacademy.com/how-to-get-fcc-radio-operator-permit-for-faa-commercial-and-private-pilots/).

FCC 605 Main Form (http://fly2ak.com/PDF/605mainformoctober2020.pdf)
FCC 605 Schedule C (it appears the only reason one must also fill out this form is to indicate one will be making international flights) (http://fly2ak.com/PDF/605_schedule_c_october_2020.pdf)
FCC 605 Schedule E (Restricted Radiootelephone Operator Permit) (https://fly2ak.com/PDF/605_schedule_e_october_2020.pdf)

Not sure how it works in the USA but when getting your private pilot’s license in Canada you need your radio license before you can solo if I remember correctly. This is likely why nobody gets asked to show it because you need it before your issued your ppl.

David K wrote:Not sure how it works in the USA but when getting your private pilot’s license in Canada you need your radio license before you can solo if I remember correctly. This is likely why nobody gets asked to show it because you need it before your issued your ppl.

Used to be that way in the US. I had to have the radio operators license to solo, and the planes station license was always part of a checkride.

I’ve forgotten when exactly that changed, but was a long time ago.

MTV