The Albany FSDO is the Federal Aviation Administration’s Flight Standards District Office for 26 counties in Upstate New York. It handles pilot and mechanic certification, oversight of commercial operators and repair stations, and safety complaints from the public. The office is at 7 Airport Park Boulevard, Suite 2, Latham, NY 12110, phone (518) 785-2020, open 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. All visits are by appointment.1Federal Aviation Administration. Albany FSDO
Check for Appointment Delays Before You Call
As of the most recent update on the Albany FSDO’s own page, the office is running significant delays for several certificate actions: Ground Instructor certificates, CFI renewals, Military Competency applications, Second-in-Command type ratings, Foreign Pilot Conversions, and ATP restriction removals. For those services, the FAA is directing applicants to work with a Designated Pilot Examiner rather than wait on the office.1Federal Aviation Administration. Albany FSDO The list of affected services may have changed by the time you need help, so check the page first.
Counties the Albany FSDO Covers
If your home base or primary aviation business sits in one of these 26 counties, Albany is your FSDO: Albany, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, and Washington.2Federal Aviation Administration. FAA Order EA FS 1100.34H – Flight Standards Designation and Geographic Area Assignments The Rochester FSDO handles territory to the west, and the New York FSDO covers downstate. If you’re not sure which office has jurisdiction, the FAA’s FSDO directory confirms it.3Federal Aviation Administration. Flight Standards District Offices
Services for Pilots and Airmen
The office handles certification for pilots, flight instructors, ground instructors, dispatchers, and parachute riggers.3Federal Aviation Administration. Flight Standards District Offices In practice, most pilots go through a Designated Pilot Examiner for practical tests rather than a FSDO inspector. DPEs are FAA-authorized to conduct checkrides, and you can find one through the FAA’s Designee Locator at designee.faa.gov.4Federal Aviation Administration. Designee Locator Search DPE fees for private and commercial checkrides typically run $800 to $1,200, paid directly to the examiner.
Direct FSDO involvement is needed for certain administrative actions a DPE can’t handle, including Military Competency applications, Foreign Pilot Conversion certificates, and some instructor renewals. Those are the same categories now backed up at Albany, so the FAA’s current guidance is to use a DPE where you can.1Federal Aviation Administration. Albany FSDO
For most certificate and rating applications, you’ll use the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application system (IACRA). The online platform walks you through the application, validates your information, and prints a temporary certificate when you’re done.5Federal Aviation Administration. IACRA – Federal Aviation Administration
Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificates
If you’re pursuing a Part 107 remote pilot certificate to fly drones commercially, the Albany FSDO is one of the places where you can validate your identity after finishing the required knowledge test or online training. Bring your completed FAA Form 8710-13, proof of a current flight review (if applicable), a photo ID, and your course completion certificate.6Federal Aviation Administration. Become a Certificated Remote Pilot
Replacing a Lost Certificate
Lost or damaged pilot and mechanic certificates are replaced online through the FAA’s Airmen Certification Branch for $2 per certificate. The system checks your record first; if it finds gaps, you’ll need to contact the FAA to update it before the replacement can issue. One exception: certificates based on a foreign license require a Verification of Authenticity submission and an in-person FSDO visit for identity verification.7Federal Aviation Administration. Requesting Replacement Certificates Online
Mechanic Certificates and Inspection Authorization
The Albany FSDO issues mechanic certificates with Airframe and Powerplant ratings under 14 CFR Part 65, and it grants Inspection Authorization to experienced mechanics who meet the additional knowledge and experience thresholds.8eCFR. 14 CFR Part 65 – Certification: Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers IA holders can approve aircraft for return to service after major repairs and perform annual inspections.
Medical Certification and BasicMed
The Albany FSDO does not issue medical certificates. Those come from Aviation Medical Examiners designated by the FAA. The office can answer questions about medical certification requirements and BasicMed eligibility. BasicMed lets you fly without a traditional FAA medical if you’ve held at least a third-class medical issued after July 14, 2006, and that certificate was not denied, suspended, or revoked.9Federal Aviation Administration. Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (FAA Form 8700-2)
Under BasicMed, you’re limited to aircraft with no more than six occupants and a maximum takeoff weight of 6,000 pounds. You’ll need a comprehensive medical exam from a state-licensed physician every 48 months, and the completed checklist stays in your logbook.9Federal Aviation Administration. Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (FAA Form 8700-2) If you’ve never held an FAA medical, BasicMed isn’t available to you.
Oversight of Commercial Operators
The office certifies and performs ongoing surveillance of commercial aviation operations in its territory. That includes air taxi and charter companies under 14 CFR Part 135, repair stations under Part 145, and pilot schools under Part 141.10Federal Aviation Administration. 14 CFR Part 135 Air Carrier and Operator Certification A new Part 135 certificate goes through a multi-phase FAA process, with the FSDO guiding applicants from start to finish.
Surveillance isn’t a scheduled audit. Inspectors can show up to a ramp or facility and verify that maintenance records, crew qualifications, and operational procedures match your approved programs. Noncompliance can trigger anything from a corrective letter to certificate suspension.
Pilot Records Database
Commercial operators under Parts 121 and 135 are required to use the FAA’s Pilot Records Database when hiring pilots. Governed by 14 CFR Part 111, the PRD requires operators to report pilot records and respond to records requests from other operators evaluating a pilot.11Federal Aviation Administration. Pilot Records Database (PRD) Operators with PRD compliance questions are directed to contact their local FSDO.
Reporting Low-Flying Aircraft and Safety Concerns
You don’t need to be a pilot to contact the Albany FSDO. The office accepts reports from the public on low-flying aircraft, suspected illegal charter operations, and other safety concerns.3Federal Aviation Administration. Flight Standards District Offices The FAA investigates minimum-altitude complaints when there’s enough detail to identify the aircraft or operator. A tail number, approximate time, location, and altitude are what make a complaint actionable.
For broader safety issues, regulatory violations, or alleged designee misconduct, the FAA runs a national hotline at 866-835-5322, with an online form at hotline.faa.gov.12Federal Aviation Administration. FAA Hotline
Accidents Go to the NTSB, Not the FSDO
Aircraft accidents and certain serious incidents must be reported to the National Transportation Safety Board rather than the FAA. The operator files on NTSB Form 6120.1/2 within 10 days of an accident, or within 7 days if an overdue aircraft is still missing, and each crewmember physically able to do so attaches a written statement.13eCFR. 49 CFR Part 830 – Notification and Reporting of Aircraft Accidents The NTSB leads the investigation. The FSDO can provide the reporting forms and may conduct the FAA’s parallel review of whether any regulatory violations contributed.