Has anyone read up on the upcoming change to US Student Pilot certificates on April 1?

(1) Paper certificates being done away with. Current ones still valid until they expire. The new plastic certificates will have no expiration date.

(2) AMEs will no longer issue Student Pilot certificates. Neither will FSDOs or DPEs. However, FSDOs, DPEs and (now) CFIs, among others, will be able to accept Student Pilot applications. CFIs will have to learn how to properly identify the applicant from official documents.

(3) Applications are then processed at the FAA Airman Registry and vetted first. A new plastic Student Pilot certificate is then mailed (after vetting) to the student pilot via the Post Office like everyone else. This process can take 3 to 8 weeks.

(4) Student Pilot applicants must be age-eligible before they apply. They must also have their certificate in their possession before they can solo.

With this rule soloing on your 14th birthday, a special rite of passage for our young glider pilots, will no longer be possible. You will have to get in line behind the FAA, TSA, and USPS processes.

https://www.federalregister.gov/arti...n-requirements