WWII Instrument rating card difference ?

[SHAEF1944]

Anyone know the difference between the two Instrument Pilot Certificates, Form 8 ( White ), and Form 8a ( Green ) ?
What were the criteria for being issued one or the other ?

[Locobuster]

The green card was received after accumulating over 100 hours flying time using instruments alone. I believe there were specific perks to having it (i.e.: certain restrictions were lifted) but I'm not sure exactly what those were.

Syd

[Marauderman26]

Everything you ever wanted to know and forget by the folks that brought you the rules: http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificate ... ification/

[SHAEF1944]

Many thanks guys !

[Jack Frost]

That FAA site is for civilian licence information only. I believe he asked about the WWII green card and white card instrument certificates.

I wasn't in during WW II but got a white card about 9 years after it was over when I graduated from Aviation Cadet Pilot Training. As best I remember, my white card allowed me to fly in instrument conditions but if I was the PIC, my flight plan, rating and currency, etc. had to be verified and signed off by the Base Operations officer or a higher authority.

A green card holder was held to tighter tolerances on his check rides and had to have a minimum of 1000 or 1500 hours of instrument time as well as a higher amount of total time than the white card holder. He could self authorize his own flights. I spent all my military time flying co-pilot so I never qualified for the green card.

We used to joke about the guys who couldn't qualify for either the green card or the white card. They were issued a blue card and when the color of the card matched the color of the sky when the card was held agiant the windshield, he could go flying!

Jack

[Maverick]

In the nineteen fifties White cards were issued to all pilots instrument qualified. This was upgraded to a green card after five years rated service and accumulation of 50 hours actual jet weather time or 100 hours total weather time.
White card pilots had to have their flight plans approved and signed by the base operations officer or duty officer. Green card holders could approve and sign their own clearances.
There was no total pilot time requirement. White and green card pilots had to pass the same instrument check criteria annually to be completed before their birthday to maintain their instrument rating.