Definition
The office within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that maintains the official records of all civil airman certificates issued in the United States, including pilot, mechanic, and other aviation personnel certifications. It is the central authority for issuing, replacing, and verifying these certificates.
Plain English
The FAA office that keeps the master record of every U.S. pilot and aviation worker's certificate. If you need a replacement pilot certificate or a copy of your records, this is the office that handles it.
Context Anchor
A student pilot may see this term when applying for a student pilot certificate, checking certificate status, or replacing a lost certificate.
Derivation
"Airman" is the FAA's long-standing term for any certificated aviation worker (pilots, mechanics, dispatchers, etc.), not just pilots. "Branch" indicates a specific office within the larger FAA structure. So the name simply means: the FAA office that handles airman certificates.
Why Pilots Care
Understanding this branch clarifies where official certificates originate and why applications must meet precise standards to avoid delays in training.
Intuition Check
Do not read “branch” as a physical branch or a local airport office. Here it means a specific administrative office within the FAA.
Example Sentence 1
After losing his pilot certificate during a move, he submitted a replacement request to the Airman Certification Branch in Oklahoma City.
Example Sentence 2
The student pilot checked the status of her certificate application through the Airman Certification Branch portal.