What is the required action if you lose your certificates?

The appropriate action to take if you lose your certificates is to notify the FAA immediately. This is important because the FAA needs to be informed of the loss to maintain accurate records and to prevent potential misuse of your certificate. Reporting the loss allows the FAA to assist in the reissue of the certificate and helps ensure that you remain compliant with aviation regulations. Timely notification is crucial to avoid complications, such as regulatory violations that might arise from the loss of credentials.

While contacting a flight instructor may seem relevant for advice or guidance, they are not the authoritative body to handle official reporting of lost certificates. Similarly, both reporting to an airport and waiting 24 hours are not necessary steps in this process. Ensuring that the FAA is informed directly allows for the correct procedures to be followed quickly and efficiently.