Do you boys have an LOA? (Letter of Operational Authority)

When it comes to flying the L-29 the pilot must have certain qualifications to meet the standards of the FAA. All certified jet aircraft in the U.S. require a PIC(pilot in command) to posses an appropriate type rating in order to be qualified to fly them. While the L-29 is turbojet powered, it is also an aircraft manufactured outside the United States. Because it is manufactured outside the U.S. it does not have a U.S. Type Certificate Data Sheet that certifies it for operation here in the U.S. This is the reason for the EXPERIMENTAL classification of this jet. Type Ratings for EXPERIMENTAL jets, at this time, do not exist. In place of the type rating the FAA has come up with the LOA(Letter of Operational Authority). Qualifications for the LOA are private pilot, 1000 hours total flight experience, and a minimum of 500 hours PIC.