FAA RELEASES FLIGHT TRAINING NPRM

September 1, 2009

What’s at Issue
On September 1, 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) titled “Pilot in Command Proficiency Check and Other Changes to the Pilot and Pilot School Certification Rules.”

Why It’s Important
This NPRM is proposing changes to 14 CFR Parts 61, 91, 141 that will modify the rules affecting flight training and the training requirements for the issuance of a commercial pilot certificate.

Major Provisions
This NPRM if enacted would make the following changes to 14CFR Parts 61, 91 and 141.

Proposed Part 61 Changes

• Revise the definition of a complex aircraft to include aircraft with Full Authority Digital Engine Controls (FADEC).
• Require a Pilot in Command (PIC) proficiency check for PIC’s of single-piloted, turbo-jet-powered aircraft.
• Permit the application for and issuance of instrument rating concurrently with a private pilot certificate. This change would also affect Part 141.
• Allow for the conversion of foreign pilot licenses to U.S. pilot certificates under approved Implementation Procedures for Licensing (IPL).  Currently, the FAA has approved an IPL with Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA).
• Replace the current 10 hours of complex aircraft aeronautical experience requirement with 10 hours of advanced instrument training for the commercial certificate, single- and multi-engine class rating. This change would also affect Part 141.
• Advanced instrument training would include all of the following:
• instrument approaches consisting of both precision and non-precision approaches
• holding at navigational radio stations, intersections, waypoints
• cross-country flying that involves performing takeoff, area departure, enroute, area arrival, approach, and missed approach phases of flight

Proposed Part 91 Changes

• Allow the use of aircraft with a single, functioning throwover control for flight instruction.  This change would also allow a flight review, performing recent flight experience, instrument flight experience, and instrument competency checks to be performed in an aircraft with a single, functioning throwover control wheel.

Proposed Part 141 Changes

• Allow pilot schools and provisional pilot schools an exception to the requirement to have a ground training facility when the training course is an online, computer-based training program.

NATA Position
NATA applauds the FAA for recognizing the advancement of technology in general aviation aircraft and adapting the flight training rules accordingly.  Many of the proposed changes in this NPRM have been advocated by NATA and its Flight Training Committee for several years.  NATA will review this NPRM in conjunction with its Flight Training Committee and provide the FAA with comments on the proposed changes to 14 CFR Parts 61, 91 and 141

Status
This NPRM is open for public comment until November 30, 2009, and may be accessed here.

Staff Contact:   Mike France
Manager, Regulatory Affairs
mfrance@nata.aero

View in PDF format.

For general press inquiries, contact Shannon Chambers at 703-298-1347 or schambers@nata.aero. 

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has been the voice of aviation business for more than 80 years. Representing nearly 3,700 aviation businesses, NATA’s member companies provide a broad range of services to general aviation, the airlines and the military and NATA serves as the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies.