FAA Proposes To Revamp Pilot Certification Regs

The FAA is proposing a major overhaul of its pilot certification regulations—FAR Part 61—that includes more than 200 changes. Many of those improvements stem from years of AOPA advocacy. The FAA is proposing three of AOPA's four major recommendations:

1. Allow CFIs to renew their privileges every two years while keeping the original certificates;
2. extend the duration of a student pilot certificate to coincide with the duration of a third class medical certificate;and
3. allow the use of personal computer-based aviation training devices (PCATDs) to meet instrument currency, requirements for logbook entries, and credit for use of a flight simulator or flight training device (FTD) for the private and commercial pilot certificates.

Using a driver's license medical for recreational pilots is the only AOPA recommendation the FAA rejected.