AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2016 - 32

PILOT BRIEFING
AOPA ACTION |

FAA finalizes rule on student
certificates
Withdraws photo requirements on all certificates
BY ELIZABETH TENNYSON

Baker

on the move

AOPA President Mark Baker is chairman
of AOPA's Political Action Committee,
chief executive officer for the AOPA
Foundation, president of the International Council of Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Associations representing pilots in 72
countries, and publisher of AOPA Pilot,
the world's largest and most influential
aviation publication.

THE FAA HAS PUBLISHED a final rule changing the way student pilot certificates
will be issued. The rule also withdraws plans to require photos on all pilot cerLAST MONTH
FEBRUARY 5-MITRE Aviation Advisory
tificates, which AOPA vigorously opposed.
Committee, McLean, Virginia
Under the new "Student Pilot Application Requirements," published in the
FEBRUARY 20-21-Northwest Aviation
Federal Register, aviation medical examiners (AMEs) will no longer issue stuConference, Puyallup, Washington
FEBRUARY 22-AOPA Board Meeting, Palm
dent pilot certificates. The majority of future applicants will apply through a
Beach, Florida
flight instructor, but the FAA also has given the option of applying in person
THIS MONTH
through FAA inspectors at their local flight standards district office, designated
MARCH 10-12-Women in Aviation International Conference, Nashville, Tennessee
pilot examiners, or airman certificate representatives from a Part 141 flight school.
Those representatives will accept and process applications (primarily through
the FAA's Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application system) but not
"Ultimately, we will protect the
issue the certificates, which will be plastic,
interests of general aviation,
similar to other airmen certificates.
FOR MORE DETAILS, listen to
ensure user fees are not
The rule has roots in the 2004 Intelligence
the AOPA Pilot Information
Center's podcast (www.aopa.
Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act and
included in any final bill, and
org/newstudentcertificates).
an initial proposal published in 2010. AOPA
that whatever structure is in
has been engaged throughout the process
place will support the entire
to ensure that the requirements would not be excessively costly or onerous. The
association strongly opposed a requirement to put a photo on all pilot certificates,
aviation community,
urged the agency to reduce turnaround times for issuing student certificates, and
including GA, for the
opposed a plan to charge $22 for the issuance or renewal of a pilot certificate. The
long term."
FAA has said it will address charges for pilot certificates separately.
The changes, which will prevent flight students from apply(See "What's Next?" p. 30.)
ing for and receiving their certificate on the same day, grew out of a
congressional requirement that all pilot certificate applicants be screened by the TSA before being issued a certificate.
HEADLINES THAT AFFECT YOU |
These screenings have until now been taking place after an
Recent news from the aviation world
AME grants a student pilot certificate. The FAA estimates it

will take up to three weeks from the time a student applies
for a certificate until it is issued.
"We'll continue to monitor the implementation of this new
rule to make sure the FAA is issuing student pilot certificates
promptly," said Justin Barkowski, AOPA director of regulatory
affairs. "We don't want this requirement to unnecessarily delay
students from soloing or completing their flight training."
Unlike current student pilot certificates, the new certificates will not expire. And CFIs will no longer have to endorse
the certificate itself, instead putting the endorsement in the
student's logbook.
The new rule takes effect April 1, but student pilots who
have been issued paper certificates before that date will be
allowed to continue to use them until they expire.
EMAIL elizabeth.tennyson@aopa.org

32 | AOPA PILOT March 2016

GA GROUPS RAISE CONCERNS OVER POSSIBLE ATC CHANGES
Fifteen general aviation groups warn the FAA of "very real
and long-standing concerns about foreign air traffic control
models." -AOPA.org
FAA READYING ANNUAL GA SURVEY
The FAA is asking for help on the thirty-eighth annual GA and
Part 135 Activity Survey for calendar year 2015. -AOPA.org
BIZJET MARKET CONDITIONS DETERIORATING
Latest UBS Business Jet Market Index reaches lowest point
since late 2009. -AIN
NEW YORK HELITOURS FACE NEW ROUND OF RESTRICTIONS
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio expected to release a ruling
curbing either hours of operations or number of tours
permitted. -AIN

http://www.aopa.org/newstudentcertificates http://www.aopa.org/newstudentcertificates http://www.AOPA.org http://www.AOPA.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2016