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The FAA has extended the response window to May 11 for comments on the proposed plan to modernize the regulations for Part 141 flight training.
The 471-page proposal, drafted by the National Flight Training Alliance (NFTA), was released April 1 with the previous comment window closing April 10.
- READ MORE: Proposed Modernization of Flight Training in FAA’s Hands
- READ MORE: The Great Aviation Debate: Part 141 vs. Part 61?
The tight deadline set off a wave of complaints from aviation stakeholders, including groups such as the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), that asked for more time to review the proposal. Many in the industry took to social media to express concern that the proposal was a preview of a change in regulations.
However, to change the rules, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) would have to be issued. The Part 141 modernization proposal is not an NPRM, although comments are being accepted.
The proposal was created out of more than a year of meetings between industry stakeholders from both Part 141 and Part 61 training operations. Its intent is to bring aviation training into the 21st century by allowing for an increase in the use of technology, such as virtual reality and advanced aviation training devices (AATDs), and streamlining flight test procedures by permitting more schools to obtain examining authority for in-house check rides.
