Call to Action Issued for General Aviation Flight Training

Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 06:57 PM ET

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While the current LODA process is in effect for experimental aircraft, the Certainty for General Aviation Pilots Act will clarify policies for GA flight instruction. Courtesy Julie Boatman

Key Takeaways:

AOPA is urging pilots to support new legislation, the "Certainty for General Aviation Pilots Act of 2021," to explicitly state that flight training is not considered carrying a passenger for compensation or hire.
This call to action stems from a "sudden change" in FAA policy that has begun to interpret flight instruction as commercial transportation, creating burdens and uncertainty for pilots and instructors.
The FAA Administrator, Steve Dickson, admitted that related requirements, such as obtaining a Letter of Deviation Authority (LODA) for training in experimental aircraft, are bureaucratic and contradict the agency's long-standing guidance.

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AOPA put out a call to action Tuesday asking pilots to contact the members of Congress to sign the Certainty for General Aviation Pilots Act of 2021 (S. 2458, and H.R. 4645) to clarify the fact that giving or receiving flight training is not considered carrying a passenger for compensation or hire, for either the instructor or aircraft owner/operator.

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) introduced the measure on July 22.