The FAA has a plan to ensure flying doesn’t grind to a halt during a government shutdown. [Credit: Julie Boatman]
Key Takeaways:
While Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) can still administer check rides, the issuance of new pilot certificates may be delayed due to furloughed FAA staff responsible for processing.
Critical aviation operations such as air traffic control services, maintenance of navigational aids, flight standards inspections, and airman medical certifications will continue during a shutdown.
The shutdown will halt key developmental activities, including the training of new air traffic control specialists, Airport Improvement Program (AIP) activities, and research into next-generation aviation technologies and safety standards.
“Will my flight training be affected if the federal government shuts down?”
This question is being asked a lot at local airports, because as part of the Department of Transportation, the FAA will most certainly be affected as employees will be furloughed.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
