The FAA has more plans in the works for Part 61, but, as they saw from the over 400 comments to the Notice for Proposed Rulemaking (NRPM), some of this thinking isnt fully cooked. Part of the plan was to provide some relief for flight schools who find it harder and harder to find (and afford to keep) complex trainers on the flight line.
The FAA is proposing changes to Part 61 to address the increasing difficulty and cost for flight schools to acquire and maintain complex trainer aircraft.
One proposal to allow FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) aircraft to count as complex trainers is criticized for being illogical, as FADEC systems simplify operation rather than adding complexity.
Another proposed solution involves replacing the complex training requirement with 10 hours of advanced instrument training, which the author views as potentially valuable given modern aviation technology.
The author emphasizes that any regulatory changes will be ineffective unless the Practical Test Standards (PTS) are also updated to remove the requirement for taking the flight test in a complex airplane.
The FAA has more plans in the works for Part 61, but, as they saw from the over 400 comments to the Notice for Proposed Rulemaking (NRPM), some of this thinking isn’t fully cooked. Part of the plan was to provide some relief for flight schools who find it harder and harder to find (and afford to keep) complex trainers on the flight line.
Steve D. Hall
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