FAA Extends Part 141 Comment Period to May 11

The FAA has extended the response period to May 11 for its request for input on a potential rewrite of Part 141 flight training regulations to allow the proper digestion of a 471-page response drafted by the National Flight Training Alliance (NFTA). The agency issued its call for input on Feb. 3 with an April 10 deadline for responses. The NFTA report, which was done at the FAA’s request, dropped April 1, leaving only 10 days for other stakeholders to respond to its many recommendations. There were dozens of requests to allow more time for others to respond to the response by NFTA because it’s widely believed that it will form the basis for new regulations to be considered by the FAA.

The initial reaction to the NFTA report was cautious by many stakeholders, particularly those involved with Part 61 training operations. Schools that operate under Part 141 have rigid curriculum and qualification standards set by the FAA and are geared toward the full-time training often associated with postsecondary institutions. Part 61 training is done by smaller schools, flying clubs, and independent instructors and is often structured around the schedules of part-time students. The FAA has not set a timeline for the creation of new proposed rules and has said all stakeholders’ positions will be considered. “Collaboration is encouraged to stimulate the innovation of a modern Part 141 that will serve the needs of current and future pilot schools, as well as provide a robust and safe training environment that instills the necessary knowledge, skills, critical thinking, and aeronautical decision making in its pilots to create a safer national airspace system,” the notice says.