Regs Get Clarification and Amendments As Directed By Congress

The FAA has published its final rule on a number of regulations covering a smorgasbord of topics in general aviation that Congress mandated in its FAA Reauthorization Acts of 2018 and 2024 as well as the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023.

The rules in this published release go into effect on December 2, 2024.

The rule permits pilots flying for Public Aircraft Operations (PAO) to credit flight time toward FAA civil regulatory requirements. These PAO regs cover pilots flying for forestry and fire protection agencies. It also amends operating rules for experimental aircraft to permit certain flight training, testing, and checking in those aircraft without a Letter of Deviation Authority (LODA).

That same non-requirement of a LODA is extended to certain flight training, testing, and checking in limited category, primary category, and experimental light sport aircraft.

Miscellaneous amendments related to recent flight experience, flight instructor privileges, flight training in certain aircraft holding special airworthiness certificates, and the related prohibitions on conducting these activities for compensation or hire, have been amended in this rule.

The FAA says the changes promulgated in this rule clarifies existing regulatory requirements, align the regs with current industry practice, and ensure compliance with the FAA Reauthorization Acts of 2018 and 2024 and the James Inhofe NDAA for FY 2023.

FMI:  www.federalregister.gov/