FAA Will Hold The First Virtual Public Meeting On Thursday, March 6, 2025, From 1000-1400ET

Aware that not all is right in the flight school business, the FAA is bowing to reality in seeking a public meeting to discuss the state of the business. 

They indicate that, "This will be the first in a series of public meetings on this topic." The big question, of course, is whether the Feds will actually listen... 

The Notice in the Federal Register admits that, "The process of licensing or certification of pilot schools in the United States is approaching 100 years of existence. Although the FAA has revised certain regulatory requirements pertaining to pilot schools during this time, part 141 still has many foundational ties to Civil Air Regulations (CAR) part 50, which was implemented in the 1940s."

The Notice, FAA-2024-2531, adds that "...part 141 must be analyzed to determine how it can evolve with the changing aviation industry. Over the course of the project, the FAA is seeking engagement from the flight training industry through participation in public meetings and submitted comments. Collaboration within the industry 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 FAA will provide the project goals, overview, and plans to address the modernization of part 141 initiative at the introductory virtual public meeting on March 6, 2025. Throughout the project period, the FAA intends to have additional public meetings, which the FAA will announce in the Federal Register.

Comments are bring encouraged... "The FAA encourages the public to submit comments to www.regulations.gov, Docket No. FAA-2024-2531. Comments that the FAA would find helpful include validated data and reports, unique discussion topics or scenarios, and/or feedback specific to modernizing part 141. The public is encouraged to provide feedback regarding innovative ideas; methods; solutions; products; and/or services that have, or could have, a significant impact on pilot school training. We encourage you to submit comments electronically through the Federal E-Rulemaking Portal. If you submit your comments electronically, it is not necessary to also submit a hard copy."

ANN will, of course, monitor the meeting and report back... 

FMI:  www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afx/afs/afs800/afs810/modernization_of_part-141_initiative