Proposed Rule2026-02010
Notice of Public Meeting and Request for Comment on the Modernization of Pilot Schools
Primary source
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Published
February 2, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces public meetings to solicit input on the modernization of pilot school regulations.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 21 (Monday, February 2, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 21 (Monday, February 2, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4464-4465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02010]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 21 / Monday, February 2, 2026 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 4464]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 141
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2531]
Notice of Public Meeting and Request for Comment on the
Modernization of Pilot Schools
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of public meeting for proposed rulemaking; request for
comment.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces public
meetings to solicit input on the modernization of pilot school
regulations.
DATES: The FAA will hold virtual public meetings on Tuesday, March 10,
2026 and Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Eastern
Time.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held virtually on Zoom. See website for
registration information link for the meetings: <a href="https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afx/afs/afs800/afs810/modernization_of_part-141_initiative">https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afx/afs/afs800/afs810/modernization_of_part-141_initiative</a>.
Comments: Written comments are requested no later than April 10,
2026. Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2024-2531 using any
of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> and
follow the online instructions for sending your comments
electronically.
<bullet> Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
<bullet> Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
<bullet> Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the
commenter provides, to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, as described in the system
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2008-01-17/pdf/E8-785.pdf">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2008-01-17/pdf/E8-785.pdf</a>.
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> at any time. Follow the online instructions for
accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lyndsay Carlson with the Part 141
Modernization Initiative Team, Office of Safety Standards, General
Aviation and Commercial Division, Training and Certification Group
(AFS-810), Federal Aviation Administration; telephone (202) 267-1100;
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9aa3b7dbdcc9b7d7f5feffe8f4f3e0fbeef3f5f4b7cafbe8eeabaeabb7d9f5f7f7fff4eee9dafcfbfbb4fdf5ec"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5c65711d1a0f71113338392e3235263d28353332710c3d2e286d686d711f3331313932282f1c3a3d3d723b332a">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) part 141 (Pilot Schools) prescribes the requirements for issuing
pilot school air agency certificates, provisional pilot school air
agency certificates, and associated ratings, and the general operating
rules applicable to a holder of a certificate or rating issued under
part 141. Through a part 141 pilot school, a student may obtain
equivalent levels of aeronautical experience in fewer hours than
required by 14 CFR part 61 (Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors,
and Ground Instructors). Part 141 schools are required to have FAA
certification and supplementary oversight. Specifically, part 141
includes curricula standards for training and procedures to ensure a
training course used by a school is adequate, appropriate, and
administered by qualified personnel.
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.
Regulations for pilot schools are typically promulgated to improve
safety, reduce aircraft accidents, and embrace changes such as advances
in technology and the need for data collection and analysis.
Modernizing part 141 is essential for addressing challenges pertaining
to certification, certification management, examining authority, and
evolving technology and learning methods. The objective of modernizing
part 141 is to increase safety and create a foundation for a more
structured and robust training environment to aid in the reduction of
general aviation fatal accidents.
Therefore, 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. 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.
Public Meeting
Information concerning the docket and public meetings, including
upcoming meeting topics and previous meeting resources, will be posted
at the following website: <a href="https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afx/afs/afs800/afs810/modernization_of_part-141_initiative">https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afx/afs/afs800/afs810/modernization_of_part-141_initiative</a>.
DOT is committed to providing equal access to the meetings for all
participants. If you require an alternative version of files provided
or alternative accommodations, such as sign language, interpretation,
or other ancillary aids, please contact the Part 141 Modernization
Initiative Team, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#023b2f4344512f4f6d6667706c6b7863766b6d6c2f526370763336332f416d6f6f676c7671426463632c656d74"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c4fde9858297e989aba0a1b6aaadbea5b0adabaae994a5b6b0f5f0f5e987aba9a9a1aab0b784a2a5a5eaa3abb2">[email protected]</span></a> no
later than February 24, 2026.
[[Page 4465]]
Comments Encouraged
The FAA encourages the public to submit comments to
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, 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 during these public meetings or
electronically to Docket No.: FAA-2024-2531. If you submit your
comments electronically, it is not necessary to also submit a hard
copy.
The submission of public comments is encouraged but not required
for meeting participation. The FAA will consider public feedback to
determine the need for future considerations to the CFR. The FAA will
review comments that are post-marked, or submitted electronically, on
or before the comment closing date of April 10, 2026.
Authority: 14 CFR 11.53.
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 28, 2026.
Everette C. Rochon, Jr.,
Manager, Training and Certification Group, General Aviation and
Commercial Division, Office of Safety Standards, Flight Standards
Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-02010 Filed 1-30-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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