Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic NAAA has been in close contact with numerous federal and state regulatory agencies including the FAA regarding the challenges of complying with renewing licenses, which has become nearly impossible due COVID-19 shutting down compliance offices in both the private and public sector. In response to this situation, in April the FAA issued a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) that extended, among other things, medical certificates, flight reviews and knowledge tests. These extensions were good for expirations that occurred between March 31 and June 30.

With the June 30 deadline quickly approaching and the continued COVID-19 related shutdowns of government facilities and limited access to CFIs, DPEs and AMEs, NAAA joined in another letter requesting an extension of the SFAR exemptions. Last week the FAA announced it is working on a rule that will extend the items contained in the SFAR to a date later than the current June 30 deadline. This extension is still being worked out, but more details on how the FAA plans to extend the SFAR should be available soon.

NAAA has a scheduled call with the FAA on June 26 and will keep the membership apprised of the FAA’s actions to extend these expiration dates. The original relief in SFAR 118 issued in April included the following:

• Medical Certificates: The FAA extended the validity periods of medical certificates expiring between March 31 and May 31 through June 30. This is an important distinction between the FAA’s previous decision to simply suspend enforcement actions against expired medical certificates, which could have potentially caused insurance complications. 

• Flight Reviews: The FAA is offering a three-calendar-month “grace period” for pilots whose flight reviews expire between March 1 and June 30. However, there are two conditions to be eligible for this extension: The pilot must have logged at least 10 hours of pilot in command time (PIC) within the 12 calendar months preceding the month the flight review was due in an aircraft for which that pilot is rated. Eligible pilots must complete FAA Safety Team online courses totaling at least three Wings credits. The courses must have been completed in January or later to meet this requirement, according to the rule. For Robinson R-22 and R-44 pilots, the 10 hours of PIC time noted above must be in an R-22 or R-44, provided the pilot has at least 200 hours of helicopter time with at least 50 hours in an applicable Robinson helicopter.  R-22 or R-44 pilots with less than the above level of experience may extend their flight review an additional three months provided that of their 10 hours of PIC time in an R-22 or R-44, three hours has occurred in the three calendar months preceding the month the flight review was due, and  they complete a minimum of three hours of self-study that includes specific subjects as denoted in the SFAR. 

• Knowledge Tests: Applicants whose knowledge tests expire between March and June will have their knowledge tests’ validity extended by three months.

• Flight Instructors: Unlike pilot certificates, flight instructor certificates expire every two years. The FAA will extend the validity of flight instructor certificates that expired between March 31 and May 31 until June 30.

• Inspection Authorization: Airframe and powerplant mechanics with inspection authorization who were not able to meet the first-year renewal requirements by March have until June 30 to complete one of the listed activities to meet the first-year renewal requirements.