This month, NAAA, along with six other national aviation associations, signed a letter to the FAA requesting extending regulatory relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter included requests for extensions in the following areas:
- Additional Extension of Relief from Certain Training, Recency, Testing and Checking Requirements through Dec. 31, 2020 (14 CFR parts 61.55, 61.56, 61.57, 61.58, 91K, 91 Subpart N, 125, and SFAR 73)
- Additional Extension of Relief from Duration and Renewal Requirements through Dec. 31, 2020 (14 CFR parts 61, 63, and 65)
- Additional Extension of Relief for Flight Instructor Renewal under 61.197 and Experience Requirements under 61.57(e)(4)(i)(C) through Dec. 31, 2020
Regulatory Relief provided by SFAR 118 and amended SFAR 118-1 added a grace period to many FAA Part 61 certificate requirements expiring March through September 2020. The three-month extensions granted by the SFAR were not cumulative. If an original federal aviation license expired March 31, 2020, the SFAR extended it until June 30 only. SFAR 118-1 did not grant the March 31 extended expiration another three months to Sept. 30. To review the current SFAR 118 and amended SFAR 118 – 1, click here.
Agriculture and aviation are both considered essential services. If granted, this latest extension would add the grace period to certificates expiring in October, November and December 2020. NAAA is monitoring the FAA’s response to this request and will forward updated information on this topic via the NAAA eNewsletter.