Pilot Training School Modernization
There are currently two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Federal Register (FR) notices posted on the modernization of pilot training schools.
The first is a Virtual Introductory Public Meeting. According to FR Docket No: FAA-2024-2531, Notice of Public Meeting, and Request for Comment on the Modernization of Pilot Schools:
"The FAA's objective of modernizing part 141 is to increase safety and create a foundation for a more structured training environment to aid in the reduction of general aviation accidents and fatalities."
For additional information on FAA Part 141 Pilot Schools regulations click here.
The meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled for
March 6, 2025 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM ET (7:00 to 11:00 AM PT)
Registration for the virtual meeting through Eventbrite can be found using the following link. Once you have registered you will receive an email confirmation with additional information that includes a Zoom meeting link.
The deadline for submitting comments is March 21, 2025.
For additional information on how to sign up to attend click here.
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The second FR Notice 14 CFR Part 141 Pilot School Modernization Initiative: Public Meetings and Comments states that,
"The FAA will hold a hybrid of virtual and in-person public meetings on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, and Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Eastern Time. The FAA must receive requests to attend this hybrid meeting no later than March 17, 2025."
The deadline for submitting comments is April 24, 2025.
Take Action
Aviation Impacted Communities Alliance (AICA), a group that advocates on behalf of communities adversely impacted by aviation activity, is offering an opportunity for members of the public to sign on in support of comments they co-authored with several other groups and individuals. The submission has been posted on the FR comment section.
Below are excerpts from the announcement including a link to the comment along with instructions for how to sign on in support.
Take 2 minutes to make your voice heard and submit a comment! Please outreach to others to help!
The FAA is accepting Federal Register comments on their Request for Public Comment on the Modernization of Pilot Schools. The FAA is updating Part 141 pilot school regulations to enhance safety, streamline certification, and integrate new technologies.
Why This Matters
- Submitting a comment helps prioritize community interests in modernizing Part 141 regulations by advocating for better pilot training, efficiency, and safety while reducing aviation impacts and promoting a more balanced, responsible approach.
- Our collective advocacy on previous comments has successfully elevated grassroots perspectives, e.g., influencing the FAA's Noise Policy Review and strengthening future community engagement for NASA's study on human response to AAM vehicle noise.
Action Required
NOTE: Read the AICA, Save Our Skies Alliance, and Groton Ayer Buzz co-authored comment, link here.
Comment Template
- We support the Federal Register comment co-authored by the Aviation-Impacted Communities Alliance (AICA), Save Our Skies Alliance, and Groton Ayer Buzz, submitted under Document ID: FAA-2024-2531-0004.
How to Submit Your Comment
Thank you to co-authors Bri Lehman, Save our Skies Alliance and Amy McCoy, Groton Ayer Buzz, for their collaboration and dedication to this effort.
Oregon Aviation Watch Comments
To date, Oregon Aviation Watch has submitted two comments to the Federal Register, one in support of the AICA-SOS Alliance-Groton Ayer Buzz comment, and another, separate response. Below are some excerpts from the Oregon Aviation Watch stand-alone submission.
Aviation accidents occur on a near daily basis in the U.S. According to the National Transportation and Safety Board, NTSB Dashboard, nationwide there were a total of 16,423 accidents between 1/01/2014 and 2/25/2025, an average of more than 1500 each year which translates into 4 accidents every day. Many result in deaths and serious injuries to pilots, passengers and people on the ground. Most occur in small general aviation aircraft flown by hobbyists, students and private pilots.
A 2/20/2025 CNN article on a midair collision involving a 2/19/2025 instructional flight at an Arizona flight training airport included the following statement: "The National Air and Space Museum estimates there are more than 340,000 general aviation aircraft around the world and US pilots operate 204,000 of them." To put this in perspective, ...though the U.S. accounts for only 1.87 percent of earth's land mass, U.S. pilots operate 60% all general aviation aircraft. The remaining 136,000 are apparently scattered over the remaining 98.17 percent of the land mass. Is it any wonder, given this extremely high concentration of aircraft, that nationwide, general aviation aircraft are falling out of the skies on a near daily basis, all too often, crashing into homes, residential communities, shopping malls, businesses, golf courses, major highways, roads, parks, and other public areas?
A major reason for congestion in the skies over this country is the FAA's multi-year history of marketing the U.S. as a hub for training pilots from across the globe. Not only does this add to the congestion and safety risks, it also contributes to the relentless aviation generated noise and pollution. Sadly, impacted communities are historically denied a voice in the decision making process due to the FAA's unilateral, top-down approach. As a result, local residents are being subjected to a severe degradation in multiple domains including the environment, public health, livability, and quality of life.
The complete OAW comments are available in PDF format. You can read the comments in your browser or download the PDF from the Federal Register.
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