Pilot Certificate Accessibility Act
The Pilot Certificate Accessibility Act would allow pilots and other airmen to present either a physical original certificate or a digital copy (including a mobile certificate) when inspected by FAA inspectors. It adds a new provision to the airman certification statute, clarifying that digital copies stored on devices or in cloud storage are acceptable formats. The bill also requires the FAA to update the related regulations in 14 CFR Part 61 to implement these changes and sets a date—one year after enactment—for the rule changes to be in effect. In short, the bill modernizes and broadens acceptable forms of proof of airman certification, emphasizing digital credentials alongside traditional paper copies, and mandates regulatory updates to reflect this shift.
Key Points
- 1Adds new subsection (m) to 49 U.S.C. § 44703 clarifying acceptable formats for airman certificates: either a physical original copy or a digital copy stored on an electronic device or cloud storage, including a mobile certificate issued by the FAA.
- 2Applies to all certificates issued under § 44703, including medical certificates.
- 3Requires the FAA Administrator to update regulations in 14 CFR Part 61 to implement the changes.
- 4Provides that, starting one year after enactment, Part 61 regulations must reflect the amendments to § 44703.
- 5Establishes the bill’s purpose as ensuring sufficiency and flexibility of credential formats during FAA inspections.