Updated Nov. 1, 2021
As the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the U.S., NBAA advocated for temporary relief from certain proficiency and medical requirements for pilots and other FAA certificate holders. As a result of NBAA’s efforts, the FAA issued Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 118 on April 29, 2020, and additional extensions.
Review the original SFAR 118 from April 29, 2020 (PDF)
Review the extended SFAR 118.1 from June 25, 2020 (PDF)
Review the extended SFAR 118.2 from Sept. 30, 2020 (PDF)
Note: These SFARs are no longer in effect. Standard proficiency and medical requirements are being enforced once again.
| 14 CFR Area of Relief |
Original SFAR 118 Relief |
Amended SFAR 118-1 Relief |
Amended SFAR 118-2 Relief |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61.55 Second-in-Command Pilot Qualifications |
Due March-June 2020 has 3-month grace period to complete training | Added pilots due July-September 2020 | Added pilots due Oct 2020-Jan 2021, but only 2 total grace months to complete training |
| 61.56 Pilot Flight Review |
Due March-June 2020 has 3-month grace period to complete training | Added pilots due July-September 2020 | Added pilots due Oct 2020-Jan 2021, but only 2 total grace months to complete a flight review |
| 61.57 Pilot Instrument Currency |
9-month currency lookback period (instead of 6 months) for flights April 30-June 30, 2020 | Added look-back period for flights in July-September 2020 | No further relief |
| 61.58 Pilot-in-Command Proficiency Check |
Due March-June 2020 has 3-month grace period to complete check | Added pilots due July-September 2020 | Added pilots due Oct 2020-Jan 2021, but only 2 total grace months to complete the check |
| Part 91, Subpart K Crewmember Requirements |
Due March-June 2020 has 3-month grace period to complete training, recency and checking | Added crewmembers due July-September 2020 | Added crewmembers due Oct 2020-Jan 2021, but only 2 total grace months to complete training, recency and checking |
| Part 91, Subpart N Mitsubishi MU-2B Series Special Training, Experience and Operating Requirements |
Due March-June 2020 has 3-month grace period to complete training and flight review | Added pilots due July-September 2020 | Added pilots due Oct 2020-Jan 2021, but only 2 total grace months to complete the training and flight review |
| 107.65 Remote Pilot Aeronautical Knowledge Recency |
Due March-June 2020; privileges are renewed for 6 months following completion of online training | Added remote pilots whose privileges are due to expire July-September 2020 | No further relief |
| Part 125 Flight Crewmember Requirements |
Due March-June 2020 has 3-month grace period to complete training, recency and checking | Added crewmembers due July-September 2020 | Added crewmembers due Oct 2020-Jan 2021, but only 2 total grace months to complete training, recency and checking |
| SFAR 73 Robinson R-22/R-44 Special Training and Experience Requirements |
Due March-June 2020 has 3-month grace period to complete flight review | Added pilots due July-September 2020 | Added pilots due Oct 2020-Jan 2021, but only 2 total grace months to complete a flight review |
| 61.23 Pilot Medical Certificate Duration (All Pilots) |
Validity of March-May 2020 medicals extended to June 30, 2020 | Extends medical validity period by 3 calendar months from expiration. Applies to medicals expiring March-September 2020. | Extend medical validity period by 2 calendar months from expiration for pilots whose medicals expire Oct 2020-Jan 2021 |
| 61.23 Pilot Medical Certificate Duration (Alaska Pilots) |
Nothing Alaska-specific – covered under 61.23 (All Pilots) | Nothing Alaska-specific – covered under 61.23 (All Pilots) | Extend medical validity period by 3 calendar months from expiration for pilots that reside in or serve as a pilot of an aircraft in Alaska whose medicals expire Oct 2020-Jan 2021 |
| 61.39 Pilot Knowledge Test Validity Period |
Test results expiring March-June 2020 extended 3 calendar months | Knowledge tests expiring in July-September 2020 added | Knowledge tests expiring Oct 2020-Jan 2021 extended 2 calendar months |
| 61.197 Flight Instructor Renewal |
Certificate expiration March-May 2020 have until June 30, 2020, to renew | No further relief | No further relief |
| SFAR 100-2 Relief for U.S. Military and Civilian Personnel Who are Assigned Outside the U.S. in Support of U.S. Armed Forces Operations |
Eligible persons that returned from overseas October 2019-March 2020 received an extension of 3 calendar months | No further relief | No further relief |
| 63.3 Flight Engineer Medical Certificate Duration (All Flight Engineers) |
Validity of March-May 2020 medicals extended to June 30, 2020 | Extend medical validity period by 3 calendar months from expiration applies to medicals expiring March-September 2020 | Extend medical validity period by 2 calendar months from expiration for flight engineers whose medicals expire Oct 2020-Jan 2021 |
| 63.3 Flight Engineer Medical Certificate Duration (Alaska Flight Engineers) |
Nothing Alaska-specific – covered under 63.3 (All Flight Engineers) | Nothing Alaska-specific – covered under 63.3 (All Flight Engineers) | Extend medical validity period by 3 calendar months from expiration for flight engineers who reside in or serve as a flight engineer of an aircraft in Alaska whose medicals expire Oct 2020-Jan 2021 |
| 63.35 Flight Engineer Written Test Validity Period |
Test results expiring March-June 2020 extended 3 calendar months | Written tests expiring in July-September 2020 added | Written tests expiring in Oct 2020-Jan 2021 extended 2 calendar months |
| 65.55 Dispatcher Knowledge Test Validity Period |
Test results expiring March-June 2020 extended 3 calendar months | Knowledge tests expiring in July-September 2020 added | Knowledge tests expiring in Oct 2020-Jan 2021 extended 2 calendar months |
| 65.71 Mechanic Applicant Testing Period |
Testing period expires March-June 2020 extended 3 months | Testing period expiring in July-September 2020 added | Testing period expiring in Oct 2020-Jan 2021 extended 2 calendar months |
| 65.93 Mechanic with Inspection Authorization Renewal |
3 additional months (April-June 2020) to meet year one renewal requirements | No further relief | No further relief |
| 65.117 Military Riggers |
Eligible military parachute riggers who were released March-June 2019 have 3 additional months to make application | No further relief | No further relief |
| 141.5 Pilot School Certificate Requirements |
Provisional certificate expires April-June 2020 extended to Dec. 31, 2020, to apply for a pilot school certificate | No further relief | No further relief |
| 141.27 Pilot School Certificate Renewal Requirements |
Certificate expires April-June 2020 extended to Dec. 31, 2020, to renew | No further relief | No further relief |
| 21.197 Special Flight Permit – Move Aircraft to Storage |
April 30-Dec. 31, 2020 | No further relief | Extend relief period to March 31, 2021 |
The FAA has also compiled a list of frequently asked questions and answers regarding SFAR 118 and SFAR 118.1, which outlines on a section-by-section basis how eligibly is determined and how operators comply with relief.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.