June 24, 2020
The FAA’s recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) calling for sweeping new changes to pilot-data reporting requirements has alarmed the business aviation community, and in response to NBAA’s Regulatory Alert, local and regional business aviation groups are reaching out to their members with a call to immediate action.
The proposal will require certain Part 91 operators and others to submit a raft of additional pilot data to the agency, through the use of an electronic database. The FAA published the NPRM on March 30, 2020 – if adopted, it would have a substantial impact on a large portion of the business aviation community, much of which already complies with certain reporting requirements.
The comment period closes June 29, 2020, so action is needed quickly.
“Despite the sweeping nature of the proposal and the challenges presented to the aviation industry by COVID-19, the FAA has chosen to move forward with changes to pilot data reporting regulations,” noted the Delaware Valley Business Aviation Association (DVBAA) in a communication to its members. “The proposal extends provisions in the Pilot Records Improvement Act to Part 91 operators – administrative mandates that have until now only impacted commercial airlines. DVBAA and many other industry organizations are concerned that this broadening of government regulation will add a significant and unnecessary burden to many owner-operators and flight departments.”
The Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association (GSLBAA) emailed more than 800 of its contacts about its concerns with the FAA proposal. “GSLBAA is proud to support NBAA in their efforts to promote business aviation and with advocacy issues,” said group president Timothy Long. “We encourage our members to support NBAA because doing so benefits not only our members but the business aviation community overall.”
GSLBAA also shared NBAA’s alert about the NPRM on its website and social media platforms.
Members of the Minnesota Business Aviation Association (MBAA) contacted the association about the proposal back in March. “Members have expressed their concern that the proposed rule as currently written will impact operators in a negative way,” said Tim Cossalter, MBAA executive director. “We continue to encourage members as well as our aviation community through social media to provide comments to the FAA. We will continue to do so.”
Steve Hadley, NBAA regional programs director and Southwest Central regional representative, noted that even during this time of COVID-19 challenges, “local and regional groups remain very engaged in advocating for the business aviation industry, and their network of business aviation partners is stronger than ever.”
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.