CONGRESS EASES MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PILOTS OF SMALL AIRCRAFT

A watershed moment for pilots of light aircraft occurred on July 15, 2016, when the President signed into law a major easing of medical certification requirements for light-aircraft pilots. This change was part of a periodic FAA Extension Act, and has major implications for pilots of small aircraft, who are relieved of some burdensome obligations of medical license compliance. The law instructs the FAA to issue regulations within 180 days implementing the new rules, and does not have practical effect until these regulations are finalized.

FAA ISSUES NEW AIRCRAFT LEASING GUIDANCE

In February 2016, the FAA, for the first time in nearly forty years, replaced its Advisory Circular on aircraft leasing. (AC91-37B (February 10, 2016), superseding and replacing AC91-37A (January 16, 1978).) The new guidance expresses the FAA’s continuing concern over arrangements where operational control is retained by the aircraft lessor, and that thus constitute de facto uncertificated air charter. Also included are some noteworthy additions, such as (a) a statement that the operational control concerns apply to aircraft of all sizes (even though the specific subject of the Advisory Circular relates only to large aircraft,

FAA RULES ON RVSM OPERATIONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR MULTI-OPERATOR AIRCRAFT

On January 24, 2014, the FAA issued a new National Policy on operations in Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (“RVSM”) airspace. (FAA Notice N8900.250 and Revised FAA Order 8900.1.) One significant topic addressed is that, for aircraft with multiple operators (e.g., multiple lessees of a single aircraft), each one operating in RVSM airspace must possess its own, distinct letter of authorization (“LOA”) issued by the FAA for such operations. The policy further provides for an expedited process to obtain additional LOAs after a single LOA has been issued,

FAA ISSUES NEW RULE – N-NUMBER REGISTRATION

The Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) has issued the Final Rule regarding the Re-registration and Renewal of Aircraft Registration, (“Final Rule”). The Final Rule becomes effective on October 1, 2010. The Final Rule requires all current U.S. registered aircraft to re-register and receive a new certificate of registration that will include an expiration date and only be valid for a period of three years.

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