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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 247 (Thursday, December 26, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 104904-104905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30250]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 141

[Docket No.: FAA-2024-2531]

Notice of Public Meeting, and Request for Comment on the 
Modernization of Pilot Schools.

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting for proposed rulemaking; request for 
comment.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces a public 
meeting to solicit input on the modernization of pilot school 
regulations. This will be the first in a series of public meetings on 
this topic.

DATES: The FAA will hold the first public meeting (virtual only) on 
Thursday, March 6, 2025, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
    Written comments are requested no later than March 21, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Members of the public must register to attend the virtual 
public meeting. See website for registration link: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afx/afs/afs800/afs810/modernization_of_part-141_initiative.
    Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2024-2531 using any 
of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and 
follow the online instructions for sending your comments 
electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room 
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket 
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its 
process. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal 
information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as 
described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can 
be reviewed at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2008-01-17/pdf/E8-785.pdf.
    Docket: Comments received may be read at www.regulations.gov at any 
time. Follow the online instructions for accessing the docket or go to 
the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor 
at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning this action, 
contact Lyndsay Carlson with the Part 141 Modernization Initiative 
Team, Office of Safety Standards, General Aviation and Commercial 
Division, Training and Certification Group (AFS-810): email [email protected]. Phone: 202-267-1100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) part 141 prescribes the requirements for issuing pilot school air 
agency certificates, provisional pilot school air agency certificates, 
associated ratings, and the general operating rules applicable to a 
holder of a part 141 pilot school or provisional pilot school air 
agency certificate. Through a part 141 pilot school or provisional 
pilot school, a student may obtain equivalent levels of aeronautical 
experience in fewer hours than required by 14 CFR part 61. Part 141 
schools are required to have FAA certification, and FAA oversight. 
Specifically, part 141 includes curricula standards for training and 
procedures to ensure a training course used by a school is adequate, 
appropriate, and is administered by qualified personnel including an 
experienced chief instructor who supervises instructors.
    The process of licensing or certification of pilot schools in the 
United States is approaching 100 years of existence. Although the FAA 
has revised certain regulatory requirements pertaining to pilot schools 
during this time, part 141 still has many foundational ties to Civil 
Air Regulations (CAR) part 50, which was implemented in the 1940s. 
Regulations for pilot schools are typically promulgated to improve 
safety, reduce aircraft accidents, and embrace changes such as advances 
in technology and the need for data collection and analysis. 
Modernizing part 141 would address challenges pertaining to 
certification, certification management, examining

[[Page 104905]]

authority, and evolving technology and learning methods. 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.
    Therefore, part 141 must be analyzed to determine how it can evolve 
with the changing aviation industry. Over the course of the project, 
the FAA is seeking engagement from the flight training industry through 
participation in public meetings and submitted comments. Collaboration 
within the industry is encouraged to stimulate the innovation of a 
modern part 141 that will serve the needs of current and future pilot 
schools, as well as provide a robust and safe training environment that 
instills the necessary knowledge, skills, critical thinking, and 
aeronautical decision making in its pilots to create a safer national 
airspace system.
    For more information about the Part 141 Modernization Initiative, 
visit https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afx/afs/afs800/afs810/modernization_of_part-141_initiative.

Public Meeting

    The FAA will provide the project goals, overview, and plans to 
address the modernization of part 141 initiative at the introductory 
virtual public meeting on March 6, 2025. Throughout the project period, 
the FAA intends to have additional public meetings, which the FAA will 
announce in the Federal Register.
    The U.S. Department of Transportation is committed to providing 
equal access to this meeting for all participants. If you require an 
alternative version of files provided or alternative accommodations, 
such as sign language, interpretation, or other ancillary aids, please 
contact the Part 141 Modernization Initiative Team, at [email protected] by February 20, 2025.

Comments Encouraged

    The FAA encourages the public to submit comments to 
www.regulations.gov, Docket No. FAA-2024-2531. Comments that the FAA 
would find helpful include validated data and reports, unique 
discussion topics or scenarios, and/or feedback specific to modernizing 
part 141. The public is encouraged to provide feedback regarding 
innovative ideas; methods; solutions; products; and/or services that 
have, or could have, a significant impact on pilot school training. We 
encourage you to submit comments electronically through the Federal E-
Rulemaking Portal. If you submit your comments electronically, it is 
not necessary to also submit a hard copy.
    The submission of public comments is encouraged but not required 
for meeting participation. The FAA will consider public feedback to 
determine the need for future considerations to the CFR; however, 
because such comments would be submitted outside of a notice-and-
comment rulemaking, there is no requirement for the FAA to respond to 
submitted comments. The FAA will review comments that are post-marked, 
or submitted electronically, on or before the comment closing date of 
March 21, 2025. Comments made after the closing date may be reviewed as 
time and resources permit.
    Additional information and resources, including future schedule 
details, will be provided on the project website as they become 
available. Specific questions regarding the project can be emailed to 
[email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 13, 2024.
Everette C. Rochon, Jr.,
Manager, Training and Certification Group, General Aviation and 
Commercial Division, Office of Safety Standards, Flight Standards 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-30250 Filed 12-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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