This past week, a letter was sent to FAA Administrator Michael G. Whitaker signed by six members of the U.S. Congress. The letter specifically addresses the concern that the FAA "has not shown the urgency required to support the pilot training industry," specifically with respect to addressing Section 833(d)(2)(F) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 that requires the FAA to determine how many DPEs are available to perform pilot certification tests and identify ways to effectively reduce test wait times for pilot examinations.

According to Robert Rockmaker, FSANA President & CEO, "The flight training organizations of America perform an outstanding job to create new quality airman however the ability to get them across the finish line has been greatly impeded by the lack of timely airman practical tests". Rockmaker stated that, "FSANA appreciates the Congressional support on the airman practical testing challenges that continue to haunt the Ab Initio flight training industry".

Given the critical state of FAA’s pilot certification system, the FAA is asked specifically to provide responses to the following questions by October 25, 2024:

• How is the FAA addressing the requirements set forth in Section 833 to better utilize and coordinate its DPEs?
• How are you ensuring the FAA is fully utilizing its current roster of DPEs?
• What steps are you taking to reduce the extended wait times for pilot certification exams?

This letter gives the FAA 30 days to provide details on how it plans to enforce the provisions within FSANA's FAA amendment.

While airman practical test applications have doubled, the number of active DPEs has remained flat over the last decade. This leads to extended wait times of anywhere from four to eight weeks or more for practical tests, significantly delaying the entry of new pilots into the workforce and increasing costs for aspiring pilots.

The letter indicates that:

"While the FAA currently authorizes 935 DPEs to administer tests, 75% of tests are administered by only 350 examiners, with 50% of tests administered by roughly only 200 DPEs.1 This gross lack of active examiners is exacerbating an already significant pilot and examiner shortage that threatens the stability of our national air service network, particularly for regional airlines and the communities they serve."

FSANA was directly engaged with the development of this letter and recognizes that flight training providers are having difficulty keeping training progressing due to the backlog of availability of practical tests. We will continue to work this this issue on behalf of the flight training industry and provide follow-up information as it develops.

Click here to see the full letter.

FSANA hosted the trade association's first annual Flight Training Advocacy Day in Washington, DC, on September 17 and 18, 2024.

FSANA members from across the U.S. came together to discuss issues that face the Ab Initio flight training industry. The event opened with an evening reception at the Capitol Hill Club followed by a legislative breakfast the next morning. It was then out to the Hill for a full day of one-on-one conversations with members of Congress and their staff.

The focus for the event was airman practical testing which includes the major testing backlogs that flight students are encountering across the U.S. According to Robert Rockmaker, FSANA President & CEO, making new flight students wait for 4-12 weeks to get their FAA checkride leads to higher costs for flight students since they require additional flight time to remain current and be prepared for the practical flight tests.

Registration for the 3rd Annual DPE Symposium is now open. Taking place October 23 and 24, 2024, at the Rosen Plaza Hotel, FSANA will again host the conference for DPEs in Orlando, Florida, which is a hotbed of training and home to a large number of DPEs.

If you are a current DPE, working to become a DPE, or want to learn about the DPE segment of the GA industry. this event is for you. The Symposium provides a unique opportunity to share information in person between DPEs from around the country which does not happen anywhere else.

"Our goal is to bring together current and future DPEs, the FAA and others to allow them to discuss concerns, common issues in the field, and best practices as a group," said FSANA President & CEO Robert Rockmaker. He continued, "The first two DPE Symposiums benefited all attendees and learners and provided for quality exchange of information and process regarding all aspects of airman practical testing".

Topics include:

• Airman Practical Testing Programs Update
• Managing Applicant Scheduling and Practical Test Demand
• Coordinating and Delivering Quality Customer Service for Practical Tests
• Standardization Discrepancies in the Practical Testing Landscape
• Staying clear of suspension and termination
• Plan of Action Development
• and much more

FSANA is pleased to be hosting its 2025 Conference & Trade Show at Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel. Plan to join your peers, friends, and exhibitors at the next Flight School Operators Conference & Trade Show.

Come learn, network, and meet government officials, supply chain partners, and others who interface with your industry. Over 20 professional sessions to choose from. Don’t miss out on the most important days of the year for your business.

Looking forward to its 16th year, this is the annual event that has been having a huge effect on businesses like yours. The FSANA conference experience is about learning how to:

• Increase profits
• Engage in growth strategies and new business opportunities
• Adapt to the latest trends and technology
• Manage costs and be more efficient

Registration will be opening in October and includes:

• Entry to professional sessions and workshops
• Admission to exhibition hall with over 50 exhibitors
• 2 receptions
• 1 dinner
• 2 luncheons
• Coffee breaks with exhibitors

This is the industry's only annual conference and trade show focused on the business of flight training.

Attendee registration will open on October 11, 2024.

Click here for hotel information and reservations.

Exhibitor and Sponsor Information

To become an Exhibitor, Sponsor of the 2025 conference and/or annual "Partner", FSANA has packages available. Exhibit space will most likely sell-out in 2025. Contact FSANA soon to secure your spot. info@fsana.com or 610-791-4359. All annual "Partners" are required to submit exhibitor registrations for 2025.

You can learn more about sponsor and exhibitor information by clicking here.

A Proposed Rule by the Federal Aviation Administration on 09/19/2024 was issued that expands the aircraft that may be affected by the Airworthiness Directive related to wing spar separation.

Many of these aircraft are used in pilot training efforts around the country. 

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) to expand it for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-160, PA-28-180, PA-28S-160, PA-28S-180, PA-28-236, PA-28-201T, PA-32-300, PA-32R-300, PA-32RT-300, PA-32RT-300T, PA-32-301FT, PA-32-301XTC, PA-32R-301 (HP), PA-32R-301 (SP), PA-32R-301T, PA-32-301, and PA-32-301T airplanes.

This proposed AD would require reviewing airplane maintenance records to determine if an eddy current inspection of the lower main wing spar bolt holes was done and, depending on the result, doing a one-time eddy current inspection of the lower wing spar bolt holes for crack(s), and replacing any cracked main wing spar. 

You can learn more about this AD, and offer comments, at:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/09/19/2024-21209/airworthiness-directives-piper-aircraft-inc-airplanes

This past week the Regional Airline Association (RAA) issued its yearly annual report. Focused on how the airline industry is doing with relation to regional airline perspectives, it starts with a note from RAA's CEO that highlights that :

"65% of U.S. airports will have less air service in October of 2024 than they had in 2019, with 30% of U.S. airports losing more than one in four of their commercial flights and 12% losing more than half of their flights."

While on its face, it looks like the airline industry is decreasing in size, the contextualization of these statistics is important. The airline industry is going through changes and they are affecting the regional airlines. Saying there are fewer flights, doesn't mean there are fewer total enplanements in our national airspace system. Some locations are using bigger aircraft at destinations, often with "major" airlines, and reducing the utilization of their regional airline partners in some instances. This report is not ecumenical in its considerations of priority for the industry, it is focused on the industry concerns related to the regional airline business model. She goes on to note:

"Major airlines managed pilot scarcity by substituting narrowbody aircraft on routes historically operated by regional jets, carrying more passengers at once..."

We are experiencing significant restructuring of our aviation transportation industry currently and the training industry feeds directly into this process.

Commonly a first professional passenger carriage job for instructors who have been employed by flight training operations, RAA carriers are an important part of the pilot pipeline. The report highlights an expected continued demand for pilot hiring at these carriers, even still calling it a "pilot shortage."

Regional airlines are a large part of the U.S. airline service with the report highlighting some of the key points:

• 426 U.S. airports have only regional airline service
• 94% of the nation's airports have regional airline service
• 31% of scheduled passenger departures were operated by U.S. regional airlines

The report also highlights the fact that FAA Airmen data shows that "nearly held of today's Part 121 qualified pilot workforce federally-mandated Age 65 retirement within fifteen years" as an additional indicator of a continued need for pilot training and recruitment over the upcoming decades

The report identifies many such points that are worth reviewing and contextualizing for the flight training community as it works to produce pilots to feed professional career pilot job demand.

You can view the annual report here:

https://www.raa.org/publications/raa-2024-annual-report/

Each year AOPA opens its Flight Training Excellence (FTE) Awards for nominations. Nominations are due by October 31!

The AOPA Flight Training Experience Awards celebrate the flight schools and instructors who go the extra mile to inspire, motivate, and lead their students to success. This is your chance to stand out!

Why should you apply?

By participating, you’ll unlock opportunities to:

• Shine as the best in your region—and the nation! Get industry-wide recognition that sets you apart.
• Gain valuable feedback from students and professionals who know your strengths—and how you can get even better.
• Boost your visibility! Attract more students and elevate your reputation within the aviation community.

How it works:

• Start your application by filling out our online form.Applications close October 31.
• Request reviews from your students, instructors, clients, and designated pilot examiners who’ve worked with you over the past 12 months

Award Categories:

• Regional: Best Flight School, Best Instructor, Distinguished Flight Schools, and Distinguished Instructors.
• National: Best Flight School and Best Instructor.

Whether you’re a standout flight school or a dedicated instructor, this is your opportunity to showcase what sets you apart! Don’t miss out—apply today!

Click here to learn more about and for nominations.

For flight training providers engaged with providing training for foreign nationals, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has made some upgrades to its system that may be helpful.

On Sept. 23, 2024, the SEVP Response Center (SRC) launched a new telephone system for both domestic and international callers.

The updated system provides stakeholders with a new interactive voice response (IVR) menu that allows callers to choose from the following options:

• Principal or designated school officials,
• Responsible officers or alternate responsible officers,
• F-1 or M-1 students,
• J-1 exchange visitors,
• SEVP field representatives or government officials, or
• All others.

The new IVR recognizes specific number options on the keypad and routes callers to an SRC customer service representative according to their IVR menu choice.