FAA Extends Comment Period on National Flight Training Alliance (NFTA) Part 141 Modernisation Report to 11 May, 2026 Amid Industry Review Requests

USA – The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended the public comment period on an industry report outlining recommendations to modernise FAR Part 141 pilot training regulations, moving the deadline to 11 May from the original closing date of 10 April, following requests from industry groups for additional time to review the 471-page document.

• The report was developed by the National Flight Training Alliance (NFTA), drawing on approximately one year of industry meetings and discussions, and presents a package of recommendations aimed at reducing administrative burden on flight schools, centralising FAA oversight, and expanding the use of training technology.
• Key recommendations in the NFTA report include the creation of a centralised FAA office for school certification, updates to oversight and documentation processes, increased use of flight simulation technology, revision of course appendices, and replacement of the provisional pilot school designation with a new registered pilot school designation.
• The FAA announced in February 2026 that it would hold public meetings in March to gather input on Part 141 modernisation as part of a broader rulemaking effort; comments received on the NFTA report will inform internal deliberations and the development of a future rulemaking proposal.
• The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) welcomed the extended review period, stating the original ten-day window was insufficient for stakeholders to fully evaluate the scope of the initiative.

Statements

• "The recommendations contained in this report are not incremental adjustments to an aging system. They represent a deliberate, comprehensive reimagining of how the United States trains its pilots, one that positions this nation to reclaim and strengthen its role as the global leader in aviation training excellence," National Flight Training Alliance, executive summary.
• "While there is good work that has been done in this report with input from industry representatives and participants, there are also a number of potential concerns, issues, workarounds, carve-outs for special interests, and attempts to turn our pilot training process away from external validation," Flight School Association International, member communication.

Source: FAA