NAFI Seeks FAA Relief on Certification Expirations

Due to member concerns, NAFI reached out on Monday to the FAA seeking relief for flight instructors whose certificates were to expire yesterday. In letters to the director of FAA Flight Standards office and the manager of the Airmen Training and Certification Branch, NAFI Board Chairman Bob Meder requested the same type of temporary regulatory relief for flight instructor certificates that would expire on March 31 as was recently given for medical certificates and Part 135 qualifications.

“Because of social distancing and quarantine issues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, instructors whose certificates expire in March might have had in-person FIRC’s cancelled, been unable to visit a FSDO in person to renew based on activity, or may have had issues with an on-line FIRC provider not being able to process their paperwork in a timely fashion due to reduced staffing,” Meder wrote Monday to Rick Domingo, Executive Director, FAA Flight Standards Service, and copied Shawn Hayes, Manager, Airmen Training and Certification Branch (AFS-810).

“In these extraordinary times during the worldwide COVID-19 crisis, many of us are rushing to both meet the emergency and to ensure that we can accomplish as much of our normal routine as possible. I am sure, given how critical aviation is to relief efforts at this time, that your office has been inundated with requests, such as the recent 90-day extension of (some) FAA medical certificates. I am not sure of the number of flight instructors who may be affected, but this does have a direct impact on their livelihood and careers. Any consideration for temporary regulatory relief would be greatly appreciated,” the letter stated.

NAFI received a rapid response yesterday when Hayes telephoned Meder, and said the FAA is well aware of this and many other issues affecting general aviation and is working diligently to determine what relief is appropriate based on risk. “Hayes has told me that the FAA will reach out to NAFI and the other aviation organizations once they have a solution so that everyone can be made aware of it,” Meder added. “NAFI will keep members appraised of the situation as we get more information and guidance from the FAA."