Part 141 Modernization Special Meeting | |
FSAI is conducting a special FAR Part 141 meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 10AM CDT. The meeting is expected to last 2-3 hours. Everyone that has an interest in the future of "Primary" Ab Initio flight training should plan to attend this Zoom meeting.
The Part 141 regulations will be discussed for the purpose of developing an industry wide focused report for the FAA. The report will be shared with the various governmental bodies that have made this request. We estimate that the report will be between 25-50 pages.
This meeting has come about after discussions with the FAA, Congress and other governmental bodies regarding the 471 page report that was submitted by the NFTA. Please be prepared to share up to ten (10) items that you like and/or feel require change within the 141 regulation and 10 things you would like to see removed from the proposal.
If you would like to participate in the meeting, please send an email to info@fsai.org by 5PM ET Monday, June 15, 2026. Please place the following in the subject line requesting to participate: FSAI Part 141 Meeting June 17, 2026.
Please include your name, business affiliation, email address and phone number.
Your name will be added to the attendee list. FSAI will send a link for the meeting to all who have signed-up on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
This is a wonderful opportunity to help guide the future of FAR Part 141 while also maintaining a quality FAR Part 61 regulation.
| | United States Department of Education Rejects Graduate Status for FAA Pilot Training Programs | |
The United States Department of Education (USDOE) has recently issued a final ruling in which it firmly declined to reclassify FAA-certificated Part 141 flight education and training programs as graduate or professional programs eligible for higher federal student loan limits.
The decision appears in the final regulations implementing the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, published in the Federal Register on May 1, 2026. These rules revise definitions of “graduate student” and “professional student,” cap Direct Loan borrowing, and phase out Grad PLUS loans beginning July 1, 2026.
Aviation related Special Interest Groups (SIG) which did not include FSAI had urged the USDOE to grant special treatment. They described their programs as uniquely intensive, combining academic coursework with mandatory skills-based flight training under strict FAA oversight. Flight training costs frequently add $80,000 to $100,000 beyond standard tuition, reflecting federally mandated flight hours, certificated flight instructor training, simulator experience, and testing costs.
Commenters argued these programs function “like graduate education in substance,” even though they are deliberately structured at the undergraduate or non-graduate level to avoid credential inflation, extra coursework, and increased time and expense for students. They warned that denying higher borrowing limits would harm the pilot pipeline, worsen pilot shortages, and disproportionately burden low- and middle-income students pursuing a safety-critical, licensed profession.
In its formal response, the USDOE acknowledged the specialized nature of Part 141 programs and the significant non-discretionary costs involved. However, it concluded that pilot training does not meet the statutory criteria for graduate status.
“Pilot training programs generally do not require the completion of or training beyond what is normally provided for in a baccalaureate degree,” the USDOE stated. Individuals can become fully credentialed pilots without first earning a bachelor’s degree.
Moreover, a graduate program is defined as one that requires a bachelor’s degree as a prerequisite and awards a graduate credential (other than a professional degree). Because Part 141 programs are awarded at the baccalaureate level or lower, they fail both prongs of the test.
The Department emphasized that it lacks authority to expand the definition beyond clear statutory limits. Noting that, because pilot training programs are awarded at the baccalaureate level and no higher, the Department cannot include these programs in the definition of graduate student due to statutory constraints.” No changes were made to the regulations in response to the comments.
The finding underscores the Department’s broader approach in the final rule: strict adherence to congressional definitions of graduate and professional education when setting loan limits. While special interests within the aviation community sought interpretive flexibility to support workforce needs, the USDOE prioritized fidelity to the law over industry-specific economic or pipeline arguments. The decision leaves Part 141 students subject to standard undergraduate or non-professional graduate borrowing caps, potentially requiring some reliance on private loans, scholarships, or institutional aid to cover the high front-loaded costs of flight training.
You can read the full DOE final rule by clicking here.
| | 4th Annual DPE Symposium Rescheduled for September 24th and 25th, 2026 in Dallas, TX | |
After having to regroup last November due to the government shutdown and postpone the DPE symposium, FSAI is able to announce new dates for the next event..
The 2026 DPE symposium has been rescheduled for September 24th and 25th, 2026 in Dallas, texas.
The Symposium brings together DPEs, future DPEs, flight school operators, chief flight instructors and anyone serious about becoming a DPE.
The goal of the symposium continues to be an effort to bring DPEs together to help enhance standardization and help individuals who are interested in becoming DPEs learn more about the process and potential, and bring FAA staff together with attendees to share information about FAA efforts, DPE practices, and currency.
The goal is to make each yearly event, an in-person opportunity to share information and to allow DPE attendees to better communicate and standardize practical testing throughout our training system.
More information will be coming in upcoming newsletters and communications, but for now, hold those dates if you had previously planned to attend the symposium that needed to be rescheduled or now have an open schedule and can attend and were not previously able to for past symposiums.
Room Reservations
The DPE Symposium will be at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott. The newly renovated hotel at DFW airport is just a short drive from premier shopping, dining, and entertainment at Grapevine Mills Mall, Southlake Town Square, and Downtown Dallas. Located next door to DFW International Airport, the hotel provides complimentary shuttle service to and from the transportation hub.
Event registration and room reservations information will be available soon.
| | Jessica Cox Inducted into Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame | |
Rightfooted Foundation International (RFI), in collaboration with Pima Air & Space Museum, is proud to announce that Jessica Cox was inducted into the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame on Friday, May 15, 2026, during an evening ceremony at Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson.
Cox, an Arizona-based advocate and aviator, is widely recognized as the first licensed armless airplane pilot. Her induction recognizes not only a historic aviation achievement but also her continuing influence on the future of flight through advocacy, public engagement, and disability-led innovation. Through her work with RFI, Cox has helped broaden public understanding of disability in aviation and has created new points of possibility for children, families, and aspiring pilots.
“Saying I’m proud of her can’t fully encompass what I feel,” said Patrick Chamberlain, Jessica Cox’s husband and Inclusive Engineering Director for RFI. “Jessica’s induction into the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame recognizes both what she has accomplished and what she continues to do. She has helped shed light on the many pilots with disabilities in aviation and shown the world that disability does not mean inability.”
The Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame, located at Pima Air & Space Museum, was established in 1985 by a joint proclamation of the Governor of Arizona, the Pima County Board of Supervisors, and the City of Tucson. The Hall of Fame serves as a permanent tribute to Arizonans who have played a role in, or made significant contributions to, aviation and aerospace history. It is housed in the museum’s Dorothy Finley Aerospace Gallery and is operated as part of the Arizona Aerospace Foundation.
Bob Rockmaker, FSAI President & CEO noted "that FSAI is proud of Jessica and her incredible determination to bring focus to all parts of the world of human disability. FSAI is blessed to have Jessica as our International Ambassador".
This year’s induction class reflects the depth and range of Arizona’s aviation legacy. Alongside Cox, the Hall of Fame will honor Frank Schiel Jr., a Phoenix-born and Prescott-raised Flying Tigers aviator credited with seven Japanese aircraft destroyed during World War II, and James K. Johnson, a Phoenix-born U.S. Air Force colonel and Korean War double ace credited with ten aerial victories in Korea.
For RFI, Cox’s induction is especially meaningful because it places her in the broader story of Arizona aviation while underscoring the continued relevance of her work today. As a pilot, speaker, and leader, Cox has helped challenge outdated assumptions about disability and expand the conversation about who belongs in aviation. RFI’s work builds on that same principle by advancing independence, mentorship, education, advocacy, and innovation for people without arms.
Learn more about this induction by clicking here.
| | DPE Lawsuit Against FAA Amended | |
FSAI's President, Bob Rockmaker spent some time this past week speaking with the attorney representing a class of FAA Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) who have filed suit against the FAA for a variety of claims relating to DPE oversight, management, and termination. FSAI is interested in the content of this suit and how it may affect the future of DPE operations in the United States, and how those DPEs are able to provide services to flight training providers.
This class action lawsuit, filed May 11, 2026, by former Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) Robbie Lasky and Joseph Puglia, and former Designated Engineering Representative (DER) Jonathan Matlach, challenges the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Administrator Bryan Bedford for systematically terminating Designees (DPEs, DERs, and Designated Medical Examiners) without adequate procedural due process. Brought under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. §§ 701–706, and the Fifth Amendment, the complaint seeks class-wide injunctive relief, declaratory judgment, and damages for affected current and former designees.
The plaintiffs allege that the FAA has unlawfully stripped Designees—who perform critical certification functions but are not FAA employees—of property and liberty interests in their designations. Terminations labeled “for cause” (often based on anonymous complaints or unverified allegations) create reputational stigma, barr reappointment, and limit future aviation employment. The suite claims that this has occurred despite Designees’ significant investments in training, compliance, and operations, which plaintiffs argue created protected property interests.
The core legal challenges in the suit revolve around the following:
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1954 Regulatory Changes: The complaint attacks 14 CFR § 406/418 amendments (effective without notice and comment) for granting the Administrator unfettered discretion to terminate designations “for any reason deemed appropriate,” allegedly violating APA procedural requirements.
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2021 Amendments to 14 CFR § 13.20: Plaintiffs claim the FAA exceeded its authority and acted arbitrarily by narrowing the scope of orders entitled to administrative hearings and judicial review under 49 U.S.C. § 46110. This change, combined with revisions to FAA Order 8000.95D, replaced prior appeal rights with a limited “opportunity to respond,” effectively eliminating meaningful due process and administrative records for judicial review.
The suit traces the history of the Designee program from the 1938 Civil Aeronautics Act through subsequent statutes, emphasizing Congress’s original intent for regulations, supervision, and review mechanisms. It argues the FAA’s evolving internal policies contradict decades of practice and statutory due process expectations. Common class questions include whether these regulatory shifts violated the APA and Fifth Amendment, and whether “for cause” terminations without fair process are invalid.
The suit was recently amended, and according to Jack Webb, the attorney filing the suit, process is underway to have the suit moved from original U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida (Jacksonville Division) to the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC.
FSAI continues to follow this suit carefully, especially as the industry feels the pressure of demand for DPEs. It is important in FSAIs view that DPEs have proper recourse if there re complaints filed against them wrongfully, and that at the same time the FAA have an established and transparent process that is uniform when it needs to deal with DPEs if they are acting in a manner that is not in compliance with established guidance and standards.
FSAI will continue to provide updates on the developments related to this suit.
To see the full copy of the recently amended suit, click here.
| | FAA Issues Guidance on Sport Pilot CFI Privileges: EAA Seeks Clarification | |
The FAA released InFO 26006 on April 10, 2026, clarifying the scope of training, checking, and endorsements by flight instructors holding a sport pilot rating under 14 CFR Part 61 Subpart K.
Following the 2025 MOSAIC rule, which expanded sport pilot aircraft privileges, the InFO emphasizes that Subpart K instructors (and Subpart H instructors exercising sport pilot privileges) may only provide training and endorsements limited to sport pilot privileges under Subpart J. This includes flight reviews (§61.56) and endorsements for tailwheel, high-performance, or complex aircraft (§61.31).
The guidance states that such endorsements should include specific language: “...and is limited to sport pilot privileges and limitations (Subpart J).” A higher-rated pilot (e.g., private pilot) receiving training or a flight review from a sport CFI would be restricted to sport pilot operations until obtaining the required training/endorsement from a Subpart H instructor with appropriate category/class ratings.
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has formally requested further clarification from the FAA. EAA notes that this interpretation appears to depart from 20 years of prior guidance and industry practice since the original 2004 Sport Pilot Rule. They argue that flight reviews and §61.31 endorsements are not certificate-level specific and should not automatically restrict higher-rated pilots.
Instructors and pilots should carefully review InFO 26006 and monitor EAA-FAA discussions. Using the FAA’s sample endorsement language is recommended until further clarification is issued to avoid compliance issues. This topic will likely be incorporated into future updates of AC 61-65 and AC 61-146.
At this point, FSAI encourages flight training providers to treat sport pilot-only CFIs (those holding privileges under Part 61 Subpart K) as authorized exclusively to provide training, checking, and endorsements applicable to sport pilot privileges under Subpart J. Providers should ensure these instructors are not assigned to deliver training intended for higher certificate levels to prevent unintended restrictions on pilot privileges.
| | Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces $26 Million Investment to Strengthen Aviation Workforce | | |
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced on May 18, 2026, that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will invest $26 million to develop the next generation of aviation professionals. The funding aims to address growing demand in the industry by supporting pilots, maintenance technicians, and drone operators.
The initiative will fund aviation training programs, apprenticeships, internships, student outreach, and advanced simulator-based training. “More Americans are flying today than ever before,” Duffy stated, emphasizing the need to maintain the world’s safest airspace through a well-equipped workforce.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford highlighted that the grants will build a strong talent pipeline for the aerospace industry. Eligible applicants include schools, aviation organizations, nonprofits, air carriers, labor groups, and state, local, tribal, and territorial governments. Applications are due by June 18, 2026.
Learn more about this by clicking here.
| | FAA Safety Briefing Transitioning to Quarterly Schedule | |
The FAA Safety Briefing magazine has long been a fantastic source of information from the FAA about safety and FAA policy to the non-commercial general aviation sector of aviation. It will be transitioning to a quarterly publication schedule (from 6 times per year) with the new Summer 2026 issue, which will be available in early July.
You can find the FAA Safety Briefing Magazine at:
https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-safety-briefing-magazine
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Most Commonly Missed Knowledge Test Codes in 2026
by Jason Blair
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Want to know what the top missed knowledge test codes in 2026 are to help your students focus their study? The results are from January through April, 2026.
The website, www.FAATestCodeLookup.com collects data from thousands of reports entered that help CFIs and applicants reference the codes that showed up as missed on their respective knowledge tests.
Below are the codes that are showing up regularly in 2026 and the associated content description from the ACS or each test.
Private Pilot Tests:
PA.IV.C.K4 - Ground effect.
PA.II.B.K1 - Passenger briefing requirements, including operation and required use of safety re
PA.I.G.K1c - Powerplant and propeller
PA.IX.A.K2 - Immediate action items and emergency procedures.
PA.I.C.K2 - Acceptable weather products and resources required for preflight planning, current
PA.VI.A.K5 - Plotting a course, including
PA.IV.F.K3 - Wind correction techniques on approach and landing.
PA.II.D.K3 - Airport markings, signs, and lights.
PA.I.E.K1 - Airspace classes and associated requirements and limitations.
PA.I.F.K1 - Elements related to performance and limitations by explaining the use of charts
Instrument Rating Tests:
IR.II.B.K1d - Magnetic compass.
IR.I.B.K3e – Frost.
IR.I.C.K1e – Enroute charts.
IR.I.C.K3c – Fuel requirements, including reserve.
IR.I.C.K1d - Primary and alternate airports.
IR.I.B.K3a - Adverse weather phenomena, including wind shear, and their effect on airplane control and performance.
IR.I.B.K3f - Clouds.
IR.II.B.K2a - Differences between magnetic heading/course and true heading/course.
IR.I.B.K2a - Airport observations (METAR and SPECI) and pilot weather reports (PIREP).
IR.I.B.K3h - Thunderstorms and microbursts.
Commercial Pilot Tests:
CA.I.F.K1 - Elements related to performance and limitations by explaining the use of charts, tables, and data to determine performance.
CA.I.F.K3 - Aerodynamics.
CA.I.G.K1c - Powerplant and propeller.
CA.IV.E.K2 - Best angle of climb speed (VX) and best rate of climb speed (VY).
CA.I.A.K2 - Privileges and limitations of a commercial pilot certificate.
CA.I.E.K1 - Airspace classes and associated requirements and limitations.
CA.VII.E.K2 - Situations that could lead to an inadvertent spin.
CA.IV.B.K1 - A stabilized approach, including energy management concepts.
CA.VI.B.K4 - Use of ATC radar services.
CA.VIII.B.K1 - Operation of pressurization systems.
Flight Instructor Tests:
AI.III.A.K1 - Certification, currency, and recordkeeping requirements, including training and logbook entries.
AI.II.J.K1 - 14 CFR parts 1, 61, and 91.
AI.II.K.K2 - Required student pilot pre-solo knowledge test, solo endorsements, and logbook entries.
AI.II.G.K1 - Airspace classes and associated requirements and limitations.
AI.III.C.K3 - Meteorology applicable to the departure, en route, alternate, and destination under visual flight
AI.II.F.R6 - Shifting, adding, and removing weight.
AI.II.D.K4 - Forces acting on an airplane.
AI.II.D.K2 - Airplane stability, maneuverability and controllability.
AI.II.I.K5 - Calculating
AI.III.A.K2 - Privileges and limitations of pilot certificates and ratings at student pilot, sport, recreational, private
FI.I.D.K2 - Traditional assessments.
FI.I.B.K3 - Perceptions and insight.
FI.I.C.K10c - Lesson plans
FI.I.C.K5c - Guided discussion
FI.I.B.K6a - Cognitive
FI.I.C.K4 - Organization of material.
FI.I.A.K2d - Physical discomfort, illness, fatigue, and dehydration
FI.I.A.K1e - Defense mechanisms
FI.I.A.K2b - Impatience
FI.I.C.K2 - Course of training.
| | 2027 Flight School Operators Conference Headed to New Orleans | |
The Flight School Association International (FSAI) 2027 Flight School Operators Conference is set to be hosted in New Orleans.
Mark your calendars for February 9-11, 2027, and get ready to visit the Hyatt Regency New Orleans for next year's conference.
| | Call for Presentations for 2027 Flight School Operators Conference in New Orleans | |
The Flight School Association International (FSAI) is requesting parties who have content they would like to present at the 2027 Flight School Operators Conference contact our office with information about their proposed content and presenter information.
If you or your organization has content that is directly related to flight training operations or management, provide us with a brief summary of the proposed content and who the presenter will be.
Our conference planning committee is beginning work to put together the agenda of content and will be slating presenters into the schedule soon.
Send us an email with your information at info@fsana.com and our team will be in touch to discuss your presentation proposal.
| | ARTICLES OF INTEREST FROM THE INDUSTRY | |
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FSANA has been collecting DPE names who have expressed a willingness to travel to help flight training providers secure practical tests.
The latest List of Travel-Willing DPEs with contact information is available on the FSANA website. If you are a flight training provider who is finding a challenge of scheduling DPEs in your local area, feel free to reach out to these individuals. They may be able to serve some of your local testing needs.
If you are a DPE who is not on this list but would like to be, please let us know. Write us at info@fsana.com with your name, city, state, email and phone number and we will add you.
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Email Feedback Concerns about FAA Practical Tests to:
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Tell us what is important to you as a school owner, manager or chief flight instructor. We will share comments in an upcoming edition of Flight Training News. Send your thoughts to info@fsana.com.
| | | FSANA LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATES | | Legislative Advocates are flight schools, businesses and individuals who support FSANA’s efforts to advocate for public policy that benefits the flight training industry. | | FSANA SUPPORTING PARTNERS | | Annual Partners are flight schools, businesses and individuals who support FSANA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the flight training industry. | | V I S I O N A R Y •• P A R T N E R S | | |
D E V E L O P E R •• P A R T N E R S
| | B U I L D E R •• P A R T N E R S | | L E A D E R •• P A R T N E R S | | |
Flight School Association International (FSAI), founded under the name Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) in 2009 is the first association of its kind dedicated solely to the flight training industry. FSAI represents flight schools, firms that provide products and services to the flight training or aviation industry, and other supporting partners.
The Mission of Flight School Association International is to support, promote and advocate for the business of flight training; to provide knowledge, programs and services that help its members thrive and better serve their customers and communities; to foster best business practices; to educate and inspire youth; to increase the global pilot population; to improve general aviation safety; and to work in alliance with the aviation and aerospace industry.
fsana.com / 610-791-4359 / bob@fsana.com
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