FAA Simplifies Experimental Aircraft Operations for Seasoned Pilots
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a groundbreaking program that removes practical testing requirements for seasoned experimental aircraft pilots. This marks a significant regulatory shift for the experimental aviation community, the likes of which haven’t been seen in decades.
Under the Experimental Aircraft “All Makes and Models” Program, pilots holding three Authorized Experimental Aircraft (AEA) authorizations can now operate additional experimental aircraft by completing only aircraft-specific ground and flight training.
“Experimental aircraft pilots have had to jump through many cumbersome hoops in order to operate additional experimental aircraft,” said Representative Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “This commonsense change will reduce costs for the agency and allow more pilots to enjoy their freedom to fly.”
The program, mandated by Section 806 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, replaces formal FAA documentation with simple logbook endorsements from qualified flight instructors. This streamlined approach is expected to significantly reduce administrative burden while maintaining safety standards for the over 33,000 amateur-built aircraft currently operating in the United States.
Source: https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements/general-statements