The Federal Aviation Administration published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on August 10, 2026. The proposal, identified as document 2026-16272, seeks to amend regulations to extend an existing exception for U.S. military pilots to include military pilot trainees.
Under the current framework, certain military pilots are exempt from holding an FAA third-class medical certificate. The FAA proposes to expand this exemption to trainees who already satisfy the medical examination requirements set by the U.S. military. The agency determined that these military medical standards meet or exceed the safety levels established by the FAA third-class medical certificate. Consequently, requiring trainees to meet both sets of standards is redundant.
This change is designed to streamline the use of civilian flight schools by the U.S. military. By removing the dual requirement, the FAA aims to reduce administrative burdens and costs while maintaining established safety standards. The proposed amendments affect Part 61 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which covers pilot certification.
Stakeholders have until October 9, 2026, to submit comments on the proposal. The docket for this rulemaking is FAA-2026-9177, and the notice number is 26-13. The document does not specify an effective date for the new rule.
Summary written for CheckAero from the official document. It is not legal advice; read the full text before acting.