FAA Reviews NFTA Report on Pilot Training

FAA says “so much good” in NFTA report on modernizing pilot training

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau has described a new report by the National Flight Training Alliance (NFTA) as containing “so much good.”

Speaking at the World Aviation Training Summit (WATS), Rocheleau said the FAA is carefully reviewing proposals “piece by piece” to determine what is practical now and what could shape future regulatory and training developments. He stressed that progress will depend on close collaboration between industry and regulators, underpinned by robust data and evidence to guide decision-making. As he noted, “we need these partnerships, to bring the data, to bring the evidence, so that we can make an important decision about how to move forward.” The 471-page report follows a year of meetings and industry discussions, and puts forward eight key recommendations that would change the way Part 141 flight schools operate. This includes centralizing FAA oversight, increasing the use of data, reducing the administration burden, and expanding the use of training technology such as flight simulation training devices and extended reality (XR) devices.

A panel followed Rocheleau’s presentation including NFTA CEO Lee Collins. Speaking after the panel, Collins said the report has been presented to the FAA and lawmakers, with strong early support from across the sector. He called for broader public backing to encourage regulators and legislators to adopt the findings and enhance safety.

“It's a generational effort, which is why we see it as so important,” he said.

WATS, he added, plays an important role in bringing the global training community together to drive discussion and momentum. “There have been a lot of folks coming up wanting to talk about it,” he said.