Comments Due Today on Proposed Changes to Part 61

A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking to make major changes to Parts 61, 91 and 141 closes for comments today. Among the proposed changes is the addition of training standards for night vision goggles and the combination of simulator training regulations into one section. At press time there were almost 200 comments posted to the docket, including comments from training providers CAE SimuFlite and FlightSafety International. Both commented on what they think will be significant effects for simulator training if the current regulations are combined into one section–the proposed Part 61.64. Referring to the apparent omission of a provision that allows first-time type-rating applicants to be issued the rating in the simulator if the applicant has 2,000 hours of flight time with 500 turbine, CAE said, “The FAA has not provided any explanation for the elimination of this experience requirement. If this requirement is eliminated, it will force a large number of applicants to train and test in the aircraft, or accept a restriction on their certificates.”