Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act
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The bill would let pilots show FAA inspectors either a physical or a digital copy of their airman certificate or medical certificate, instead of requiring a paper original.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would amend title 49 of the U.S. Code to allow a pilot to present a certificate issued under that section, including a medical certificate, to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector as either a physical certificate or a digital certificate stored on an electronic device or, where there is sufficient connectivity, a cloud-based system. Digital certificates would have to be presented according to authentication and verification requirements the FAA Administrator sets. The bill would require the FAA to issue a final rule by November 30, 2028, updating regulations in several parts of the federal aviation rules to implement the change. It does not otherwise alter certification requirements, eligibility, or the underlying certificates themselves.
Key provisions
- 1Would allow pilots to present a physical or digital copy of an airman certificate, including medical certificates, to FAA inspectors
- 2Would require digital certificates to be presented according to authentication and verification requirements set by the FAA Administrator
- 3Would require the FAA to issue a final rule by November 30, 2028, updating regulations in parts 61, 63, 65, 67, and 107 of title 14 to implement the change
Who would be affected
Pilots and other individuals who hold FAA-issued certificates, such as airman or medical certificates, and who must present them for inspection to FAA officials. The Federal Aviation Administration is also affected, since it must update its regulations and set authentication standards for digital certificates.
Why it matters
Pilots would no longer need to carry a physical paper certificate at all times, reducing the risk of delays or violations from a lost or forgotten document. The change also requires the FAA to build a verification system for digital credentials, which could affect how quickly and reliably inspections occur.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends 49 U.S.C. § 44703 (Sec. 2(a))
Adds a new subsection allowing certificates, including medical certificates, to be presented in physical or authenticated digital form to FAA inspectors
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Deadline for FAA to issue a final rule implementing the physical/digital certificate change
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 2247 would cost $18 million over the 2026–2031 period, all subject to future appropriations, with no effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit.
CBO estimates that H.R. 2247 would have no effect on direct (mandatory) spending or revenues, leaving the deficit unchanged over any scoring window. The bill's costs — estimated at $18 million over 2026–2031 — are discretionary spending subject to the availability of appropriated funds. The main cost drivers are new software systems the FAA would need to issue and maintain digital airman and medical certificates (about $3 million per year) and the cost of required rulemaking (about $2 million). CBO identified no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How implementation would work
The FAA Administrator would need to establish authentication and verification standards for digital certificates stored on electronic devices or cloud platforms, then issue a final rule by November 30, 2028, amending parts 61, 63, 65, 67, and 107 of title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Until that rulemaking is complete, implementation details such as how inspectors verify digital certificates in the field, including in areas with limited connectivity, remain to be defined by the agency.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill allows a pilot to present a digital copy of certain certificates (e.g., an airman certificate or a medical certificate) when required to present such documentation by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector.
Under current FAA regulations, a pilot must present for inspection a physical copy of an airman certificate and other paperwork upon a request from the FAA; a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer; or an authorized representative of the Transportation Security Administration or the National Transportation Safety Board. This bill allows a pilot to present a certificate such as an airman certificate or a medical certificate to an FAA inspector as (1) a physical, original copy; or (2) a digital copy stored on an electronic device or cloud storage platform.
The FAA must update current regulations to implement this change.
Legislative subjects
Administrative law and regulatory procedures; Aviation and airports; Department of Transportation; Licensing and registrations; Transportation and Public Works
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-551