Removal of FAA Third-Class Medical Certificate Requirement for Military Pilot Trainees

======================================================================== Proposed Rules Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules. ========================================================================

Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 152 / Monday, August 10, 2026 / Proposed Rules

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 61

Removal of FAA Third-Class Medical Certificate Requirement for Military Pilot Trainees

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

FAA proposes to amend regulations to extend the existing exception for U.S. military pilots from the requirement to hold an FAA third-class medical certificate to military pilot trainees who already meet U.S. military pilot medical examination requirements. FAA has determined that U.S. military pilot medical examinations meet or exceed the level of safety established by FAA third-class medical certificate standards. Therefore, it is redundant to require military pilot trainees to meet both standards. The proposed rule would support streamlining the U.S. military use of civilian flight schools. The intended effects are to reduce administrative burdens and costs while maintaining safety standards.

Send comments on or before October 9, 2026.

Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2026-9177 using any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically. Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, 5th Floor (W58-213), Washington, DC 20590. Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in Room W58-213 of the West Building, 5th Floor, at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251. Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W58-213 of the West Building, 5th Floor, at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Bradley C. Zeigler, Office of Safety Standards, General Aviation and Commercial Division, Training and Certification Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-1100; email [email protected].

FAA proposes to revise part 61 of title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to except certain military pilot trainees from the requirement to have an FAA third-class medical certificate if they have an up-to-date U.S. military pilot medical examination authorizing pilot flight status. FAA's proposal, if adopted, would provide military pilot trainees with the same regulatory relief currently afforded to U.S. military pilots, codify existing FAA exemptions that support the U.S. Air Force's use of civilian flight schools for initial pilot training, and extend the deregulatory benefits of those exemptions to all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. FAA also proposes to introduce definitions for military pilot medical examination and military pilot trainee to ensure the proposed exception applies only to military pilot trainees who received a U.S. military pilot medical examination of equivalent or greater stringency to that for an FAA third-class medical certificate and who are currently receiving pilot training in civil aircraft as part of a military flight training program. This relief would extend to U.S. military pilot trainees and to foreign military pilot trainees sponsored by the U.S. Armed Forces who also meet U.S. military pilot medical examination requirements.

FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety is found in title 49 of the United States Code (U.S.C.). Subtitle I, section 106 describes, in part, the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of FAA's authority. Specifically, this rulemaking is issued under the authority described in subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, sections 44701-44703. Under section 44701, FAA is charged with prescribing regulations and minimum standards for cybersecurity and other practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. Under sections 44702 and 44703, FAA is also authorized to issue airman certificates, including airman medical certificates, when the Administrator finds, after investigation, the individual is qualified for, and physically able to perform the duties related to the position to be authorized by the certificate. This proposed rule is within the scope of those authorities because it would allow individuals who have already been issued medical authorization by the U.S. military for qualification as a U.S. military pilot trainee to engage in civil flight operations without needing to obtain an FAA third-class medical certificate.

The United States Air Force (USAF) Air Education and Training Command (AETC) has taken steps to increase flight training capacity by leveraging civilian pilot schools to train military pilot trainees. Under this model, academic institutions provide civilian training programs at pilot schools to supplement USAF military pilot schools. Military pilot trainees graduate from these FAA-certificated pilot schools \1\ with an FAA-issued private pilot certificate with an airplane category, multiengine land class rating, and an instrument- airplane rating. The USAF AETC uses this civilian training approach to meet the

annual demands for new military pilots reliably, while enhancing flexibility and scalability.

\1\ Pilot schools or provisional pilot schools used under this program are certificated by FAA as meeting the requirements of 14 CFR part 141. They are often referred to as part 141 pilot schools or provisional pilot schools.

In addition to training U.S. military pilot trainees,\2\ USAF and other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces partner with military organizations of other allied countries to train non-U.S. military pilots. These foreign military pilot trainees are members of U.S.- allied military organizations who also receive U.S. Armed Forces- sponsored training at part 141 pilot schools. This flight training is conducted under agreements between the U.S. and foreign governments, and the foreign military pilot trainees are cleared by both the trainee's military organization and the branch of the U.S. Armed Forces sponsoring the training to meet eligibility requirements for security, medical fitness, and aptitude.

\2\ FAA proposes to define "military pilot trainee" as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or of a foreign military who is receiving pilot training sponsored by a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Under current FAA regulations, applicants for an FAA pilot certificate or rating, including military pilot trainees, are generally required to have an FAA third-class airman medical certificate to conduct solo flights and take practical tests in civil aircraft.\3\ Therefore, a prospective student of a part 141 pilot school must have at least an FAA third-class medical certificate to be eligible to conduct the solo flights and practical tests required under the pilot school's FAA-approved curriculum leading to the issuance of a private pilot certificate or applicable instrument or class rating.

\3\ See 14 CFR 61.3(c)(1) and 61.23(a)(3).