FAA proposes LODA relief

The NPRM would also allow all public aircraft operations (PAO) flight time to be logged toward FAA civil regulatory requirements, expanding the 2018 FAA reauthorization law, which allowed pilots conducting forestry control and fire protection PAO flights to log flight time.

AOPA diligently worked with congressional allies to reverse a 2021 FAA LODA directive, but at that time the FAA fought vigorously to limit the exemption to experimental aircraft owners, pilots, and flight instructors who simply wanted to give or receive flight training. This limited version was ultimately included in a 2022 national defense law. Now, this current NPRM seeks to expand the LODA exemption to other categories of aircraft as AOPA had originally suggested in 2021.

AOPA has also advocated strongly in the last two Congresses to overturn the FAA’s new interpretation of flight training. Reflecting the input of AOPA, the current House reauthorization bill again reaffirms that those “who provide flight instruction or testing are not operating an aircraft carrying persons or property for hire.”

“For more than 60 years, flight training has been all about safety and we need to make sure the definition and interpretation of flight training reflect this,” said AOPA President Mark Baker. “We appreciate the direction of this NPRM and we will continue supporting provisions in the House reauthorization bill that would expand the LODA exemption and also ensure that flight training is defined and interpreted as it should be."

The House FAA reauthorization bill already includes a number of the changes the NPRM seeks to address. Developed under the leadership of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and ranking member Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), this year's FAA reauthorization legislation is the most general aviation-supportive in history. The full House is expected to vote on the bill in the coming weeks.