Sponsors (2)
The bill modernizes FAA credentialing to make presenting and managing certificates easier and more standardized, but does so at the cost of creating access challenges for less‑connected airmen, potential cybersecurity/privacy risks, and implementation expenses.
Pilots, aircrew, and other FAA certificate holders can present credentials digitally or in paper form, making inspections and routine verification faster and more convenient.
Allowing digital (device or cloud) storage of certificates reduces the chance of lost or damaged physical certificates and lowers administrative delays and burdens for holders and regulators.
A required FAA rulemaking (by Nov 30, 2028) creates an opportunity to establish interoperable authentication standards and consistent verification procedures, improving long-term reliability and compatibility of digital credentials.
Certificate holders without smartphones, reliable connectivity, or technical skills (including many in rural areas) may face practical barriers to presenting digital credentials when needed.
Storing certificates digitally or in the cloud raises privacy and cybersecurity risks if authentication and data protection measures are inadequate, potentially exposing sensitive personal information or allowing credential misuse.
Implementing secure digital storage, cloud services, and required authentication systems could increase costs for the FAA and possibly for certificate holders or employers, with some expense ultimately borne by taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced March 21, 2025 by Timothy Burchett · Last progress March 25, 2026
Allows airman certificates, including medical certificates, to be presented to FAA inspectors either as a physical paper/card or as a digital certificate stored on an electronic device or in the cloud (where connectivity permits). The FAA must set authentication and verification rules for digital certificates and issue a final rule updating relevant pilot and airman regulations by November 30, 2028.