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Allows airman certificates issued by the FAA, including medical certificates, to be shown either as a physical card or as a digital certificate stored on a device or in the cloud, provided the digital form meets FAA authentication rules. Directs the FAA to finalize regulatory changes to the applicable parts of the Federal Aviation Regulations by November 30, 2028 and gives the Act an official short title for citation.
The bill modernizes airman and medical credentials—making them more convenient and efficient to use—while shifting costs, privacy risks, and operational dependence on digital systems that could cause delays if connectivity or authentication systems fail.
Pilots and aircrew can use digital airman and medical certificates on a phone or tablet, reducing the need to carry paper and simplifying day-to-day credential checks.
Pilots and aircrew can rely on cloud-stored certificates so they can prove credentials even if a device is lost, improving resilience when connectivity is available.
Pilots, aircrew, and FAA inspectors may experience faster, more efficient inspections and fewer delays from showing physical documents, streamlining some regulatory interactions.
Pilots, aircrew, and passengers could face grounding or flight delays if reliance on device/cloud connectivity prevents access to digital certificates during outages.
Pilots and aircrew must meet FAA authentication requirements for digital certificates, which may require buying new apps, hardware, or training and impose time and financial burdens on them.
Pilots and aircrew may face privacy risks if authentication or cloud systems store or transmit personal medical certificate data electronically.
Introduced March 21, 2025 by Timothy Burchett · Last progress March 25, 2026