Sponsors (2)
The bill modernizes and speeds credential verification by allowing digital airman and medical certificates and clarifying authentication rules, but it introduces costs, access challenges for connectivity-limited pilots, and some compliance burdens.
Pilots and aircrew can use either digital or paper airman and medical certificates during inspections, making it easier for transportation workers to carry and present credentials.
Transportation workers and FAA inspectors get clearer, modernized authentication rules that reduce ambiguity about acceptable certificate formats and streamline compliance decisions.
Pilots, air carriers, and FAA operations could see faster inspections and fewer operational delays because electronic verification enables quicker credential checks than paper-only processes.
Pilots in rural or low-connectivity areas and anyone experiencing device failures may be unable to access digital certificates, creating inspection or operational access problems.
Taxpayers and aircraft operators may bear higher administrative costs as the FAA develops and maintains secure digital authentication systems and procedures.
Some pilots will face compliance burdens to adopt new technology or procedures required by stronger authentication and verification rules.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Permits FAA airman and medical certificates to be presented as paper, device-stored digital, or cloud-based digital certificates, subject to FAA authentication rules.
Introduced March 26, 2026 by Timothy Patrick Sheehy · Last progress March 26, 2026
Allows people who hold FAA airman certificates (including medical certificates) to show either a paper certificate, a digital certificate stored on a device, or a cloud-based certificate when meeting FAA inspectors, subject to FAA authentication rules. Directs the FAA to issue a final rule updating the relevant pilot/airman regulations by November 30, 2028 to implement the change and set verification requirements.