Sponsors (2)
The bill modernizes and clarifies FAA credentialing by allowing digital certificates and enabling electronic verification to speed inspections, at the cost of FAA implementation expenses and potential access and compliance burdens for some pilots—particularly those in low-connectivity or resource-constrained situations.
Pilots and aircrew can present either digital or paper airman and medical certificates, making it easier to carry and show credentials during inspections and routine checks.
The bill modernizes FAA procedures and establishes clear authentication rules, reducing ambiguity for pilots and inspectors about acceptable certificate formats and enforcement.
Allows for rapid electronic verification of credentials, which can reduce inspection delays and improve operational efficiency for pilots and FAA staff.
Relying on digital/cloud certificates could create access problems for pilots in areas with poor internet connectivity or during device failures, disrupting operations for rural and remote operators.
New authentication and verification processes may require pilots to adopt new technology or procedures, imposing time, training, or equipment burdens—especially on small operators and individual pilots.
Requiring the FAA to develop secure authentication systems will increase administrative costs, which could be passed to taxpayers or operators.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows FAA airman and medical certificates to be presented as FAA-issued digital certificates (device or cloud), and requires FAA rule updates by Nov 30, 2028.
Official title: Amend title 49, United States Code, to establish acceptable formats for presentation of airman certificates to the Federal Aviation Administration.
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 those certificates to FAA inspectors either as paper documents or as digital versions stored on a device or in the cloud, subject to FAA authentication rules. The FAA must issue a final rule updating relevant pilot and airman regulations by November 30, 2028 to implement the change.