AOPA is opposing a pending FAA rule that will place additional burdens on use of simulators by general aviation flight schools. While the FAA proposal does not cover personal computer-type aviation training devices (PCATDs), it does increase regulatory oversight of flight schools and establishes a mandatory simulator quality assurance program.
AOPA contends that this proposed rule will significantly increase the operational costs to GA flight schools that use non-personal computer-type simulators for pilot training, pilot evaluation, or required flight experience, without improving safety.
"This rule could lower the availability and increase the overall cost of simulators, thus undermining the use of simulators as an effective GA training tool," said Lance Nuckolls, AOPA director of regulatory and certification policy. For more information, see AOPA's regulatory brief.
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