H.R. 2247 · Passed House · Transportation and Public Works

Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act

Sponsor: Tim Burchett (R-TN)

What it does

• Allows a pilot to present certificates such as an airman certificate or medical certificate to an FAA inspector as a physical original or a digital copy.
• Accepts digital copies stored on an electronic device or a cloud storage platform.
• Requires the FAA to update its regulations, which currently demand a physical copy, to implement the change.

Official summary

Pilot Certificate Accessibility Act This bill allows a pilot to present a digital copy of certain certificates (e.g., an airman certificate or a medical certificate) when required to present such documentation by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. Under current FAA regulations, a pilot must present for inspection a physical copy of an airman certificate and other paperwork upon a request from the FAA; a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer; or an authorized representative of the Transportation Security Administration or the National Transportation Safety Board. This bill allows a pilot to present a certificate such as an airman certificate or a medical certificate to an FAA inspector as (1) a physical, original copy; or (2) a digital copy stored on an electronic device or cloud storage platform. The FAA must update current regulations to implement this change.

Latest action

Mar 25, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation