California Legislature Passes Temporary Relief for Flight Training
/The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) is pleased to announce that the California Legislature passed SB 856, a bill that, among its other provisions, will provide a delay in compliance for flight training with regulations issued by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) pursuant to AB 48, Chapter 310, Statues of 2009. SB 856 is now headed to Governor Schwarzenegger's desk for his signature.
SB 856 creates a delay in compliance, retroactive from July 2010 until July 2011, for all flight training facilities and activities. This bill's passage is the result of a long effort by NATA, the flight training industry and other associations including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and, if signed by the governor, will allow the necessary time for the California Legislature to examine the appropriateness of incorporating flight training into the BPPE's regulatory purview.
"This delay is absolutely necessary to ensure that the flight training community is afforded the opportunity to have its voice heard on regulations affecting the future of the industry" said NATA Director of Regulatory Affairs Michael France. "Without this type of opportunity, the impact of the BPPE's regulations could be disastrous for flight training and the aviation industry in general."
AB 48 authorized the BPPE to regulate flight training for the first time without input from the industry. If signed by the governor, SB 856 will mark the beginning of an effort by NATA and others in the industry to educate legislators on the uniqueness of flight training and why it cannot be regulated like typical "brick and mortar" educational facilities.