Washington, DC, April 29, 2020 -- Today, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) applauded a comprehensive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rulemaking package in the form of a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR), addressing a number of its requests for provisions to allow aviation businesses to continue to operate during COVID-19.

“We were pleased to see the release of this SFAR in recognition of operational challenges during this crisis and appreciate that the FAA listened to NATA and the industry in providing this relief,” stated NATA President and CEO Timothy Obitts. “NATA and our members would like to acknowledge the amazing work of the FAA in issuing a rulemaking of this scale in such a short amount of time. We will continue to work with the FAA to communicate the needs of our members now, in the coming days as new challenges are identified, and in the future when restrictions begin to be lifted.”

According to the FAA, “this Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) provides regulatory relief to persons who have been unable to comply with certain training, recent experience, testing, and checking requirements due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. This relief allows operators to continue to use pilots and other crewmembers in support of essential operations during this period. Additionally, this SFAR provides regulatory relief to certain persons and pilot schools unable to meet duration and renewal requirements due to the outbreak. This rule also allows certain air carriers and operators to fly temporary overflow aircraft, a need resulting from the outbreak, to a point of storage pursuant to a special flight permit with a continuing authorization.”

NATA will follow up with its members on specifics of the SFAR that apply to their operations. If you have any questions, please email NATA at covid@nata.aero.  

For general press inquiries, contact Shannon Chambers at 703-298-1347 or schambers@nata.aero. 

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has been the voice of aviation business for more than 80 years. Representing nearly 3,700 aviation businesses, NATA’s member companies provide a broad range of services to general aviation, the airlines and the military and NATA serves as the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies.