Pilot Training Records in the new Pilot Records Database 

Pilot training records verification is changing based on the FAA Pilot Records Database 

The long-awaited Pilot Records Database (PRD) is here. However, not everyone is enthusiastic about its arrival. The idea of this database is not entirely new, the Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA) has been around for decades, but unfortunately, it was not enough to prevent the Colgan Air Tragedy in 2009. This accident prompted the FAA to rethink its pilot training requirements and the reporting of pilot records.   

The new electronic database will be maintained by the FAA and enable the sharing of pilot records among potential employers. In addition, the final ruling mandates that air carriers and other operators report pilot qualifications, pilot training, and employment history to the database while requiring these same air carriers and operators to consult these records when considering a pilot for new employment.  

The purpose of the PRD is to provide a means for employers to quickly and accurately determine the extent to which a pilot is qualified for the job they are applying for. It includes information about:  

• FAA Pilot Certificate information  

• FAA summaries of pilots who do not pass the requirements for new certificates or ratings  

• FAA records of accidents, incidents, and enforcement actions  

• Employer records on pilot training, qualifications, and proficiency  

• Pilot drug and alcohol records  

• Employer’s disciplinary records  

• Pilot records explaining the separation of employment  

• Verification of pilot motor vehicle driving record  

While the intention of the database is clearly in the best interest of the flying public, several organizations are expressing concerns about the burden this ruling will place on smaller Part 91 operators. For example, AOPA argues that the PRD goes beyond what is statutorily required. They also say it does not allow for industry recommendations and does not have a way for pilots to correct any errors on their records.   

There is also the concern that thousands of small operators flying under Part 91 rules would have to comply with the database requirements, a process that would be costly and burdensome to these small companies. As a result, business and general aviation organizations, such as NBAA, have been asking that corporate operators be excluded, which the FAA partially addressed in the final rule.  

Corporate Flight Departments, public operators and air tour operators will not be required to report training, disciplinary, and employment separation records unless a hiring operator requests the information. But the FAA is still mandating that certain disciplinary action and termination records be uploaded. To clarify the final ruling and help with the transition from PRIA to the PRD, the FAA published a Circular Advisory and offered additional resources to help operators fully understand the requirements that companies must follow.   

The new ruling will become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, and employers will have 3 years and 90 days to comply fully. The Colgan Flight 3407 disaster families believe that if the Captain’s previous pilot training records had been available to the airline, their loved ones would still be alive today. Hopefully, the PRD will help prevent more similar tragedies.