OPELIKA, Ala. — The Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) today announced its full endorsement of all eight principal recommendations contained in the National Flight Training Alliance’s (NFTA) 141 Modernization Industry Report, submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration on March 31, 2026. AABI worked closely with the NFTA and a broad coalition of industry partners for producing a unified, forward-looking blueprint that reflects the collective voice of the flight training community.

AABI currently accredits over 100 aviation programs at 45 colleges and universities worldwide. In the United States, 35 AABI-accredited institutions offer degrees with a flight training emphasis. In 2024, these programs collectively issued more than 2,800 instrument ratings and 2,250 commercial pilot certificates. The health and efficiency of the Part 141 framework has a direct and measurable impact on the students these programs serve.

— Elizabeth Bjerke, Ph.D., President, Aviation Accreditation Board International

Central Management Office: Building Consistency and Collaboration Nationwide

AABI strongly supports establishing a dedicated Central Management Office (CMO) as the single national authority for all Part 141 pilot school initial certification and ongoing certificate management. Standardizing how Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) apply Part 141 regulations nationwide would create a more consistent and predictable experience for flight training programs and help foster the kind of collaborative partnership between schools and regulators that benefits the entire system. A school’s regulatory experience should reflect its performance and the quality of its programs.

Examining Authority Reform: Recognizing and Rewarding Training Excellence

AABI fully endorses the proposed reforms to the Examining Authority framework, which would transition from static pass-rate thresholds to a performance-based model. This approach would provide a more meaningful and continuous measure of training quality, replacing point-in-time numerical benchmarks with an ongoing assessment of program effectiveness.

Under the proposed framework, Examining Authority would be a privilege earned and maintained through demonstration of quality assurance, with standardized training requirements. For AABI’s member institutions, which already operate under rigorous accreditation criteria, this approach aligns well with how quality is already measured and maintained. Expanding Examining Authority for high-performing programs will also help reduce scheduling bottlenecks, improve efficiency, and better serve students working toward their professional aviation careers.

— Jeremy Roesler, Director of Flight Operations University of North Dakota, Co-Chair of AABI Flight Training Working Group

Expanded Simulation Credit: Embracing Technology That Works

AABI enthusiastically supports expanding Flight Simulation Training Device (FSTD) credit allowances, establishing the new Enhanced Advanced Aviation Training Device (EAATD) category, and formally recognizing extended reality (XR) technologies for training credit. Simulation technology has advanced significantly in recent years, and expanding its recognized role in Part 141 training reflects both the current state of the technology and the compelling evidence for its effectiveness in developing safe, proficient pilots.

Increasing FSTD credit, particularly through a tiered system that awards greater credit to higher-fidelity devices, will allow programs to deliver better training at lower cost, improving both access and outcomes. For AABI’s member institutions, which invest significantly in simulation infrastructure to prepare students for professional aviation careers, these reforms will unlock the full value of that investment.

Safety Management Systems and Quality Assurance: An AABI Standard, Now a National Imperative

AABI is a particularly strong advocate for the recommendation to implement Safety Management Systems and Quality Management Systems across all Part 141 training organizations. For AABI-accredited institutions, this is not a new concept as AABI has long required its member schools to maintain robust safety programs grounded in the four pillars of SMS. Equally important, AABI institutions operate quality assurance frameworks built on continuous improvement, data-driven evaluation, and systematic review of training outcomes which is exactly the kind of performance-based oversight culture the report envisions for the entire Part 141 system.

— Kenneth Byrnes, Ph.D., Assistant Dean Flight Department Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Co-Chair of AABI Flight Training Working Group

AABI has encouraged all of its member schools to actively engage in the FAA’s modernization process and reaffirms its commitment to serving as a collaborative partner to both the FAA and the broader industry throughout implementation. As an accrediting body whose standards are already aligned with the quality management, safety, and competency-based principles at the heart of this report, AABI is uniquely positioned to support schools as the new regulatory framework takes shape and work closely with the FAA throughout implementation.

The Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) is a globally recognized accrediting organization for collegiate aviation programs. AABI promotes excellence in aviation education by ensuring programs meet rigorous standards for academic quality, professional preparation, and alignment with industry needs. AABI currently accredits more than 100 programs across 45 institutions worldwide. For more information, visit www.aabi.aero.