The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates civil aviation, is responsible for issuing certain credentials that pilots must obtain in order to operate aircraft. S. 571 would direct the FAA to revise a variety of requirements, particularly related to medical certifications for recreational pilots. The bill also would specify certain changes to the agency’s administrative procedures and require various reports related to pilot certification.
Based on information from the FAA, CBO estimates that enacting S. 571 would not significantly affect the federal budget. We estimate that any increase in the agency’s administrative costs under the bill, which would be subject to appropriation, would not exceed $500,000 annually.
Enacting S. 571 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting S. 571 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2026.
S. 571 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
