The FAA is proposing changes to its airmen certification and aircraft registration requirements. Two years after the final rule becomes effective, paper pilot certificates may no longer be used to exercise piloting privileges.

Five years after the final rule becomes effective, certain other paper airmen certificates, such as those of flight engineers and mechanics, may no longer be used to exercise the privileges authorized by those certificates. To exercise the privileges after those respective dates, the airmen would have to hold upgraded, counterfeit-resistant plastic certificates. Student pilots would not be affected.

In addition, those who transfer ownership of U.S.-registered aircraft would have five days from the transaction to notify the FAA Aircraft Registry. Those who apply for aircraft registration would have to include their printed or typed name with their signature. These changes are responsive to concerns raised in the FAA Drug Enforcement Assistance Act.

The purpose of the changes is to upgrade the quality of data and documents to assist Federal, State, and local agencies to enforce the nation's drug laws.