Rep. Burchett's Bill H.R. 2247 PASSES the House

Washington, D.C. (03/24/2026) — Today, the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 2247, the Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act, a bill aimed at modernizing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspection processes by allowing pilots to present either physical or digital copies of legally required certification documents. H.R. 2247 was introduced by Rep. Tim Burchett (TN-02).

The legislation amends Title 49 of the United States Code to explicitly authorize airmen to use secure digital versions of their certificates, including those stored on mobile devices or cloud-based platforms, during FAA inspections. Under current practices, pilots are generally expected to carry physical documentation, which can be lost, damaged, or inaccessible in certain situations.

“Technology has advanced, and aviation regulations should reflect that,” said Rep. Burchett. “If passengers can have their boarding passes on their phones, pilots should be able to digitally carry copies of certification documents. My bill will give pilots the flexibility to safely and securely present their credentials in a way that matches today’s digital world.”

###

For questions and media inquiries, please contact Will Garrett, Communications Director for Congressman Burchett