Have Your Say on FAA All Makes and Models Rule
Lakeland, Fla. (May 30, 2025) — The Association of Professional Warbird Operators (APWO) is calling on its members and the broader aviation community to make their voices heard on a proposed FAA rule that falls short of meeting pilots’ needs and operational realities. The FAA’s long-awaited “All Makes and Models” experimental aircraft program, while a step in the right direction, leaves a critical gap by not including logbook endorsements on FAA pilot certificates.
“This omission places an unnecessary burden on pilots and threatens safety, clarity, and compliance in the field,” said Greg Gibson, President and CEO of the APWO. “We’ve been waiting since 2017 for a solution that recognizes the hard-earned skills and qualifications of our pilots. Now is the time to act and ensure these endorsements are added to pilot certificates, not left buried in logbooks.”
Under the proposed rule, pilots with three or more type ratings could receive logbook endorsements to operate new experimental aircraft types. However, because these endorsements would not appear on FAA certificates, pilots would have to carry separate documentation to prove authorization—an impractical approach that complicates compliance and increases risk during ramp checks or in the field.
The APWO believes that adding these endorsements to pilot certificates would provide clear, verifiable evidence of a pilot’s qualifications while enhancing safety and transparency. The cost of this change is negligible, but the benefit to the aviation community is immense.
The FAA’s public comment period closes on June 9, 2025. The APWO urges all pilots, aviation professionals, and enthusiasts to submit a comment and advocate for common-sense improvements to the proposed rule.
Read the FAA’s proposed rule here
Submit your comment here:
www.regulations.gov/search?filter=FAA-2025-0906
“This is our chance to ensure the FAA does what’s right for our community and for aviation safety,” Gibson added. “Let’s speak up, and let’s do it before June 9. Forward this message to every pilot and aviation ally you know—our strength lies in our united voices.”
About the Association of Professional Warbird Operators: The APWO is dedicated to supporting professional warbird pilots and operators by advocating for safety, best practices, and regulatory improvements in vintage military aircraft operations.
