Can You Swim? FAA's New Form Tests Pilots' Survival Smarts
Published Date: 3/10/2026
Notice
Summary
The FAA wants to collect info on pilots’ basic survival skills, like swimming, to make training safer and more useful. This new form helps instructors tailor courses and check if students can handle emergency situations. If you’re involved in general aviation training, you can comment on this plan by April 9, 2026—no big costs, just better safety checks!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Training tailored using swim ability
The form asks about your swimming capability and prior survival training so the instructor and a member of the Airman Education Program team can personalize the course and verify your ability to attend hands-on ditching exercises. The stated purpose is to make the course more applicable to students in attendance and to ensure safety during the training.
You must fill FAA survival form
If you attend the post-crash survival course, you are required to complete FAA Form 3150-3 (Basic Survival Skills for General Aviation Training Record) on arrival. The FAA estimates 150 to 200 students will complete the paper form annually, taking about 3 minutes per student (36 seconds per response is also listed), for a total estimated annual burden of 10 hours; the collection is conducted monthly.
Paper-only form; data not public
The Survival Training Record is collected only on paper at the classroom when you arrive; it is not available to print from the internet and the information will not be made public. The FAA says electronic collection is not possible because the form is used at the training site and technology is not made available.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-08943 — Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility
The FAA is proposing new rules to keep drones away from certain important fixed sites like power plants or airports to keep everyone safe and secure. If you own or operate one of these sites, you can request a drone flight restriction zone to protect your property and people nearby. Comments are open until July 6, 2026, and these changes could affect drone pilots and site operators, but no big costs are expected.
2026-10293 — Prohibition of Remote Dispatching
The FAA wants to stop airplane dispatchers from working remotely, except in emergencies when the main center is down. This change affects all domestic, flag, and supplemental airline operators and aims to keep flight safety tight and clear. Comments on this rule are open until July 21, 2026, so airlines and dispatchers should get ready for a new way of working that could shake up their routines.
2026-10270 — Airworthiness Directives; Embraer S.A. (Type Certificate Previously Held by Yaborã Indústria Aeronáutica S.A.; Embraer S.A.) Airplanes
The FAA is requiring certain Embraer ERJ 190-100 ECJ airplanes to get a close check on their overheat detection sensors because some parts might not work right. If problems are found, those parts must be replaced, and no faulty parts can be installed anymore. This rule kicks in on June 26, 2026, helping keep flights safe without breaking the bank.
2026-10256 — Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
If you fly Airbus EC130T2 helicopters, the FAA wants you to install a new fix on the tail rotor drive shaft and keep checking its vibration regularly. This update replaces old rules and stops certain parts from being used unless they meet new safety standards. You’ve got until July 6, 2026, to share your thoughts, and while this might cost some bucks, it’s all about keeping flights safe and smooth.
2026-10271 — Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc., Airplanes
The FAA is making sure certain Bombardier BD-700 airplanes are safe by checking and fixing bolts on the baggage door that might have been tightened wrong. Owners need to inspect and adjust or replace these bolts by June 26, 2026, to keep flying safely. This fix helps avoid any door problems and keeps passengers secure without breaking the bank.
2026-10272 — Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
If you fly or work with Airbus A330 planes, listen up! The FAA found a problem where a backup fuel pump might fail quietly, trapping fuel that can’t be used. Starting June 8, 2026, airlines must regularly check these pumps and fix any issues to keep flights safe—no big wallet hits expected, just smart safety moves.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-04691 — Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of New Approval of Information Collection: Physiology Training Record
The FAA is starting a new form called the Physiology Training Record for students taking aviation physiology classes, especially hypoxia training. This form helps make sure students meet medical rules before joining the training. If you’re involved, you can share your thoughts by April 9, 2026, and there’s no big cost impact—just a bit of paperwork to keep things safe and smooth.
Next: 2026-04693 — Reestablishment of the Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance
The Treasury Department is bringing back the Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance (FACI) to help keep an eye on the insurance world and spot any problems early. This group, made up of experts from states, industry, and academia, will advise the Federal Insurance Office starting now with a two-year term. No big costs or delays are expected, but the committee’s advice will help protect the financial system and insurance consumers nationwide.