FAA Part 142 compliance software: the 2026 checklist

Part 142 compliance software is the topic of this guide. Part 142 is the most demanding training-organization framework in U.S. aviation. The software that supports it has to be architected around Part 142 — not adapted from a Part 61 flight school tool.

Curriculum approval state tracking

Every Part 142 ATO has FAA-approved courseware. Versioning, approval state (pending / approved / superseded), and audit trail per version are non-negotiable. Software that treats curriculum as a static field is the wrong tool.

Check-instructor qualification records

Currency, evaluation history, endorsements per check instructor — tracked continuously, not assembled before an audit. Most violations happen because qualification expiry slipped between cycles.

FSTD / FTD / ATD scheduling

Device qualification level matters — a Level D FFS can't be substituted for a Level B without breaking the training record. Simulator scheduling must be qualification-aware, not just calendar-aware.

Training records and stage checks

Logbook entries, endorsements, stage check sign-offs, Practical Test Standards completion. Every record exportable as a complete student training folder on demand.

Time-limited auditor access

FAA evaluators and external auditors need scoped access — read-only, time-limited, expiring inline at the request level. Not a shared login.

Step-by-step

  1. Audit current state. Map every Part 142 compliance requirement to where the record lives today. Spreadsheets, binders, shared drives count as "not tracked."
  2. Pick software architected for Part 142. Not a Part 61 tool with Part 142 add-ons. The data model has to treat curriculum, check-instructor qualifications, and FSTD scheduling as first-class.
  3. Migrate curriculum and version history. Bring forward every approved courseware version. Audit trail required from migration date forward.
  4. Set up check-instructor records. Currency, evaluations, endorsements per check instructor. Tracked continuously.
  5. Wire FSTD scheduling. Device qualification level encoded per booking. Maintenance windows visible in the same calendar.
  6. Set up time-limited auditor access. Scoped read-only role for FAA evaluators. Expires automatically.