When my wife and I got new passports, we each took a pictures of both of them to have as a last-ditch backup, in case the actual documents ever become lost during travel. She and I both have the two passport photos in our phones. I guess I’m the only one who ever thought of it?
I already have scanned copies of my documents stored electronically. I know that they do not meet the legal requirement, but they’re a backup in case I were to lose the physical one. It would be excellent to have the electronic version be a fully valid copy. If the legislation ends up having the electronic version be an additional option, I would continue to carry the physical one in addition to the electronic.
Why be a pilot?
The FAA publishes your HOME address for everyone to look up, it makes you have a tracker designed so that everyone in the entire world can monitor your movements, and NOW it wants to publish your personal ID card to the world.
Excuse me, but becoming a pilot theses days is a personal security risk.
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Maybe, I dunno - hear me out on this…
Let’s get the medical into some format other than an obnoxious size that requires folding and going into my wallet? The FAA has that on file - why not start there? I don’t mind carrying my certificate in my wallet… I mean I’d never use it to show off or anything… right?
Who said it would be available “to the world”? The FAA (or any part of the government, for that matter) will not be the one storing the digital copy. It will be left up to the individual pilot as to how they want to store it digitally, or if they even want to store it digitally.
You can all read the exact proposal (it’s only 2 pages long) here: https://burchett.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/burchett.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/BURCTN_108_xml%204.pdf
Or you can choose not to read the text and complain about a non-existant issue if that’s more enjoyable.
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It looks like Missouri started the program and then halted it for further consideration. There are several states that offer it, via an App specific to the state:
" * Missouri (MO) — Previously issued mDLs via the Missouri Mobile ID app but removed the service to look at new services and regulations. Apple Wallet status: being considered.”
Since the FAA already broadcasts my HOME address, my last MEDICAL date, my ratings, the specifics of my airplane and it’s movement to the entire world…what makes you think it will be different this time? It will most likely be a pdf downloadable link on the airmen’s database page.
Thanks for the link and NO WHERE in the proposal does it mention document control or security.
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Just don’t forget to bring you iPad/iPhone. 
well, I suppose the checker could look you up if they brought their …
yApple’s iPhone UI is hostile.
A valid concern, thankyou.
I wouldn’t exactly say the FAA is “broadcasting” your pilot information. Yes, anyone can look it up, but that’s not the same as broadcasting it; someone has to go look for it first. You can also hide your aircraft movements such that your N-number is not generally available to tracking sites, and if you use 978 UAT-only, you can also hide your tail number from the ADS-B Out data itself.
I presume there is no mention of document control or security because it only says that the FAA should accept a digital form of the ID, and not how it should be stored. That, presumably, would be up to the individual pilot. Which is just a way to say that the government assumes no responsibility for the safe-keeping of the documents.
When you have a system powered up an sending data over the wire/air to anyone to access; it’s broadcast. I’m old enough to remember when the FAA said “just use your Social Security number” for your airmen’s certificate number…and then made those available to everyone on the world wide web as well and never “assumed” any responsibility for that either!
Yes, travelled several hours from home recently using a new-to-me vehicle.
Realized I had not brought all charging cables from my now-spare old vehicle. Did have micro-USB to charge my old phone from my laptop computer and had wall wart for it.
But not USB-C cable for my new iPhone that has medical monitoring software, fortunately not critical but helps my health.
Your initial assertion:
…the FAA already broadcasts my HOME address, my last MEDICAL date, my ratings, the specifics of my airplane and it’s movement to the entire world…
Your definition of broadcasting:
When you have a system powered up an sending data over
the wire/air to anyone to access; it’s broadcast.
Beyond tail number and aircraft (not pilot) movement, what data is being broadcast and why?
I don’t own a cell phone.
Carrying the original hard copy[ies] remains an option.
I do not want the FAA to publish my certificate to the world.
And how are they publishing your certificate? As near as I can tell, they are allowing you to carry a copy accessible on your phone - but it is opt-in on your part.
Making it available to download means it’s publishing my certificate to the world.
I am puzzled why this would require a bill in Congress? Isn’t the FAA Already working on the ICAO’s electronic personnel licence (EPL) initiative? As of March 2023, Australia, Brazil and China had already implemented EPL systems for domestic use and Canada will be debuting EPLs in the near future.