The National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) of Argentina has published significant changes to the Argentine Civil Aviation Regulations (RAAC). These measures, part of the national government's policies of deregulation and efficiency, aim to align local regulations with international standards and reduce operational bureaucracy without compromising safety.
One of the most relevant changes for the pilot community is the elimination of the mandatory flight plan submission for operations under visual flight rules (VFR). This measure seeks to reduce the administrative burden for both pilots and air traffic control services during recreational or private flights.
This new regulation will come into effect on March 1, 2026. Furthermore, the resolution flexibilizes historical conditions to allow for more efficient use of aircraft and infrastructure. For example, it authorizes night visual flights throughout the national territory, provided that pilots and aircraft meet the corresponding certifications. This extends the operational window for general aviation.
It also applies to "Single Pilot" operations, as it introduces the possibility for small aircraft (carrying fewer than 10 passengers on non-regular flights) to be operated by a single pilot. This is subject to ANAC approval and requires the use of modern autopilot systems, bringing the Argentine standard in line with major world aviation authorities.
Additionally, the requirements for entering the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) are modernized, and the flight plan obligation in this zone is eliminated for aircraft equipped with ADS-B technology (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast). By enabling real-time identification through digital technology, this maintains airspace security and control while reducing pre-flight bureaucracy.
In line with the modification of RAAC Part 61, the requirements for pilots to join airlines have been adjusted. The old requirement, which mandated accumulating 900 flight hours associated with a First Class Commercial Pilot's License to work in regular and non-regular airlines, has been eliminated. This measure updates the standards for labor market access, prioritizing competence and certified training over mere flight hour accumulation, thus facilitating the entry of new professionals into the commercial sector.
Finally, the criteria for minimum equipment are updated to allow more aircraft to operate under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), and the requirements for medical flights are simplified, favoring a more agile response in critical health operations.
This set of measures confirms the direction of the current aerocommercial policy: removing entry barriers and obsolete administrative hurdles to foster the growth of the aircraft fleet and commercial activity, relying on modern technology (such as ADS-B and advanced autopilots) as guarantors of operational safety.
