The Latest FAA News and Updates

We all know how important it is to stay aware of industry news and regulatory announcements. To make your busy life a little easier, here’s some of the latest information you should know from the July/August issue of the FAA Safety Briefing magazine.

FFA Wants You for 2013 GA Survey

The FAA is asking aircraft owners/operators to take part in the confidential 2013 General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey (GA Survey), and help them collect accurate information on aviation activity across the U.S. The data will then be used to help the FAA calculate fatal accident rates for GA and Part 135 aircraft.

The FAA is asking everyone who received the 36th annual GA Survey invitation in the mail complete the survey, even if you did not fly your aircraft in 2013. The surveys have been sent to approximately 85,000 aircraft owners/operators from the categories of turbine aircraft (turboprops and turbojets), rotorcraft, special light-sport aircraft, aircraft operating on-demand Part 135, aircraft registered in Alaska, and aircraft manufactured since 2008.

Because the study is a random sample, only those who received invitations can participate. All responses are confidential and the information will be used only for statistical purposes. If you have questions, please contact Tetra Tech toll-free at 1-800-826-1797 or email infoaviationsurvey@tetratech.com.

FAA Encourages MROs to Join Risk-Based Safety Programs

As part of the FAA’s risk-based approach to aviation safety, the agency is pushing to get more maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) providers to contribute data to industry-wide risk-based safety programs.

Several MROs have already joined the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) program, which also includes 45 airlines and 24 other corporate, regulatory, and industry organizations.

To view some of the data collected through ASIAS, go to www.asias.faa.gov.

“Got Weather?” Campaign Launches: Hashtag #GotWx

In May, the FAA partnered with multiple general aviation (GA) groups on a national “Got Weather?” safety campaign to help GA pilots be more prepared for potential weather challenges during the 2014 flying season.

To read weather-related information and/or contribute weather updates, use the Twitter hashtag #GotWx.

Got Weather will be an eight-month-long campaign in partnership with Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), FAA Safety Team, GA Joint Steering Committee, General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Helicopter Association International (HAI), National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA), National Air Transportation Association (NATA), National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI), National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA), Soaring Society of America (SSA), Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), University Aviation Association (UAA), and U.S. Parachute Association (USPA).

New IFR Handbook Available Online

A new online Instrument Procedures Handbook is now available to instrument Flight Rules (IFR) pilots. The manual replaces the 2007 version, and contains specific information covering runway incursion, land and hold short operations, controlled flight into terrain, and human factors issues.

New ATP Knowledge Test for Airplane Multiengine Class Rating

Per the final rule published in July 2013, pilots seeking a certificate with an airplane category multiengine class rating, or an ATP certificate obtained concurrently with an airplane type rating.

Beginning August 1, 2014, all pilots seeking an Airplane Multi-engine Class (ATP) certificate with a multi-engine class rating will be required to complete the ATP Certification Training Program (CTP) prior to taking the ATP knowledge test. This includes academic and flight simulation training device (FSTD) training.

To take the knowledge test for the ATP certificate with an airplane category multi-engine class rating after July 31, 2014, the applicant must present a graduation certificate for the ATP CTP.

The revised ATP knowledge test for the ATP certificate with an airplane category multi-engine class rating will be available on August 1, 2014.

For a sample version of the test click here.

For detailed information on the new ATP requirements, please see the Job Aid diagrams.

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