This letter is to inform you that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted your petition, in part, to extend Exemption No. 18509A. The discussion below reviews the petition, states the decision, lists the conditions and limitations, and describes the decision’s effect.
The Petition By letter dated July 9, 2020, you petitioned the FAA on behalf of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and its members for an extension of Exemption No. 18509A. That exemption from §§ 135.293(b), 135.295(e) and (g), 135.297(c)(1)(i) and (ii), 135.331(c)(3), (5), and (7), 135.347(a), and 135.351(b)(2) and (c) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) provides relief to allow NATA members and other part 135 air carriers/operators to use alternative methods to conduct certain required crewmember1 emergency procedures during
recurrent and upgrade training, testing, or checking through July 31, 2020.
This AC describes the rationale for using a continuous descent final approach (CDFA) technique on a Nonprecision Approach (NPA), as well as recommended general procedures and training guidelines for implementing CDFA as a standard operating procedure (SOP). The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way.
Subject: Expansion of Existing Programs and FAA Policy – Flexibilities for Managing Scheduled
Maintenance Requirements Due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
Purpose: This InFO notifies operators of temporary changes to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
policy on the use of short-term escalations (STE) to manage scheduled maintenance requirements affected
by the COVID-19 public health emergency. This InFO also provides information on increased flexibilities
related to the use of STEs and how operators may request FAA authorization for the expanded use of
STEs.
AMC & GM to Authority, Organisation and Operations Requirements for Aerodromes — Issue 1, Amendment 3
Rescue and firefighting services at aerodromes
The objective of this Decision is to maintain a high level of safety for aerodrome operations. In particular, it aims to enhance the effectiveness of rescue and firefighting personnel when responding to aviation emergencies at an aerodrome, by allowing the aerodrome operators to train rescue and firefighting personnel on pressure-fed fuel fires more frequently at facilities that utilise fuel other than jet fuel (e.g. gas). The substitution of the jet fuel with other types of fuels provides an alternative way to the training, which is cost effective and environmentally friendly.
Furthermore, the Decision provides guidance material to support aerodrome operators to verify the medical and physical fitness condition of the rescue and firefighting personnel. The guidance material is based on current medical practices for rescue and firefighting personnel and on ICAO Doc 9137 Part 1 ‘Rescue and firefighting services’.
This memorandum approves three separate Transport Standards Branch (TSB) requests, dated
July 19, 2018, October 25, 2019, and June 11, 2020, to deviate from certain issue paper and
policy requirements in the following orders:
– 8110.4C, Type Certification,
– 8110.112A, Standardized Procedures for Usage of Issue Papers and Development of
Equivalent Levels of Safety Memorandums
– 8100.16, Aircraft Certification Service Policy Statement, Policy Memorandum, and
Deviation Memorandum Systems
This deviation approval allows the TSB to use alternative documents in lieu of an issue paper for
an equivalent level of safety (ELOS), special condition, or an unsafe features or characteristics
that could preclude certification (reference Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)
21.21(b)(2)).
This deviation only applies to issue papers and policy related to 14 CFR part 25 airworthiness
standards.
1. Purpose of This Order. This order restates current Flight Standards Service (FS) policy for
personnel to use as they develop and execute annual surveillance work programs, incorporates
organizational changes and policy division changes, updates previous guidance work activities,
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations, Inspector General (IG)
recommendations, and congressional mandates.
2. Audience. This order pertains to FS personnel who use annual surveillance work programs.
This order excludes surveillance conducted under the Safety Assurance System (SAS).
