| For Immediate Release |
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FAA Completes Rule Establishing Pilot Records
Database to Increase Safety
WASHINGTON – A new rule from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will enable the sharing of pilot records among employers in an electronic database maintained by the agency. The final rule (PDF) for the Pilot Records Database requires air carriers and certain other operators to report pilots’ employment history, training, and qualifications to the database. The rule also requires air carriers and certain operators to review records contained in the database when considering pilots for employment.
“It has been a long journey for the families of Colgan Flight 3407, but their tireless advocacy and continued engagement with the FAA has made this database a reality. With it, employers will be able to quickly and thoroughly make informed hiring decisions to keep our skies safe,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson.
The rule will update the current records reporting process to meet information-sharing requirements in the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act passed by Congress in 2010. Once the transition period is complete, the database will serve as the repository for pilot records from the FAA and records reported by current and previous employers.
The database will include the following information:
- FAA pilot certificate information, such as certificates and ratings;
- FAA summaries of unsatisfactory pilot applications for new certificates or ratings;
- FAA records of accidents, incidents, and enforcement actions;
- Records from employers on pilot training, qualification, and proficiency;
- Pilot drug and alcohol records;
- Employers’ final disciplinary action records;
- Pilot records concerning separation of employment; and
- Verification of pilot motor vehicle driving record.
The final rule (PDF) takes effect 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. Additional actions and timelines to support implementation of the rule include:
- Six months after the rule is published, operators must begin reviewing FAA records electronically in the database instead of submitting a form requesting records;
- One year after the rule is published, operators will begin to report and review records to the database; and
- Operators will have three years and 90 days to transition and fully comply with the rule.
The FAA will publish an advisory circular to accompany the final rule and will offer additional resources to support industry adoption and use of the database. The rule has been thoroughly debated and incorporates feedback from all aviation stakeholders. |
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Send comments identified by docket number [FAA-2020-0246] using any of the following methods:
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The FAA is proposing to require the use of an electronic Pilot Records Database (PRD) and implement statutory requirements. The PRD would be used to facilitate the sharing of pilot records among air carriers and other operators in an electronic data system managed by the FAA. Air carriers, specific operators holding out to the public, entities conducting public aircraft operations, air tour operators, fractional ownerships, and corporate flight departments would be required to enter relevant data on individuals employed as pilots into the PRD, and this would be available electronically to those entities. In addition, this proposal identifies all air carriers, fractional ownerships, and some other operators or entities that would be required to access the PRD and evaluate the available data for each pilot candidate prior to making a hiring decision.
Subject: Best Practices for Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operations.
Purpose: This SAFO serves to provide best practices to part 137 agricultural operators and pilots.
Background: On May 13, 2014, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued, Special Investigation Report (SIR) on the Safety of Agricultural Aircraft Operations (NTSB/SIR-14/01 PB2014-105983), which chronicled recurring safety issues in the agricultural industry. The SIR recommended that the FAA take appropriate action in coordination with the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) and the National Agricultural Aviation Research & Education Foundation (NAAREF) to reduce associated hazards.
The FAA agrees with the NTSB’s assessment and has considered information from NAAA and NAAREF on issues including, but not limited, to fatigue, risk assessment and risk management practices, pilot knowledge and skill subjects, and obstacle clearance and avoidance.
Discussion: The FAA strongly encourages all part 137 operators to be mindful of the safe operating practices discussed in Advisory Circular 137-1B, Certification Process for Agricultural Aircraft Operators, and consider the more detailed AC 120-100, Basics of Aviation Fatigue, to reduce and/or mitigate the effects of fatigue. This SAFO highlights several critical recommendations provided in the aforementioned ACs for Part 137 operators and pilots to consider.
amending the Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material to Annex I (Part-M), Annex II (Part-145), Annex III (Part-66), Annex IV (Part-147) and Annex Va (Part-T) to as well as to the articles of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014, and issuing Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material to Annex Vb (Part-ML), Annex Vc (Part-CAMO) and Annex Vd (Part-CAO) to that Regulation
- AMC & GM to Annex I (Part-M) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 “Issue 2 — Amendment 3”
- AMC & GM to Annex II (Part-145) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 “Issue 2 — Amendment 3”
- AMC & GM to Annex III (Part-66) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 “Issue 2 — Amendment 5”
- AMC & GM to Annex IV (Part-147) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 “Issue 2 — Amendment 2”
- AMC & GM to Annex Va (Part-T) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 “Issue 1 — Amendment 2”
- AMC & GM to the articles of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 “Issue 1 — Amendment 1”
- AMC & GM to Annex Vb (Part-ML) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 “Issue 1”
- AMC & GM to Annex Vc (Part-CAMO) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 “Issue 1”
- AMC & GM to Annex Vd (Part-CAO) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 “Issue 1”
The objective of this Opinion is to create and harmonise the necessary conditions for manned and unmanned aircraft to operate safely in the U-space airspace, to prevent collisions between aircraft and to mitigate the air and ground risks. Therefore, the U-space regulatory framework, supported by clear and simple rules, should permit safe aircraft operations in all areas and for all types of unmanned operations.
This Opinion proposes an effective and enforceable regulatory framework to support and enable operational, technical and business developments, and provide fair access to all airspace users, so that the market can drive the delivery of the U-space services to cater for airspace users’ needs.
This Opinion is, therefore, a first regulatory step to allow immediate implementation of the U-space after the entry into force of the Regulation and to let the unmanned aircraft systems and U-space technologies evolve.
