In March 2020 the FAA published PS-AIR-21-1901 ‘Use of Remote Technology During the Performance of Inspections and Tests’.  This policy provides information on the use of remote technology to perform prototype conformity inspections, engineering and ground tests, engineering compliance inspections, production conformity inspections, and inspections for the issuance of an Authorized Release Certificate, FAA Form 8130-3, Airworthiness Approval Tag. Its publication was fast tracked for issuance so that it could be immediately available as a tool to help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 to perform prototype conformity inspections, engineering and ground tests, engineering compliance inspections, production conformity inspections, and inspections for the issuance of an Authorized Release Certificate, FAA Form 8130-3, Airworthiness Approval Tags.

In June 2020 GAMA submitted a GAMA whitepaper that reflects the industry’s perspective on appropriate and acceptable use of remote technologies consistent with the considerations contained within the policy statement, and historical application of existing regulations. The whitepaper also included a section containing questions and recommendations for certain areas within the policy that would benefit from clarification to help promote a more consistent interpretation and application.

In August 2020 the FAA issued its response to GAMAs whitepaper and recommendations by publishing an FAQ page that includes corresponding clarifying guidance and answers to GAMA’s recommendations.

This Advisory Circular (AC) provides certificate holders with recommended contents for a dangerous goods training program and manual designed to guide and manage dangerous goods operations. Developing and using the comprehensive guidance in this document will promote the establishment of a safe and efficient dangerous goods operation. This AC establishes guidance for all part 119 certificate holders operating in accordance with part 121 or part 135 under operations specifications (OpSpec) to carry dangerous goods (Will Carry), prohibiting the transport of dangerous goods (Will Not Carry) and/or authorized to transport passengers and their baggage. Specifically, this AC sets forth suggestions for establishing a comprehensive dangerous goods training program and manual, regardless of the certificate holder’s OpSpec.

Dangerous goods are known to have been involved in, and the cause of, incidents and accidents associated with air transportation. A certificate holder’s dangerous goods program constitutes the foundation for safely transporting dangerous goods by air. This AC provides guidance on designing and implementing a dangerous goods program to include managing the risks entering the aviation system from declared and undeclared dangerous goods. Passengers and shippers of cargo routinely introduce hazards associated with dangerous goods into the air transport system, often unknowingly. This includes dangerous goods associated with baggage, cargo, and COMAT. Improperly prepared and mismanaged dangerous goods can increase the risks to passengers, crew, aircraft, property, and environment. The hazards posed by these materials are often varied and difficult to specifically identify. Therefore, the risks are best addressed by individual certificate holders within the context of their own systems. This AC is not mandatory, and does not constitute a regulation. This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, of complying with applicable regulations to manage dangerous goods operations.

This change transmits revised pages to Order JO 1320.58C, Instructions for Writing
Notices, Maintenance Technical Handbooks, and System Support Directives, dated 01/28/2013.

This notice announces a nonmandatory revision to operations
specification (OpSpec) C054 applicable to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)
parts 121 and 135

This notice provides guidance to the Flight Standards Service aviation safety inspectors (ASI) in applying the terms “acceptable to” and “accepted by.”

In support of AC 20-140C Guidelines for design approval of aircraft data link communication systems supporting air traffic services (ATS)