The FAA is updating requirements for safety management systems and requiring certain certificate holders and commercial air tour operators to develop and implement a safety management system (SMS). This rule extends the requirement for an SMS to all certificate holders operating under the rules for commuter and on-demand operations, commercial air tour operators, production certificate holders that are holders or licensees of a type certificate for the same product, and holders of a type certificate that license out that type certificate for production. The FAA is publishing this rule in part to address a Congressional mandate as well as recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board and two aviation rulemaking committees. Additionally, the rule more closely aligns the United States with Annex 19 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. This rule will improve aviation safety by requiring organizations to implement a proactive approach to managing safety.

On October 17, 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published the subject direct final rule in the Federal Register, confirmed on November 29, 2023. In that direct final rule, the FAA redesignated two paragraphs in one section of the Code of Federal Regulations but failed to amend cross-references to those paragraphs. This document corrects those errors.

This notice provides inspectors with guidance on Revision 5 to
Policy Letter (PL) 34, MMEL and MEL Preamble.

This order provides guidance and assigns responsibility for aircraft certification service (AIR)
personnel to review and approve a safety management system (SMS) implementation plan,
complete a verification of SMS development, and complete an evaluation of SMS operation for a
design and production approval holder that is required to comply with Title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) part 5. Guidance is also provided for AIR personnel to review and accept
an implementation plan, complete a verification of SMS development, complete an evaluation of
SMS operation, and accept an SMS for design and production approval holders that are not
required to comply with part 5 but choose to voluntarily develop and implement a SMS.

This AC describes a system for accrediting civil aircraft parts distributors based on voluntary industry oversight. The AC also provides information for developing accreditation programs. We, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), strongly endorse participation in such a program to help certificated persons establish the eligibility of parts and products for installation on U.S. type-certificated products. We have revised this AC to meet current changes in regulatory requirements and industry practices since original publication.

This AC provides information to assist certain certificate holders under 14 CFR part 21 in developing, implementing, and maintaining a safety management system (SMS) to meet the regulatory requirements of
14 CFR part 5. This AC is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation. This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, to develop, implement, and maintain an SMS.

This notice announces changes to guidance for utilizing remote
technology (RT) when accomplishing certain administrative airman certification functions that
current guidance requires to be accomplished in person. This notice contains information that is
administrative in nature