Stage: Final Publications

Regulatory Agency Final Publications

FAA Order JO_8020.16E Air Traffic Organization Aircraft Accident and Aircraft Incident Notification, Investigation, and Reporting

This order prescribes Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Organization (ATO) procedures and responsibilities for aircraft accident and aircraft incident notification, investigation, reporting, and documentation. It provides direction and guidance to ATO service units, service centers, service areas, offices, and facilities when they are called upon to perform or support aircraft accident investigations. All concerned personnel must familiarize themselves with the provisions of this order that pertain to their responsibilities and exercise their best judgment if they encounter situations not covered by the order.

AC/CI 500-004 – ISSUE/EDITION 02 – EXTERNAL LOADS ON AEROPLANES – APPROVAL PROCESS AND FLIGHT TEST CONSIDERATIONS / CHARGES EXTERNES SUR UN AVION A VOILURE FIXE – PROCESSUS D’APPROBATION

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on the process for obtaining an external load approval on small aeroplanes in the Normal category. It specifically applies to single engine floatplanes. This material applies to both private and commercial air operators. This AC does not provide guidance on “specialty” external loads such as towed or slung loads.

FAA N8900_687 Determine Applicant Readiness for Certification

The purpose of this notice is to provide information and assist
Office Managers (OM), Front Line Managers (FLM), or office points of contact (POC) who are
working with applicants applying for an air carrier, air operator, or air agency certificate, or the
issuance of management specifications (MSpec) in accordance with Title 14 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (14 CFR) parts 91 subpart K (part 91K), 125, 133, 135, 137, 141, 142, 145,
and 147. The scope and intent of this notice is to supplement Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) Order 8900.1, Volume 2, Air Operator and Air Agency Certification and Application
Process, and Volume 10, Chapter 12, Certification Services Oversight Process.

FAA Order_7400.10F_2024_ Special Use Airspace

This order is published annually, to add all amendments to the special use airspace areas, as well as issued but not yet implemented amendments as published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as final rules in the Federal Register and the National Flight Data Digest (NFDD).

FAA AC_61-65H_Ed_Upd Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance for pilot and instructor applicants, pilots, flight
instructors, ground instructors, and examiners on the certification standards, knowledge test
procedures, and other requirements in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)
part 61. 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, and the document is intended only to provide information to the
public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies

EASA Opinion No 01/2024 Ground Handling Requirements

This Opinion proposes an EU regulation on ground handling (GH) and subsequent amendments to Regulations (EU) No 965/2012 on air operations, (EU) No 139/2014 on aerodromes, and (EU) 2022/1645 on information security. The purpose is to ensure a level playing field for organisations providing GH services in Europe, including when these are provided as self-handling by aircraft operators, and to establish a baseline for the safety of these services.

The Opinion includes a regulatory framework for a scalable management system proportional to the size and complexity of the operation, covering the management of safety, safety culture, training requirements for GH personnel, a maintenance programme for the ground support equipment used for the provision of GH services, and general operational requirements for the provision of GH services. EASA proposes a new approach for the acceptance of industry standards applied in the GH domain, acknowledging their continued use and enabling their implementation on a voluntary basis. Their importance for the harmonisation and standardisation of GH operational procedures is more relevant than in any other aviation domain due to the number of different industry standards and their coverage of the entire spectrum of GH operations. Provision of GH services will be based on a declaration regime, which enables a sign-and-start system that does not require any prior approval by competent authorities before starting operation.

This Opinion also includes oversight requirements for competent authorities, with a particular focus on cooperative oversight, which becomes a crucial element for an efficient oversight of pan-European organisations providing GH services.

Amendments to Regulations (EU) No 965/2012 and (EU) No 139/2014 are proposed to address mutual exchange of safety-relevant information among GH organisations, aircraft operators and aerodrome operators regarding GH operations, and to enable smooth integration of the new management system elements addressing GH. This Opinion also proposes to include the GH domain in the scope of Regulation (EU) 2022/1645 on security management.

The proposed new rules are expected to ensure a consistent feedback loop on safety reports from authorities to organisations, a better understanding of the safety risks, a better exchange of safety information between the stakeholders involved and an assessment of mitigation measures, with the ultimate effect of improving the overall flight safety.