This AC provides information
and guidance for a Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 135,
§ 135.419, Approved Aircraft Inspection Program (AAIP). This AC is not mandatory and
does not constitute a regulation. This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only
means, for a certificate holder (CH) to develop and obtain approval of an AAIP. 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.

Background: Following investigations of bird strikes involving rotorcraft, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) tasked the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) to provide
recommendations regarding bird strike protection rulemaking, policy, or guidance for normal category rotorcraft; to evaluate existing bird strike protection standards for transport category rotorcraft; and to provide recommendations for enhancement. The ARAC established the Rotorcraft Bird Strike Working Group (RBSWG), composed of industry manufacturers and rotorcraft operators, to provide advice and recommendations to the ARAC. The RBSWG studied bird strike reports for rotorcraft in the National Wildlife Strike Database. The RBSWG found little information is provided to helicopter operators, including flight schools and flight training facilities, about bird strike hazards.

This technical standard order (TSO) is for manufacturers applying for a TSO authorization (TSOA) or letter of TSO design approval (LODA). In it, we (the Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA)) tell you what minimum performance standards (MPS) your Alternating Current (AC) to AC converter must meet for approval and identification with the applicable TSO marking.

This final rule amends the U.S. Department of Transportation’s regulated
industry drug testing program to include oral fluid testing. This additional methodology
for drug testing will give employers a choice that will help combat employee cheating on
urine drug tests and provide a less intrusive means of achieving the safety goals of the
program. In order for an employer to implement oral fluid testing under the
Department’s regulation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will need to
certify at least two laboratories for oral fluid testing, which has not yet been done. The
final rule includes other provisions to update the Department’s regulation and to
harmonize, as needed, with the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug
Testing Programs using Oral Fluid established by the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. In addition, this rule amends the FAA, FMCSA, FRA and FTA
regulations to ensure consistency within the Department of Transportation and by
removing or adjusting references to the word “urine” and/or add references to oral fluid,
as well as removing or amending some definitions for conformity and to make other
miscellaneous technical changes or corrections.