FAA 2024-24886 Integration of Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations; Miscellaneous Amendments Related to Rotorcraft and Airplanes

This final rule adopts permanent amendments and a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for a period of ten years to: facilitate the certification of powered-lift pilots, clarify operating rules applicable to operations involving a powered-lift, and finalize other amendments which are necessary to integrate powered-lift into the National Airspace System (NAS). In this final action, the FAA finalizes its alternate framework to stand-up initial groups of powered-lift pilots and flight instructors. Most notably, the FAA adopts alternate frameworks to facilitate the certification of pilots seeking qualifications in a powered-lift with single functioning flight controls and a single pilot station. In response to commenters, the FAA provides clarification for certain operating rules and adopts a performance-based approach to certain operating rules to enable powered-lift operations. In addition to finalizing provisions for powered-lift, this action also makes changes to practical tests in aircraft that require type ratings, including airplanes and helicopters, training center rotorcraft instructor eligibility, training and testing requirements, and training center use of rotorcraft in flight training.

FAA AC 43-4B Ed Update 1 Corrosion Control for Aircraft

This advisory circular (AC) is a summary of the current available data regarding identification
and treatment of corrosive attack on aircraft structures and engine materials. Corrosion
inspection frequency, corrosion identification, and especially corrosion treatment continues to be
the responsibility of the operator. These inspections should be accomplished per this AC, the
manufacturer’s recommendations, or the operator’s own maintenance program. The procedures
in this AC are an acceptable means, but not the only acceptable means, of corrosion treatment.
The information in this AC is applicable to aircraft for which the manufacturer has not published
corrosion control information. Where the airframe or engine manufacturer has published a
recommended corrosion inspection schedule and treatment program, the applicable program
must take precedence over the recommendation of this AC.

FAA 2024-26935 Regulatory Updates to BasicMed

This final rule implements, without interpretation, the provisions of sections 815 and 828 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (“the Act”). To conform the FAA’s regulations to the self-enacting provisions in the Act, this final rule amends certain regulations to: align aircraft conditions and limitations with the term “covered aircraft” as defined in section 2307(j) of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 to increase the number of allowable passengers from 5 to 6, increase the number of occupants from 6 to 7, and increase the maximum takeoff weight from 6,000 pounds to 12,500 pounds, while excluding certain transport category rotorcraft. This final rule facilitates updates to current standards the medical form a State-licensed physician uses in completing a comprehensive medical examination. Further, this final rule amends regulations to incorporate the statutory expansion of BasicMed medical eligibility to examiners conducting practical tests or proficiency checks if they meet the requirements for operating covered aircraft under BasicMed, as provided in the Act.

Opinion No 07/2024 Regular update of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2117: Repository of civil-aviation-related information

This Opinion proposes amendments to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2117 which lays down the necessary rules and detailed requirements for the functioning and management of a repository of information, in particular with regard to the list of information objects provided in its Annex I which is considered dynamic and requires to be regularly updated.

Annex I to that Regulation lists the information objects (such as pilot licences, certificates of airworthiness, declarations, etc.) which shall be uploaded to the repository. Since the adoption of the Regulation, several developments have occurred, and new insights gained require changes to the list (objects are missing, are considered obsolete or the assigned priority group is now inappropriate).

The currently identified omissions and ambiguities in Annex I relate to the following:

  • registration of certified UAS,
  • exemptions (of a duration up to 8 months),
  • UAS operator certificate,
  • operator confirmation of acceptability of the updated mitigation measures and compliance of local conditions in case of cross-border operations,
  • operational authorisation for UAS operators, and
  • ‘permit to fly’ and ‘permit to fly — approval of flight conditions’.

The proposed regulatory material is expected to improve the dissemination, transfer and exchange of civil-aviation-related information between national competent authorities, EASA, the European Commission and safety investigation authorities.