Stage: Final Publications

Regulatory Agency Final Publications

EASA Opinion No 02/2021 All Weather Operations (AWO) and Review of Crew Training Requirements

The objective of this Opinion is to modernise the European Union (EU) aviation regulatory framework applicable to all-weather operations (AWOs) and flight crew training to ensure the highest level of safety while enabling efficiency gains based on the latest technological advancements.

As regards AWOs, this proposal follows a performance- and risk-based approach. It sets the appropriate balance between performance-based and prescriptive principles depending on the type of air operations. The rules are not technology-dependent and may accommodate future changes.

It addresses all relevant disciplines and proposes to update the AWO-relevant rules in the domains of air operations, aircrew and aerodromes, in a coordinated manner. In this context, the proposal:

  • allows for a better integration and use of new, advanced technology as well as new operational procedures to support AWOs;
  • ensures the availability of aerodrome infrastructure (including meteorological equipment), information and procedures to support AWOs;
  • allows for the use of enhanced flight vision systems (EFVS) to the maximum extent possible (e.g. EFVS to land) and includes ‘light operational credits’ for EFVS 200 operations, not requiring the use of specific low-visibility procedures (LVPs); and
    allows for safe helicopter flights under instrument flight rules (IFR), using of point-in-space (PinS) approaches and departures.
  • As regards flight crew training, this proposal improves the existing mandatory crew training and checking requirements for air operators. It addresses initial and recurrent training and checking, the conditions for the operation on more than one aircraft type or variant, the acceptance of previous training and checking by non-commercial operators, and multi-pilot operations of single-pilot certified helicopters.

Certain changes to crew training are expected to increase safety in a cost-effective way. The other changes are expected to maintain safety, reduce the regulatory burden, increase cost-effectiveness, improve harmonisation regarding AWOs (e.g. with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)), and transpose as much as feasible the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

UK CAA Holders of FAA Pilot Licenses who are Permanently Residing in the UK Exercising Private License Privileges based on a license issued by the USA within UK Airspace

Explanatory Note:
With effect of 22 December 2021 FAA Airmen Certificate holders who permanently reside within the UK, cannot operate on the basis of such a certificate within United Kingdom airspace, such certificate
holder must convert to a lifetime UK Part-FCL licence, or apply for a 12 months validation certificate (renewable only once), should they want to continue operating in UK airspace.

Department of State Policy for F-1 and M-1 Visas Considered for National Interest Exemption (NIE) Waiver

Students with valid F-1 and M-1 visas intending to begin or continue an academic program, including optional practical training (OPT), starting August 1, 2021 or later do not need to contact an embassy or consulate to travel.  They may enter the United States no earlier than 30 days before the start of their academic program.  Students seeking to apply for new F-1 or M-1 visas should check the status of visa services at the nearest embassy or consulate; those applicants who are found to be otherwise qualified for an F-1 or M-1 visa will automatically be considered for an NIE to travel.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/national-interest-exceptions-for-certain-travelers-from-china-Iran-brazil-south-africa-schengen-area-united-kingdom-and-ireland.html

FAA Order 8000.373B

This order sets forth the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Compliance Program as the overarching guidance for implementing the FAA’s strategic safety
oversight approach to meet the challenges of today’s rapidly changing aerospace system. This
order also establishes the means by which the FAA will monitor the operation and effectiveness
of the Compliance Program.

ED Decision 2021/006/R AMC-20 Amendment 21 – Extended range operation with two-engine aeroplanes ETOPS certification and operation

AMC-20 Amendment 21

Extended range operation with two-engine aeroplanes ETOPS certification and operation

Following the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2019/1387, the objective of this Decision is to support the implementation of the requirements on commercial operation of certain categories of aeroplanes without an ETOPS approval. To this end, AMC20-6 has been amended as necessary.

ED Decision 2016/007/R Changes to operational suitability data (OSD)

This ED Decision includes acceptable means of compliance (AMC) and guidance material (GM) to Part-21 (Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 748/2012) to facilitate the implementation of the rules related to the approval of changes to operational suitability data (OSD).

The purpose of the draft AMC/GM annexed to this Decision is to reduce the administrative burden on applicants for the approval of a change. The guidance should allow these applicants to come easily to a decision with regard to:

  • whether a design change impacts on OSD or not;
  • the classification of changes to OSD as ‘minor’ or ‘major’ ones;
  • the certification basis for the OSD change; and
  • the use of their design organisation approval (DOA) for OSD changes.