This advisory circular (AC) explains what the term "maintenance program" means. Our explanation describes the scope and content of air carrier aircraft maintenance programs. This is important as there is a significant difference between an air carrier maintenance program and an inspection program used in non-air carrier maintenance operations. We explain the background of these programs as well as the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) regulatory requirements. We also describe and explain each of the 10 elements of air carrier maintenance programs. When we use "must" or "will" in this AC, we are referencing actual regulatory requirements. When we use "we," "us," or "our" in this AC, we mean the FAA. When we use "you," "your," or "yours," we mean you, the air carrier. When we use the term "person," it has the same meaning as that in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 1, § 1.1.

Advisory Circular 120-26K defines the criteria and procedures for obtaining an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) three-letter identifier and/or telephony designator assignment and for obtaining an FAA Special or Local telephony/call sign.

The information contained in this advisory circular (AC) was developed based on a review of recommended practices developed by major airplane manufacturers, labor organizations, air carriers, training organizations, simulator manufacturers, and industry representative organizations. This AC does not provide guidance for full aerodynamic stall training, which industry and government stakeholders are now developing. Once developed, this AC will be revised to include that guidance.

The goal of this AC is to provide best practices and guidance for training, testing, and checking for pilots, within existing regulations, to ensure correct and consistent responses to unexpected stall warnings and stick pusher activations. This AC emphasizes reducing the angle of attack (AOA) at the first indication of a stall as the primary means of approach-to-stall or stall recovery. Additionally, this AC provides guidance for operators and training centers in the development of stall and stick pusher event training.

This advisory circular (AC) provides information and describes an acceptable means of compliance (AMC) with the Reduction of Fuel Tank Flammability in Transport Category Airplanes, final rule. It is commonly called the Fuel Tank Flammability Reduction (FTFR) rule. This AC describes acceptable means, but not the only means, for demonstrating compliance with the applicable regulations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will consider other methods of demonstrating compliance that an applicant may elect to present. While these guidelines are not mandatory, they are derived from extensive FAA and industry experience in determining compliance with the relevant regulations. If the FAA becomes aware of circumstances that convince us that following this AC would not result in compliance with the applicable regulations, the FAA may require additional substantiation or design changes as a basis for finding compliance. This material does not change or create any additional regulatory requirements, nor does it authorize changes in or permit deviations from existing regulatory requirements.

This joint Flight Standards Service (AFS) and Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) advisory circular (AC) contains guidance on the operational use of Electronic Flight Bags (EFB). It is intended for all operators conducting flight operations under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 121, 125, 135, or 91 subpart F (part 91F) and part 91 subpart K (part 91K) who want to replace required paper information with an EFB. This AC sets forth an acceptable means, but not the only means, to obtain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)authorization for the operational use of EFBs. Part 91 operators can find additional EFB information in the current edition of AC 91-78, Use of Class 1 or Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB). For guidance on the installation of EFB components, refer to the current edition of AC 20-173, Installation of Electronic Flight Bag Components.

The Pilot Records Improvement Act of 1996 (PRIA), as amended, was enacted to ensure that air carriers and air operators adequately investigate a pilot’s background before allowing that pilot to conduct commercial air carrier flights. Under PRIA, a hiring employer cannot place a pilot into service until he or she obtains and reviews the last 5 years of the pilot’s background and other safety-related records as specified in PRIA.

This advisory circular (AC) is supplemented by the current edition of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order 8000.88, PRIA Guidance for FAA Inspectors, and numerous other documents found on the PRIA Web site at http://www.faa.gov/pilots/lic_cert/pria. These sources of detailed information related to PRIA provide invaluable assistance to the certificate holder or others concerning the PRIA request process as well as other compliance issues.

The FAA has greatly expanded this AC from the previous version to address operational situations that the hiring employer may encounter that could affect his or her records request process through PRIA.

The Flight Standards Service (AFS) is committed to a stakeholder-driven system of operation that will deliver FAA records and assistance to all parties subject to PRIA, when necessary.

On May 7, 2001, the Transport Airplane Fuel Tank System Design Review, Flammability Reduction and Maintenance and Inspection Requirements final rule was published in the Federal Register (FR). It has since been referred to as the 2001 Fuel Tank Safety (FTS) rule. It adopted amendments to part 25, Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 88 and operating requirements related to SFAR 88. The operating requirements included requirements to implement instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) that design approval holders (DAH) developed in compliance with SFAR 88. On November 8, 2007, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published the Enhanced Airworthiness Program for Airplane Systems (EAPAS)/FTS final rule. The purpose of the rule is to help ensure the continued safety of transport category airplanes by improving the design, installation, and maintenance of electrical wiring systems. The EAPAS/FTS rule amended the operating requirements to implement FTS actions developed in accordance with SFAR 88. Integrating the incorporation of the fuel tank system and electrical wiring interconnection system (EWIS) requirements helps to ensure compatibility and to eliminate duplication. Additionally, the EAPAS/FTS rule redesignates (replaces) Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91, § 91.410(b); part 121, § 121.370(b); part 125, § 125.248(b); and part 129, § 129.32(b) of the FTS rule. The new sections are §§ 91.1507, 121.1113, 125.507 and 129.113. These new rules also clarify language with reference to the approval process of the operator’s program. This advisory circular (AC) only addresses the fuel tank system safety requirements and describes acceptable means of compliance (AMC) accordingly. The current edition of AC 120-102, Incorporation of Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems Instructions for Continued Airworthiness into an Operator’s Maintenance Program, addresses EWIS requirements in the EAPAS/FTS rule.

 This advisory circular (AC) provides an acceptable, but not the only, means to address Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) issues related to installation and use of TCAS II regarding compliance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) parts 121, 125, and 129 requirements for air carriers.

This advisory circular provides guidance for all operators using the continuous descent final approach (CDFA)technique while conducting a nonprecision Approach (NPA) procedure. It describes the rationale for using the CDFA Technique, as well as recommended general procedures and training.

This advisory circular (AC)offers guidance on compliance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 26.21, 26.23, 121.1115, and 129.115.  It tells design approval holders of transport category airplanes how to establish a limit of validity of the engineering data that supports the structural maintenance program (hereafter referred to as LOV) for those airplanes. It also tells design approval holders how to address maintenance actions that have been determined necessary to support an LOV.  It tells operators of those airplanes how to incorporate the LOV into their maintenance programs.  Finally, this AC provides guidance to anyone wishing to extend an LOV.  Guidance for establishing an LOV for airplanes whose type certificate was applied for after (XXXX) is contained in AC 25.571-1X.  Guidance for extending an LOV approved under § 25.571, § 26.21, or § 26.23 can be found here.  The actions described in this AC are meant to prevent widespread fatigue damage (WFD) in the transport airplane fleet up to the LOV. 

 

This advisory circular (AC) presents various methods for operators of different data link systems to meet international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the regional airspace authorities. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notes that there is presently no requirement in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to have data link communications when operating in the National Airspace System (NAS). Instead, the regulations in 14 CFR govern radio communication systems, and nothing in this AC relieves an operator from the requirement to have and use a voice communication system when operating in international airspace or the NAS. However, operators that choose to operate in a reduced separation standard that requires the use of a data link system (in addition to the required voice communication system) must obtain FAA design approval and a revision to their 14 CFR part 121, 125, 125M, or 135 operation specifications (OpSpecs), part 91 subpart K (part 91K) management specifications (MSpecs) or part 91 letter of authorization (LOA), as applicable. The original AC 120-70 was applicable to Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN), very high frequency (VHF) data link (VDL) Mode 2 communication systems. The Future Air Navigation System (FANS) 1/A system used in oceanic and remote airspace is an analog system which communicates over Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS). Guidance is needed for the operation of all systems and therefore the first revision AC 120-70A, was created.

 

 

This advisory circular (AC) provides aviation safety inspectors (ASI) and air carrier management personnel with information to consider regarding certificate management and internal evaluation of operational control functions. This AC provides an accepted means, but not the only means for operators to comply with air carrier operational control regulations in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 121, §§ 121.531 through 121.537, and guidance in Flight Standards Information Management System (FSIMS), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 25, Operational Control for Air Carriers. If you use the means described in this AC, you must follow the guidance in all important respects.

 

States an acceptable means but not the only means for obtaining approval under FAR Section 121.161 for two-engine airplanes to operate over a route that contains a point farther than one hour flying time at the normal one-engine inoperative cruise speed (in still air) from an adequate airport.

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance material for Type Certificate (TC) Holders, Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) Holders, and operators to comply with requirements in the Aging Airplane Safety Act to ensure the airworthiness of aging airplane parts and components. The Aging Airplane Safety Rule that supports the Act specifies incorporating damage tolerance-based inspections into an operator’s continuous airworthiness maintenance program. These inspections will help ensure the integrity of fatigue critical structure on transport category airplanes operated in air transportation. This guidance will provide persons who have developed repairs and alterations with a means to develop damage tolerance data to be used to determine damage tolerance inspections for repairs and alterations that affect fatigue critical structure. This AC will give guidance on developing compliance documents, schedules and plans that will assist in developing and incorporating damage tolerance inspections into maintenance programs of certain transport category airplanes with respect to repairs and alterations.

This advisory circular (AC) summarizes Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards Service (AFS) Safety and Enforcement Policy about the use of portable oxygen concentrators (POC) onboard aircraft

Recommends subject to be covered in air carrier programs designed to: (1) inform crewmembers about radiation exposure and known associated health risks; and (2) assist crewmembers in making informed decisions with regard to their work on commercial air carriers. This AC provides a possible outline of courses but actual subject material should be gathered by the air carriers.

Provides FAA guidance for approval of an Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) under SFAR 58.

Describes acceptable methods and guidelines for developing takeoff and initial climb-out airport obstacle analyses and in-flight procedures to comply with the intent of the regulatory requirements of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 121,§§ 121.177, 121.189, and part 135, §§ 135.367, 135.379 and powered airplanes operated under parts 121 and 135

Provides the rationale and procedure for conducting an Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) at an airline.

Provides information and guidance material that may be used by air carrier certificate holders, operating under Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Parts 121 and 135, to design or develop an Internal Evaluation Program. The procedures and practices outlined in this (AC can be applied to maintenance, flight operations, and security aspects of an air carrier’s organization. Internal evaluation guidance for certificate holders other than those operating under FAR Pars 121 and 135 may be issued separately in the future.