Advisory Circulars

This AC is intended to provide guidance for developing maintenance and inspection programs for aircraft operated as public aircraft. The recommendations in this AC were developed using industry best practices, depending on the aircraft being operated. The AC describes methods for maintaining aircraft in order to maximize both a safety and economic benefit.

This Advisory Circular (AC) sets forth standards for marking and lighting obstructions that have been deemed to be a hazard to navigable airspace.

This AC contains the FAA specification for obstruction lighting equipment.  Effective 12 months after the date of this circular, only that equipment qualified per this specification will be listed in AC 150/5345-53, Airport Lighting Equipment Certification Program.  No re-testing will be required for existing equipment where test standards are unchanged from the previous version of this AC.

This AC provides guidance material for applicants seeking an airworthiness approval for aircraft with an installed data link system intended to support air traffic services (ATS) data communication. It identifies specific configurations of aircraft data link systems for applicants seeking approval for type certificates (TC) and supplemental type certificates (STC) in order to facilitate operational approvals. Appendix A of this AC provides a list of related documents. Appendix B of this AC contains a list of applicable acronyms. 1.2 This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, for you to gain airworthiness approval for aircraft data link system equipment. However, if you use the means described in this AC, you must follow it in all important respects. 1.3 The term “must” is used in this AC to indicate a mandatory requirement driven by regulation that is to be followed when using the guidance in this AC. The term “should” is used in this AC to indicate a recommendation and not a requirement when using the guidance in this AC. Since this AC represents an accepted means of compliance, an applicant seeking an alternative to any requirement or recommendation within this AC will need to be discussed with the Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) in order to achieve a common performance level with the AC.

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance material for applicants seeking an airworthiness approval for aircraft with an installed Data Link Recording (DLR) system that records Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC). This AC describesan acceptable means, but not the only means, to gain design approval of your data link communication recording system. However, if you use the means described in the AC, you must follow it in its entirety.

In this AC, we focus on data to be recorded and logical recording point locations for storing CPDLC messages in onboard crash-survivable memory. These logical point locations, also called observation points, are physical locations within airborne avionic architectures deemed ideal for recording system data sources, as defined in Section 7.1 of this AC.

This advisory circular (AC) transmits an updated schedule of charges for services of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standards Service (AFS) aviation safety inspectors (ASI) outside the United States. Rulemaking action to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 187, Docket No. 27809; and Notice 94-24, Fees for Certification Services and Approvals Performed Outside the United States, established the methodology for determining these charges. The rulemaking established that the FAA would publish these fees in an AC.

This advisory circular (AC) describes a standardized procedure for requesting approval of technical data associated with major repairs/major alterations. This AC also provides information that can help determine if a proposed repair/alteration requires approved data, guidance and standardized procedures for obtaining field approval (or approval by other means) of data, and instructions for completing the field approval checklist. This AC is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation. This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, to obtain approved data for a major repair or major alteration. However, if you—whether you’re an aircraft owner, operator, or Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT), collectively termed an applicant—use the means described in the AC, you must follow it in all important respects.

This AC provides guidance to assist airport operators in developing a snow and ice control plan, assessing and reporting airport conditions through the utilization of the Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM), and establishing snow removal and control procedures.

For implementation purposes, all certificated airports must submit revised Snow and Ice Control Plans to the FAA no later than September 1, 2016, for approval.  The Federal NOTAM System is the primary means of conveying airport condition information by certificated and federally obligated airports.  Effective October 1, 2016, the Federal NOTAM System will incorporate the new reporting criteria and methodology contained in this AC. 

This AC provides guidance and standardized methods for meeting the training requirements outlined in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 91 Subpart N, Mitsubishi MU-2B Series Special Training, Experience, and Operating Requirements, for Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft. The new part 91 subpart N mandates training, experience, and operating requirements to ensure the highest level of operational safety for the Mitsubishi MU-2B series airplanes. This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, of complying with the requirement that all training and checking for the MU-2B aircraft must be conducted in accordance with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved training program. This AC is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation; however, it may be used by training providers to meet the requirements of part 91 subpart N. Training providers may also use this AC as a reference for developing their own MU-2B training programs to submit for FAA approval pursuant to the requirements of part 91 subpart N.

This advisory circular (AC) applies to all Operators conducting Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) operations. The AC can be used to obtain an initial operational authorization, or amend an existing, operational authorization. The AC appendices include supportive information relating to RVSM airworthiness certifications, training programs, operating practices and procedures, RVSM operations in oceanic and remote continental airspace, and review of height-keeping parameters. This AC describes acceptable means, but not the only means, for an Operator to obtain authorization to conduct flight in airspace or on routes where RVSM is applied. The advisory material contained in this AC has been substantially modified since the AC was issued in its original form in 2009.