What s Up? Future of Flight Standards & Airman Certification Standards Prepared for: WATS Regional Airline Track By: Barbara Adams & Susan Parson Date: April 2018
Future of Flight Standards Transition the Future is Now On August 20, Flight Standards (FS) transitioned its management and reporting structure from the traditional geography-based regional structure to a functional structure. This structure supports ongoing culture change at individual and management levels. It aligns FS leadership in four areas: Air Carrier Safety Assurance General Aviation Safety Assurance Safety Standards Foundational Business.
Flight Standards Service Functional Structure
Culture Change Culture Change Structural Change Future of Flight Standards Organizational Health Individual Employees Leaders and Managers Functional Organization Interdependence Critical Thinking Consistency Mutual Learning Coach Approach Leading Change Agile Efficient Consistent Culture Change + Structural Realignment Result = Organizational Health: Agility, Efficiency, Consistency to meet challenges of: Accountability, Budget, Change-Readiness, Decision-Making
Resources Future of Flight Standards Realignment Toolkit provides a one-stop shopping point for information on realignment. Flight Standards Service web pages have been updated. Rapid Response Team (RRT) responds to issues that arise from realignment. Email: FlightStandardsRRT@faa.gov Telephone number 888-283-8944. Note: All modes of communication monitored 8:00am - 8:00pm ET
Airman Certification System Recap - what is the ACS? ACS - Current Status What s next? Revisions Aircraft Mechanic ACS Instructor ACS ATP ACS Development Other Resources
Recap - What is the ACS? Airman Certification Standards Enhanced version of the Practical Test Standards (PTS) ACS replaces the PTS Adds task-specific knowledge and risk management elements to each PTS Area of Operation/Task Result: Integrated presentation of specific knowledge, risk management, and skill elements for each Task Single source set of standards for both knowledge exam and the practical test
What is the ACS? Definition & integration of elements = comprehensive standard Aeronautical knowledge Know Aeronautical decision-making & special emphasis Consider PTS-based flight proficiency Do
Airman Certification System Changes: Regulations, Policies, Procedures, Feedback Knowledge exam questions are meaningful, relevant, aligned with standards and guidance. Oral and practical tests are more focused and more efficient. A C S c o d e s e n a b l e c o n t i n u o u s a l i g n m e n t Guidance Standards Combined certification standards for knowledge, risk management, and skill Rules, H-series handbooks, Advisory Circulars, other FAA information sources Testing Knowledge exam, oral and practical tests for issuance of certificate or rating Change Management Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, Reinforcement via disciplined change management plan with associated communications strategy Alignment as appropriate with other Certificates / Ratings
Who created the ACS? ACS arises from extensive FAA/industry collaboration Industry-led development the ACS has been developed, refined, and tested through three consecutive aviation training community groups with diverse representation. Public comment - the FAA established several dockets for the training community groups to receive public comments on the ACS. Prototyping - the FAA and community partners conducted ACS prototype activities to test and refine the ACS for private pilot (airplane) and instrument rating (airplane). Prototyping is already underway for developing ACS documents.
ACS Current Status June 2017: First version of ACS for Commercial Pilot Airplane Updates to ACS for Private Pilot Airplane certificate and Instrument-Airplane Rating: Incorporated changes suggested by stakeholders Streamlined to consolidate certain task elements Standardized phrasing/sequence of certain task elements Modified Slow Flight and Stalls Area of Operation in Private and Commercial Airplane ACS. Effective June 12, 2017.
ACS What s Next? In development: Private/Instrument/Commercial Updates Effective June 2018 Instructor (Airplane) Initial prototyping underway Aircraft Mechanic Certificate with Airframe and/or Powerplant ratings Now available for review & comment Airline Transport Pilot (Airplane) Helicopter Powered-Lift
ATP ACS Challenges: Certification vs Type Rating ATP Certification Training Program Standards for certification (not training) Moving the Notes to the Appendices
ATP ACS PTS knowledge areas incorporated Required Part 61 knowledge areas added ATP certificate vs. Type rating
ATP ACS Like tasks grouped together Tasks follow the organization of the Private, Commercial, and Instrument Rating ACS publications where possible
ATP ACS Stall tasks have been grouped into a separate Area of Operation Knowledge & Risk elements tailored to each stall
ATP ACS All instrument-related tasks grouped together All emergency tasks grouped together
ATP ACS - Appendices
ATP ACS When will you see it? ACS WG members must complete a final recommendation Recommendation to ARAC anticipated in June 2018 With ARAC approval, FAA will finalize and prepare for release Effective date will be several months after publication
ATP Knowledge Test FAA boarding of questions to begin in the coming months All active test questions will be aligned with the ACS (standard) ATP Certification Training Program topics will be covered in the questions
Thanks to Aviation Community Partners! Current and Past Aviation Community Participants AOPA CAPA King Schools Redbird Simulations Airlines for America (A4A) ERAU Liberty University RACCA ALPA FAA Mary Schu Aviation Robert Stewart, CFI AnywhereEducation Inc. FedEx Express NATA Savvy Aircraft Maintenance AABI Flight Safety International NAFI Satcom Direct (Mariellen Couppee) Aviation Research Training & Services GAMA NBAA SAFE ASA Gleim Navy Technologies Sportys Academy ATEC Florida Institute of Technology Oxford Flying Club UAA CAE Florida State College Paul Alp, CFI UND Cessna Pilot Centers Jeppesen Polk State College
Resources - ACS Airman Testing Web Page http://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/ http://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs/ ACS Focus Team 9-AVS-ACS-Focus-Team@FAA.gov