[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4800-4801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01673]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC); New Task
Assignment for the ARAC: Establishment of Airman Certification System
Working Group
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The FAA assigned the ARAC a new task arising from
recommendations of the ARAC Airman Testing Standards and Training
Working Group (ATSTWG). The ATSTWG recommended ways to ensure that the
FAA's airman testing and training materials better support reduction of
fatal general aviation accidents. The FAA and the Aviation Industry
jointly seek to improve airman training and testing by establishing an
integrated, holistic airman certification system that clearly aligns
testing with certification standards, guidance, and reference
materials, and maintains that alignment. The new task is to establish
an Airman Certification System Working Group (ACSWG) that will provide
expert assistance and industry views to the FAA's Flight Standards
Service (AFS) on the development, modification, and continued alignment
of the major components of the airman certification system.
This action item informs the public of the new ARAC's task and
solicits membership for the new ACSWG.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Van L. Kerns, Manager, Regulatory
Support Division, FAA Flight Standards Service, AFS 600, FAA Mike
Monroney Aeronautical Center, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125;
telephone (405) 954-4431, email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA established ARAC to provide advice and recommendations to
the FAA Administrator on the FAA's rulemaking activities. ARAC's
objectives are to improve the development of the FAA's regulations by
providing information, advice, and recommendations related to aviation
issues.
On September 21, 2011, the FAA chartered the Airman Testing
Standards and Training Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) for the U.S.
aviation community to develop recommendations for more effective
training and testing in the areas of aeronautical knowledge and flight
proficiency required for safer operation in today's National Airspace
System (NAS). The FAA's charge to the ARC was to help ensure that FAA's
technical information related to existing standards for airman
knowledge and skill tests, computer testing supplements, knowledge test
guides, practical test standards and training handbooks incorporates
the most current, relevant, and effective approaches to training and
testing. The FAA specifically tasked the ARC with providing
recommendations on a process for ongoing stakeholder participation in
developing the content of these materials, and methodologies for
developing better test item bank questions.
On August 30, 2012, the ARAC accepted the FAA's assignment of a new
task in response to several of the ARC's recommendations. ARAC
established the ATSTWG to address the private pilot, flight instructor,
and instrument rating training and testing materials by developing an
integrated Airman Certification Standards (ACS) document for each one.
The FAA also tasked the ATSTWG to develop a detailed proposal to
realign and, as appropriate, streamline and consolidate existing FAA
guidance material (e.g., handbooks) with each integrated ACS documents;
and to propose methodologies to ensure that knowledge test item bank
questions are consistent with both the ACS documents and the test
question development principles set forth in the ARC's recommendations.
On September 30, 2013, the ARAC submitted to the FAA the ATSTWG's
final report and recommendations to improve airman training and testing
by establishing an integrated, holistic airman certification system
that clearly aligns testing with certification standards, guidance, and
reference materials, and maintains that alignment. The ATSTWG
recommended specific steps the FAA should take to adopt the proposed
Airman Certification System approach, and steps for its ongoing
management. One of these steps is for the FAA to establish an ACSWG to
assist the agency in ensuring that the content of its ACS, guidance,
and knowledge testing materials is relevant and current; and to ensure
that all components of the airman certification system are maintained
in alignment.
The Task
On December 2013, the ARAC discussed the proposed actions for this
tasking. This notice advises the public that the FAA has assigned, and
the ARAC has accepted, a new task to establish the ACSWG. The FAA has
specifically tasked the ACSWG to support the FAA's goal to enhance
general aviation safety and reduce the fatal general aviation accident
rate by providing a means for the aviation industry to provide expert
assistance and industry views to the FAA's Flight Standards Service
(AFS) on the development, modification, and continued alignment of the
major components of the airman certification system, which include:
1. The ACS for airman certificates and ratings (i.e. 8081-series
documents);
2. Associated training guidance material (e.g., H-series
handbooks);
3. Test management (e.g., test question development, test question
boarding, test composition/test ``mapping,'' and CT-8080-series
figures); and
[[Page 4801]]
4. Reference materials, to include AFS directives and Aviation
Safety Inspector guidance; FAA Orders, Advisory Circulars (ACs), and
other documents pertaining to the airman certification system.
The ACSWG is expected to develop a report describing its work on
each of the listed elements. Any disagreements should be documented,
including the rationale for each position and the reasons for the
disagreement.
In developing this report, the ACSWG shall familiarize itself with:
1. A report to the FAA from the Airman Testing Standards and
Training Aviation Rulemaking Committee: Recommendations to Enhance
Airman Knowledge Test Content and Its Processes and Methodologies for
Training and Testing (www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs/arc);
2. A report from the Airman Testing Standards and Training Working
Group to the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee;
3. Aeronautical knowledge standards set forth in 14 CFR part 61,
Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors;
4. Flight proficiency standards set forth in 14 CFR part 61,
Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors;
5. FAA Airman Knowledge Test Guide (FAA-G-8082-17E);
6. Current Practical Test Standards documents for Private Pilot
Airplane (FAA-S-8081-14B); Flight Instructor Airplane (FAA-S-8081-6C);
and Instrument Rating for Airplane, Helicopter, and Powered Lift (FAA-
S-8081-4E); and
7. Current FAA guidance materials, to include the Pilot's Handbook
of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25A); the Airplane Flying
Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3A); the Aviation Instructor's Handbook (FAA-H-
8083-9A); the Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15A); and the
Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-1A).
Schedule
The report must be forwarded to the ARAC for review and approval no
later than December 31, 2015.
ARAC Acceptance of New Task
The ARAC has accepted the task and will assign it to the ARAC
ACSWG. The ACSWG serves as staff to ARAC and assists in the analysis of
the assigned new task. ARAC must review and approve the ACSWG's report.
If ARAC accepts the ACSWG's written report, it will transmit it to the
FAA.
Working Group Activity
The ACSWG must comply with the procedures adopted by ARAC. As part
of the procedures, the ACSWG must:
1. Recommend a work plan for completion of the task, including the
rationale supporting such a plan, for consideration at the next ARAC
meeting held following publication of this notice.
2. Provide a status report at each meeting of the ARAC.
3. Draft the report and required analyses and/or any other related
materials or documents.
4. Present the final report to the ARAC for review and approval.
Participation in the ARAC Working Group
The ACSWG will be comprised of aviation professionals with
experience and expertise in airman training and testing, and technical
experts having an interest in the assigned new task. The FAA would like
a wide range of members, to include individuals with experience in the
part 61, part 121, part 135, part 141, and part 142 communities, to
ensure that all appropriate aspects of airman testing and training,
including best practices, are considered in the development of its
report.
If you wish to become a member of the ACSWG, please write the
person listed under the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
expressing such desire. Describe your interest in the new task and
state the expertise you would bring to the ACSWG. We must receive all
requests by February 28, 2014.
The ARAC and the FAA will review the requests and advise you
whether your request is approved.
If you are chosen for membership on the ACSWG, you must actively
participate by attending all meetings and providing written comments
when requested to do so. You must devote the resources necessary to
support the ACSWG in meeting any assigned deadlines. You must keep your
management chain, and those you may represent, advised of the ACSWG's
activities and decisions to ensure the proposed technical solutions do
not conflict with your sponsoring organization's position, when the
subject is presented to ARAC for approval. Once the ACSWG has begun
deliberations, members will not be added or substituted without the
approval of the FAA and the ACSWG Chair.
The Secretary of Transportation determined the formation and use of
ARAC is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the
performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law. ARAC meetings are open
to the public. However, ARAC Working Group meetings are not open to the
public, except to the extent individuals with an interest and expertise
are selected to attend. The FAA will make no public announcement of the
Working Group's meetings.
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2014.
Lirio Liu,
Designated Federal Officer, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 2014-01673 Filed 1-28-14; 8:45 am]
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