FAA

Deciphering Key Elements in the Chart Supplement

Chart Supplements are an incredibly useful source of information, providing extensive data regarding the airport environment. They are designed to be used in conjunction with Sectional Charts, High Enroute Charts, Low Enroute Charts, or other visual charts published by the FAA. Chart Supplements contain an Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD), notices, associated data, and airport diagrams. An air...
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NOTAMS: Know Before You Go

The summer flying season is upon us, which means air traffic within the general aviation community will be picking up. To ensure a safe and orderly flight, it is imperative that pilots check the NOTAMs before every flight for information on TFRs, runway or airport closures, drone operations, etc. NTAP Discontinued in June If you are are planning a flight, be aware that the Notices to Airmen ...
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FAA Issues SFAR for COVID-19 Relief

April 29, 2020 - The FAA issued a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) titled “Relief for Certain Persons and Operations during the COVID 19 Outbreak.” The relief extends the expiration dates of certain types of certificate and operating privileges for airman and part 141 flight schools. This SFAR is valid from April 30th 2020 to March 31st 2021, however, most of the provisions are effective...
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Sharing Flight Expenses

The FAA published Advisory Circular 61-142, on February 25, 2020, with guidance for pilots who may share flight expenses with passengers consistent with the Federal Aviation Regulations. The new AC 61-142 expands on the previously issued AC 120-12A, Private Carriage vs. Common Carriage, to clarify some ambiguities and provide modern applications. Private Carriage vs. Common Carriage Common c...
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How Instructors Should Use ACS Codes on Knowledge Test Reports

With testing standards transitioning from Practical Test Standards (PTS) to Airman Certification Standards (ACS), as of January 13th, 2020, knowledge test reports have begun listing missed questions as ACS codes. Why the change? The old PLT codes used were derived from references, which meant any given topic could have a number of different codes depending on where relevant information could be fo...
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FAA Proposes Rules for Remote Identification and Tracking of Drones

On December 31, 2019, the FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to establish a remote identification system for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) flights. Remote identification can help to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace system (NAS). The rules would apply to nearly all drones weighing more than 0.55 lbs, including UAS flown for recreation and commercial operations. I...
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Have You Considered an Aviation Career Outside the Flight Deck?

While the world takes notice of the massive shortages forecast for pilots, a similar story is the pending shortage of support personnel. However, we remain optimistic because the good news is that this is an amazing opportunity. While a budding workforce laments the lack of good-paying entry-level jobs, the aviation industry is screaming, “Look over here!” Corporate-sponsored programs are cropp...
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ICAO Flight Plan Implementation

After several years of planning and coordinating between the FAA, flight plan vendors, and upgrading ATC equipment, the mandatory use of ICAO flights plans takes effect on August, 27th 2019. This means the FAA will require all flight plans, domestic or international, to be filed with the ICAO format. For the past few years, the FAA urged pilots to file ICAO format flight plans instead of using the...
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FAA Announces New Requirements for Recreational Drones

The FAA released new information on May 16, 2019 affecting recreational drone flight as mandated by Congress in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. The change modifies how drone flyers request authorization to fly near airports and in any controlled airspace. It also requires drone flyers to pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test, maintain proof that they passed, and make it available to ...
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