Open For Public Comment Through July 8

The FAA has re-opened the comment period on the availability of draft Airman Certification Standards (ACS) documents developed by the Airman Testing Standards and Training WG for the private pilot certificate and the instrument rating. These documents are available for public review, download, and comment.

The original comment period opened on April 24 for the purpose of enabling the public to comment on some draft documents developed by the Airman Testing Standards and Training Working Group.

The following documents were placed in that docket for public review and comment:

• Background Information; Industry-Led Changes to FAA Airman Testing Standards and Training
• Draft PRIVATE PILOT—AIRPLANE Airman Certification Standards;
• Draft Change Tracking Matrix referenced to FAA-S-8081-14B, Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane (Single Engine Land and Single-Engine Sea Areas of Operation); Section 1: Private Pilot
• Draft INSTRUMENT RATING—Airman Certification Standards; and
• Draft Change Tracking Matrix referenced to FAA-S-8081-4E, Instrument Rating Practical Test Standards for Airplane, Helicopter, and Powered Lift

During the initial 30-day comment period, which closed on May 24, 2013, more than 130 individuals and organizations posted comments on these documents. The ATSTWG received a wide range of comments that provided suggestions on how the ATSTWG could further improve its draft PRIVATE PILOT—AIRPLANE and draft INSTRUMENT RATING Airman Certification Standards documents. Given the size and scope of the documents, which align the aeronautical knowledge testing standards with the flight proficiency standards set out in the existing Practical Test Standards (PTS), several commenters requested additional time to review the material and develop their response.

The ATSTWG's work is intended to improve the relevance, reliability, validity, and effectiveness of the FAA's aeronautical testing and training materials, as well as to support the FAA's goal of reducing fatal general aviation accidents by incorporating task-specific risk management considerations into each Area of Operation. Because the ACS documents are intended to be the foundation for transitioning to a more integrated and systematic approach to airman certification testing and training, the ATSTWG wishes to benefit from the broadest possible range of public comment on the work it will submit to the FAA via the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee in September 2013. The ATSTWG has asked the FAA to extend the public comment period by an additional 30 days, and the FAA has accordingly reopened the docket.

The ATSTWG will continue its additional work on remaining assignments, including development of the authorized instructor ACS document. The ATSTWG expects to make the authorized instructor ACS document available for public review and comment at a later date.

FMI: Read 139 Submitted Public Comments