[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]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P