[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 11, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13592-13593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05287]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 121, 135, and 142

[AC 120-UPRT and AC 120-109A]


Advisory Circular for Upset Prevention and Recovery Training and 
Advisory Circular for Stall Prevention and Recovery Training

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed Advisory Circular for Upset 
Prevention and Recovery Training and proposed revision to Advisory 
Circular for Stall Prevention and Recovery Training, request for 
comment.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is announcing the 
availability of proposed Advisory Circulars (AC) 120-UPRT and 120-109A. 
AC 120-UPRT provides recommended practices and guidance for academic 
and flight simulation training device (FSTD) training for pilots to 
prevent developing upset conditions and ensure correct and consistent 
recovery responses to upsets. AC 120-109A provides guidance and best 
practices for training, testing, and checking for pilots to ensure 
correct responses to impending and full stalls.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 12, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by AC 120-UPRT or AC 120-109A using 
any of the following methods:
     Aviation Safety Draft Document Open for Comment Web site: 
Go to http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs/afs_ac/ and follow the 
online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to 1625 K Street NW., Suite 300, 
Washington, DC 20006.
     Fax: Fax comments to 202-223-4615. Attn: Susan Hill.
     Hand Delivery: Bring comments to the 1625 K Street NW., 
Suite 300, Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robyn LaPorte, Air Transportation 
Division, Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: 202-267-
8166; facsimile: 202-267-5229; email: [email protected].

Background

    These draft ACs provide guidance regarding the new training 
requirements contained in the Qualification, Service, and Use of 
Crewmembers and Aircraft Dispatchers final rule published November 12, 
2013 (FAA Docket FAA-2008-0677).

Advisory Circular 120-UPRT

    The primary goal of this proposed AC is to provide recommended 
practices and guidance for academic and flight simulation training 
device (FSTD) training for pilots to prevent developing upset 
conditions and ensure correct and consistent recovery responses to 
upsets. This AC was developed based on a review of recommended 
practices developed by major airplane manufacturers, labor 
organizations, air carriers, training organizations, simulator 
manufacturers, and industry representative organizations. This AC 
provides guidance to Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 
121 air carriers implementing the regulatory requirements of Sec.  
Sec.  121.419, 121.423, 121.424, and 121.427. Core principles of this 
AC include:
     Enhanced instructor training on the limitations of 
simulation.
     Comprehensive pilot academic training on aerodynamics.
     Early recognition of divergence from intended flight path.
     Upset prevention through improvements in manual handling 
skills.
     Progressive intervention strategies for the pilot 
monitoring.

Advisory Circular 120-109A

    The primary goal of this proposed AC revision is to provide 
guidance and best practices for training, testing, and checking for 
pilots to ensure correct responses to impending and full stalls. This 
AC was developed based on a review of recommended practices developed 
by major airplane manufacturers, labor organizations, air carriers, 
training organizations, simulator manufacturers, and industry 
representative organizations. Core principles of this Advisory Circular 
include:
     Reducing angle of attack is the most important pilot 
action in an impending or full stall.
     Pilot training should emphasize teaching the same recovery 
technique for impending stalls and full stalls.
     Evaluation criteria for a recovery from an impending stall 
should not include a predetermined value for altitude loss. Instead, 
criteria should consider the multitude of external and internal 
variables which affect the recovery altitude.
     Once the stall recovery procedure is mastered by maneuver-
based training, stall prevention training should include realistic 
scenarios that could be encountered in operational conditions, 
including impending stalls with the autopilot engaged and at high 
altitudes.
     Full stall training should be led by the instructor, but 
must allow the pilot to experience the associated flight dynamics and 
execute a recovery.
    The agency will consider all comments received by May 12, 2014. 
Comments received after that date may be considered if consideration 
will not

[[Page 13593]]

delay agency action on the review. A copy of the advisory circulars is 
available for review at http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs/afs_ac/.

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 5, 2014.
John S. Duncan,
Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-05287 Filed 3-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P