[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 6228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02180]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Flight Path Management Advisory Circular

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a draft advisory 
circular on flight path management. The FAA invites public comment on 
AC 120-FPM.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on these proposed documents by 
March 7, 2022.

ADDRESSES: The draft AC 120-FPM can be viewed and comments submitted 
through the FAA Draft Documents website.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joshua Jackson, Flight Standards, Air 
Transportation Division, Training and Simulation Group (AFS-280), 
[email protected], (202) 267-8166. Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Loss of control inflight remains one of the 
leading causes of accidents. One of the factors that contributes to 
these accidents is a flightcrew's failure to manage the flight path of 
the aircraft. The vulnerabilities of flightcrew automation management 
have been studied for more than two decades with major improvements in 
design, training, and operational use of onboard systems for flight 
path management. Despite these improvements, there are still 
vulnerabilities that should be addressed.

Background

    The Air Carrier Training Aviation Rulemaking Committee Steering 
Committee established the Flight Path Management Work Group in 2018 and 
has since submitted numerous recommendations to the FAA. The FAA 
developed this advisory circular (AC) based on those recommendations, 
and it contains guidance and recommended practices for flight path 
management that can be incorporated into training programs and 
operational procedures. Flight path management topics addressed in this 
advisory circular include manual flight operations, managing automated 
systems, pilot monitoring, and energy management.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites public comments on the AC concerning flight path 
management. The FAA will consider the public comments submitted during 
this comment period through the FAA's Draft Documents website in 
finalizing AC 120-FPM.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Robert C. Carty,
Deputy Executive Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-02180 Filed 2-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P