Advisory Circulars

A.  In this advisory circular (AC), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends one way to gain airworthiness approval for an Airborne System for Non-Required Telecommunication (ASNRT) service equipment in the cockpit.  This AC is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation.  This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, to gain airworthiness approval for your ASNRT equipment.  However, if you use the means described in this AC, you must follow it in its entirety.

 B.  ASNRT equipment is intended to provide flight crews with voice and data communication service over non aeronautical frequency bands.  ASNRT consists of electronic onboard equipment which is not required for any phase of operation nor intended for Minimum Equipment List (MEL) dispatch relief. 

 C.  The guidelines contained in this AC are not intended to support airborne systems used for safety of flight communication such as Air Traffic Services (ATS), Airline Operational Control (AOC), or communication systems used to fulfill an operating requirement for a communication system.  In addition, this AC provides guidance for aircraft equipment capable of subscribing to the FAA System Wide Information Management (SWIM) infrastructure.

Describes the qualifications for wildlife biologists who conduct Wildlife Hazard Assessments (WHA) for airports certificated under 14 CFR Part 139 and at non-certificated airports funded by the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) or Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) Program. Addresses the minimum wildlife hazard management curriculum for the initial and recurrent training of airport personnel who implement an FAA-approved Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP).

Consolidated AC includes Change 1 dated 1/31/2013. See also--

• Part 139 CertAlerts
• Wildlife Strike Database and Hazard Mitigation

This advisory circular (AC) describes an acceptable means for showing compliance with the requirements of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 25.729 regarding the landing gear retracting mechanism requirements. It will be incorporated into AC 25-21, “Certification of Transport Airplane Structure” and 25-22, “Certification of Transport Airplane Mechanical Systems” at a later date.

 This advisory circular (AC) presents various best practices for design approval holders (DAHs) of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances when drafting service bulletins (SBs) related to an airworthiness directive (AD). This AC also provides information and guidance on avoiding overlapping and conflicting actions in SBs, ex parté communication, alternative methods of compliance (AMOCs), and maintaining airworthiness of AD-mandated design changes.

 This advisory circular (AC) describes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Reporting Program (ASRP) which utilizes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a third party to receive and process Aviation Safety Reports. This cooperative safety reporting program invites pilots, controllers, Flight Attendants (F/A), maintenance personnel, dispatchers, and other users of the National Airspace System (NAS), or any other person, to report to NASA actual or potential discrepancies and deficiencies involving the safety of aviation operations. The operations covered by the program include departure, en route, approach, and landing operations and procedures; air traffic control (ATC) procedures and equipment; crew and ATC communications; aircraft cabin operations; aircraft movement on the airport; near midair collisions (NMAC); aircraft maintenance and recordkeeping; and airport conditions or services. The effectiveness of this program in improving safety depends on the free, unrestricted flow of information from the users of the NAS. Based on information obtained from this program, the FAA will take corrective action as necessary to remedy defects or deficiencies in the NAS. The reports may also provide data for improving the current system and planning for a future system.

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance for the installation and airworthiness approval of flight deck system control devices, from primarily a human factors perspective.  It does not address primary flight controls, secondary flight controls, or controls that are not located in the flight deck.   This AC addresses traditional dedicated controls such as physical switches and knobs, as well as multifunction controls such as touch screens and cursor control devices. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new rule contained in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91, §§ 91.225 and 91.227. This rule requires Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out performance when operating in designated classes of airspace within the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) after January 1, 2020. This advisory circular (AC) provides users of the NAS guidance on a means of conducting flight operations in accordance with §§ 91.225 and 91.227. The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) provides an overview of, and the appendices in this AC provide guidance for, additional operations enabled by ADS-B. Appendix 2 contains a list of ADS-B-related definitions.

 The intent of this advisory circular is to facilitate operation using Automatic Dependent Surveillance -Broadcast (ADS) technology in compliance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulation (14 CFR) part 91, &&91.225 and 91.227, which are effective after January 1, 2020.

This advisory circular (AC) sets forth an acceptable means of showing compliance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), part 23, for the certification of systems and equipment in normal, utility, acrobatic, and commuter category airplanes and airships. The policy in this AC is considered applicable for airship projects; however, the certifying office should only use specific applicability and requirements if they are determined to be reasonable, applicable and relevant to the airship project. This AC applies to Subpart D from § 23.671 and Subpart F. This AC both consolidates existing policy documents, and certain ACs that cover specific paragraphs of the regulations, into a single document and adds new guidance.

This document is intended to provide guidance for the original issue of part 23 and the various amendments through Amendment 23-62.  This version of the AC covers policy available through December 31, 2007, Policy that became available after December 31, 2007, will be consolidated in future revisions to the AC.

This advisory circular (AC) sets forth an acceptable means of showing compliance with Title 14 of the Code .of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), § 23.1309, through Amendment 23-6.2: for equipment, systems, and installations in 14 CFR part 23 airplanes.  This AC is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation. It is issued for guidance purposes and to outline a method of compliance with the rules. An applicant may elect to follow an alternate method, provided the FAA finds it to be an acceptable means of complying with the applicable requirements of 14 CFR. However, if the applicant uses the means described in the AC, they must follow it in all important respects.

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance for showing compliance with certain requirements of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), part 23, as well as general guidance for the design, installation, integration, and approval of electronic flight deck displays, components, and systems installed in part 23 category airplanes. The guidance provided in this document is directed to airplane and avionics manufacturers, modifiers, and operators of part 23 category airplanes.  Applicants for a technical standard order (TSO) should consider following the guidance in this AC when the TSO requirements do not provide sufficient guidance. The main purpose of this revision of the AC is providing the guidance for the requirements in the turbojet rulemaking and some general updating due to lessons learned and advance and emerging technologies.

a. This advisory circular (AC) sets forth an acceptable means, but not the only means, of  showing compliance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 23 concerning flight tests and pilot judgements. Material in this AC is neither mandatory nor regulatory in nature and does not constitute a regulation.

b. This AC is one method being utilized to achieve national standardization in normal, utility, acrobatic, and commuter category airplanes. This AC applies to Subpart B and various sections under Subparts A, D, E, F and G from § 23.1 through § 23.1589. This AC consolidates existing policy documents, and certain ACs that cover specific paragraphs of the regulations, into a single document.

c. This material is intended as a ready reference for part 23 airplane manufacturers, modifiers, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) design evaluation engineers, flight test engineers, and engineering flight test pilots, including Organization Delegation Option (DOA).

Provides guidance on the development, installation, testing, approval, and maintenance of Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Out squitter units for airport ground vehicles. Using this AC, airports will be able to acquire approved and authorized airport ground vehicle ADS-B squitter units that are compliant with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 91, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS–B) Out Performance Requirements to Support Air Traffic Control (ATC) Service, as well as the initial set of ADS-B applications. Please note that the technical specifications for manufacturing ADS-B squitter units for airport ground vehicles are published in the FAA’s document, Vehicle Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) Specification, Version 2.4, published May 1, 2012.

Contact the appropriate FAA Airport District Office or Regional Airports Division to discuss Airport Improvement Program (AIP) eligibility.

Learn more about Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B).

This advisory circular (AC) provides definitions and guidance for demonstrating compliance with the propeller control system requirements of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR 35.23).

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance for conducting Instrument Flight Procedure Validation (IFPV) of Satellite-Based Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) Instrument Flight Procedures (IFP) for both fixed-wing and helicopter aircraft. This also addresses validation of helicopter wide area augmentation system (WAAS) special IFP. This document supplements and does not change the requirements of FAA Order 8200.1, United States Standard Flight Inspection Manual. It describes ground validation, preflight validation (including simulator evaluation and obstacle assessment), and flight validation.

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance on the selection, documentation, and control of Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMR). This AC also provides a rational basis for coordinating the Maintenance Review Board (MRB), if the MRB process is used, and CMR selection processes to ensure premises made in the system safety analyses supporting the compliance with the requirements of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 25.1309, and other system safety rules (such as §§ 25.671, 25.783, 25.901, and 25.933) are protected in service. This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, for selecting, documenting, and managing CMRs. Terms such as "shall" and "must" are used only in the sense of ensuring applicability of this particular means of compliance when the acceptable means of compliance described herein is used.

Provides guidance on the use of remote sensing technologies in the collection of data describing the physical infrastructure of an airport. This version is a substantial rewrite and includes new sections on remote sensing technologies other than aerial imagery (primarily LIDAR) for collecting airport data. See also the Airports GIS website.

Provides standards for the construction of airports. Items covered in this AC include general provisions, earthwork, flexible base courses, rigid base courses, flexible surface courses, rigid pavement, fencing, drainage, turfing, and lighting installation.

Access related Pay Reduction Spreadsheets on our Airport Design Software page.

Focuses on nondestructive testing (NDT) equipment that measures pavement surface deflections after applying a static or dynamic load to the pavement. It also briefly introduces other types of nondestructive measuring equipment to illustrate how supplementing NDT data with other test data may improve the quality and reliability of the pavement evaluation. This version updates Chapter 8, NDT-Based Evaluation and Design Updates, to reflect the requirements of the pavement design program FAARFIELD rather than the previous design program LEDFAA.

See also Airport Design Software.

Provides guidance for the planning, design, installation, and maintenance of aviation grade artificial turf in areas adjacent to the operational areas of an airport.

This advisory circular (AC) recognizes the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) 4754A, Guidelines for Development of Civil Aircraft and Systems, dated December 21, 2010, as an acceptable method for establishing a development assurance process. SAE ARP 4754A discusses the development of aircraft and systems taking into account the overall aircraft operating environment and functions. This includes validation of requirements and verification of the design implementation for certification and process assurance.

This advisory circular (AC) provides information for the preparation and approval of training course outlines (TCO) for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved, industry-conducted flight instructor refresher courses (FIRC) in accordance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 61, § 61.197(a)(2)(iii). The FIRC is intended to keep flight instructors informed of the changing world of General Aviation (GA) flight training, and to enhance aviation safety through continued refresher training of the flight instructor cadre. It is one of several methods by which a flight instructor may renew his or her flight instructor certificate. Adherence to this AC provides one acceptable method by which the FAA may approve the FIRC program. Effective August 4, 1997, the holder of a pilot school certificate issued under 14 CFR part 141 may also obtain approval to provide a FIRC program under the authority of part 141 appendix K, paragraph 11. The holder of a part 141 pilot school certificate that desires to offer a FIRC program under their Air Agency Certificate should refer to this AC, which may be helpful as guidance in developing the TCO for FAA approval.

Contains the FAA standards for the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) systems, which provides pilots with visual glideslope guidance during approach for landing.

See also--

• Engineering Briefs
• National Airspace System Standards
• Notice to Manufacturers of Airport Lighting and Navigation Aid Equipment about AIP Buy American Requirement (12/19/2011). The FAA is requesting information to determine if waivers to this requirement are needed.

Specifies the minimum requirements for an Airport Lighting Control and Monitoring System (ALCMS). The ALCMS simplifies the control and monitoring of lighted visual aids and enhances airport safety. The basic function of the system remains the same whether for a general aviation airport that supports only a few operations in a day or a large commercial airport which caters to hundreds of operations on any given day.

Provides guidelines for operational safety on airports during construction. Principal changes include prohibiting construction in safety areas when associated runway or taxiway is open, providing guidance for incorporating safety risk management, and including checklists for writing Construction Safety and Phasing Plans (CSPP) and for daily inspections.

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance material on the installation of electronic flight bag (EFB) components including aircraft connectivity provisions.  In it, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) describes certification considerations for individual EFB components and for installing EFB aircraft connectivity provisions by addressing the principal elements, or “components,” which comprise a typical EFB device or system. 

This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, to comply with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 23, 25, 27, or 29.  This AC is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation.  However, if you use the means described in this AC, you must follow it entirely.  The term “must” is used to indicate mandatory requirements when following the guidance in this AC.  The terms “should” and “recommend” are used when following the guidance is recommended but not required to comply with this AC.