The division is also responsible for management and oversight of:

• Air taxi insurance certification
• FAA's Aviation Safety and Health Program
• FAA's Whistleblower Protection Program
• The National Simulator Program

Specific Functions

• Advises the Director, the Associate Administrator, and other principal officials, and serves as a point of contact for the aviation community on matters in related program areas which are appropriate to the national level
• Determines the need for and recommends research and development projects
• Determines the need for, justifies, and formulates new or amended regulations, supplementary regulatory material and grants or denials of exemption petitions; participates in regulatory review programs; and develops operations specifications
• Develops and recommends national policies, standards, systems, procedures, and program plans
• Develops coordinates, and issues national directives to provide technical guidance on policies and procedures
• Develops operating requirements and technical standards
• Guides and assists the other divisions, the regions, and other elements of the agency in the conduct of the related programs; provides guidance on applying agency policies, standards, and procedures pertaining to current safety issues
• Initiates, recommends, and coordinates actions to resolve safety problems resulting from accidents and incidents
• Participates in the analysis and evaluation of the field execution of programs

The Air Transportation Division Also:

• Assigns projects (other than rulemaking) with recommended priorities and provides technical and policy guidance to ensure the technical adequacy of related program activities performed by the Regulatory Support Division
• Develops, coordinates, and recommends career development programs to ensure organizational competency for employees in the division
• Oversees development and maintenance of aircraft simulator and flight training device qualification standards and criteria