General Aviation & Commercial Division

Training & Certification Group

The Airmen Training and Certification Group is responsible for developing and overseeing policy, standards, testing, and certification programs for airmen, under 14 CFR parts 61, 65, 141, and 147, to support airmen for safe operations in the National Airspace System (NAS). The group’s key functions are:

Airman Certification System publications and testing programs, such as:

  • Practical Test Standards (PTS), where still applicable;
  • Airman Certification Standards (ACS);
  • FAA reference handbooks;
  • Knowledge, oral, practical, and reexamination testing programs and processes for –
    • Private, commercial, airline transport, recreational, and sport pilots;
    • Ground, flight, and sport pilot instructors;
    • Aircraft dispatchers;
    • Flight navigators and flight engineers;
    • Parachute riggers; and
    • Mechanics and inspection authorization holders;
  • Policy, guidance, and oversight for commercial and military testing through the Airman Certificate Testing Service (ACTS) Contract; and
  • Testing data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Develops and maintenance of standards, policies, and procedures for airmen training and certification, including:

  • Drafting and maintaining airmen training, testing, and certification content in FAA Order 8900.1, Flight Standards Information Management System (FSIMS), in the Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS);
  • Providing instructions, standards, and procedures in FAA Order 8900.1 for evaluators conducting certification activities under 14 CFR part 61 for pilots and flight instructors; and
  • Coordinating with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Justice (DOJ), and other agencies on security issues related to pilot certification.

Policy, approval, and administration of pilot training programs, including:

  • Managing the Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC) policies and overseeing all aspects of the program;
  • Collaborating with Flight Standards offices for review, approval, and policy related to the Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP) under 14 CFR part 141; and
  • Managing the approval process for Institutions of Higher Education to certify graduates for restricted privileges ATP certificates.

Partnering with other organizations and stakeholders, including:

  • Responding to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and internal FAA safety recommendations with appropriate actions;
  • Collaborating with industry to improve general aviation safety and reduce the general aviation fatal accident rate (e.g., the General Aviation Joint Safety Committee (GAJSC), the International Helicopter Safety Foundation (IHSF), and the United States Helicopter Safety Team (USHST); and
  • Assisting international offices in developing and implementing airmen certification bilateral agreements and establishing certification policy and procedures.
     

Programs

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