How is DRS different from the FAA's Flight Standards Information System (FSIMS) or the Regulatory Guidance Library (RGL)?
DRS consolidates safety information from more than a dozen information repositories, including RGL and FSIMS. The application consolidates information into a single source that can be explored using a robust search engine and by applying a variety of filters. DRS provides one-stop-shopping for regulatory research. It's like Google for aviation safety information.
What kind of information can be found in DRS?
DRS includes all regulatory guidance material from the Office of Aviation Safety. The system warehouses over 2 million documents and over 65 documents types.
What are the benefits of using DRS rather than the many other information repositories available?
The system represents a giant step forward in providing consistency and standardization of regulatory interpretation by expediting research of aviation regulations and related documents. In the past, regulatory research required cross-referencing information from dozens of sources, validation of the information quality, and inconsistent presentation of current versus historical documents and their associated versions. Complex research projects sometimes took days. DRS has consolidated all of this information into a single master source of regulatory guidance material. What once took days of effort can now be done with a few clicks and in a matter of minutes.
Who updates DRS and how often is it updated?
DRS automatically searches more than a dozen information repositories daily for new regulatory guidance. The system is updated nightly.
How does the FAA determine what information is shared on the database?
DRS contains all regulatory guidance material from the Office of Aviation Safety. Any new guidance material is added as soon as it is available.
Who designed DRS?
Flight Standards Service, Office of Aircraft Certification, Office of Information Technology, labor organizations, contractors, and industry aviation partners across the globe all worked together to make DRS a reality.
Can members of the aviation industry request specific information be added to the database?
DRS is not intended to be a repository for anything and/or everything. The system was designed as an aviation safety regulatory guidance knowledge center, specific to content from the Office of Aviation Safety. The FAA worked closely with industry safety partners from around the globe to develop the Master List of Documents. While it is possible to add additional document types we believe that system is very comprehensive today. As the system evolves, additional document types will be added.
Can DRS include other types of information?
Yes. DRS is built on an Enterprise platform that can be expanded to include other information types in the future.
Is development of DRS complete and what is in store for the system in the future?
The initial operating capabilities and content of DRS are extensive but the system will continue to grow and evolve. There is still much work to be done. Over the next year DRS will receive additional enhancements that will provide users even more features, functionality, additional information, and document types.
Can the public access DRS and who is expected to use the system?
DRS is available to all FAA employees and the general public. It is estimated that more than 5,000 government employees will use the system and more than 100,000 industry aviation safety partners.