Section 1. Introduction

1. PURPOSE OF THIS ORDER

This order provides instructions, standards, and guidance for operating and managing air traffic facilities.

1. AUDIENCE

This order applies to all ATO personnel and anyone using ATO directives.

1. WHERE TO FIND THIS ORDER

This order is available on the FAA's Air Traffic Plans and Publications website at https://faa.gov/air_traffic/publications and Orders & Notices website at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_notices/.

1. WHAT THIS ORDER CANCELS

FAA Order JO 7210.3DD, Facility Operation and Administration, dated April 20, 2023, and all changes to it are canceled.

1. EXPLANATION OF CHANGES

The significant changes to this order are identified in the Explanation of Changes page(s). It is advisable to retain the page(s) throughout the duration of the basic order.

1. EFFECTIVE DATES AND SUBMISSIONS FOR CHANGES

1. This order and its changes are scheduled to be published to coincide with AIRAC dates.
2. The “Cutoff Date for Completion" in the table below refers to the deadline for a proposed change to be fully coordinated and signed. Change initiators must submit their proposed changes well in advance of this cutoff date to meet the publication effective date. The process to review and coordinate changes often takes several months after the change is initially submitted.

1. DELIVERY DATES

This order will be available on the FAA's website 30 days prior to its effective date.

1. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROCEDURAL CHANGES

The responsibility associated with processing and coordinating revisions to this order is delegated to the Director, Policy, AJV-P.

1. Personnel should submit recommended changes in procedures to facility management.
2. Recommendations from other sources should be submitted through appropriate FAA, military, or industry/user channels.
3. Proposed changes must be submitted electronically to 9-AJV-P-HQ-Correspondence@faa.gov. The submission should include a description of the recommended change, and the proposed language to be used in the order.

1. Procedural changes will not be made to this order until the operational system software has been adapted to accomplish the revised procedures.

1. PROCEDURAL LETTERS OF AGREEMENT (LOAs)

Procedures/minima that are applied jointly or otherwise require the cooperation or concurrence of more than one facility/organization must be documented in a letter of agreement (LOA).

1. WAIVERS TO THIS ORDER

1. Exceptional or unusual requirements may dictate procedural deviations or supplementary procedures to this order.
2. The approval or denial of a certificate of authorization or waiver from Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), is covered in Part 6, Chapter 19, of this order.
3. The approval of waivers to air traffic procedures is covered in Part 6, Chapter 19, Section 7, of this order.
4. Prior approval by the appropriate military headquarters is required for subsequent interface with the FAA if military operations or facilities are involved. (See TBL 1-1-2.)

1. SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (SMS)

Safety is fundamental to the provision of air traffic management and communication, navigation, and surveillance services. The ATO develops, implements, and maintains processes, tools, and guiding principles within the framework of a Safety Management System (SMS) to ensure that performance‐based NAS safety goals are achieved. The ATO SMS gives the responsibility for owning and executing the SMS to all employees at all levels of the ATO. All ATO employees must strive not only to maintain safety in the NAS for those services they provide but also to continuously improve the ATO SMS. Direction regarding the ATO SMS and its application is found in FAA Order JO 1000.37, Air Traffic Organization Safety Management System. Additional information pertaining to ATO SMS requirements and processes can be obtained by visiting the SMS Toolbox, emailing the Office of Safety and Technical Training (AJI) at 9-AJI-SMS@faa.gov, or contacting the service center Quality Control Group. SMS training is available for all employees via eLMS.  Additional courses along with Technical Training for SMS Practitioners and SMS Facilitators are available from AJI.

1. REFERENCES TO FAA NON‐AIR TRAFFIC ORGANIZATION

When references are made to regional office organizations that are not part of the ATO (Communications Center, Flight Standards, Airport offices, etc.), the facility should contact the FAA region where the facility is physically located—not the region where the facility's Service Area office is located.

1. DISTRIBUTION

This order is distributed electronically to all who subscribe to receive email notifications through the FAA's website. All organizations are responsible for viewing, downloading, and subscribing to receive email notifications when changes occur to this order. Subscriptions to air traffic directives can be made through the Air Traffic Plans and Publications website at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/ or directly via the following link: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USAFAA/subscriber/new?topic_id=USAFAA_39.