Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your FAA questions.
No, unless preparing the aircraft for cleaning requires the removal of components or the protection of components, which may fall under the definition of maintenance or preventive maintenance under 14 CFR § 1.1 or Part 43. For example, before cleaning an aircraft, it may be necessary to close and secure the upper and lower fan cowl doors on a transport category aircraft. The FAA considers the closing and securing of the engine fan cowl doors maintenance.
Additionally, after the cleaning process, it may be necessary to reapply lubrication compounds and preservatives to aircraft components, both of which could be considered maintenance or preventive maintenance. If the aircraft is operated by a part 119 certificate holder authorized to conduct Part 121 or 135 operations, or is used to conduct sightseeing operations as defined in 14 CFR § 91.147, the individual performing the aircraft maintenance or preventive maintenance must be subject to drug and alcohol testing in accordance with 14 CFR Part 120.
Conversely, the FAA does not consider cleaning seat cushions/covers maintenance or preventive maintenance.
The FAA's Flight Standards Service are the experts in determining whether work is considered maintenance or preventive maintenance, in accordance with the definitions in 14 CFR § 1.1 and Part 43. If you have additional questions about these definitions, please contact your local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) or your Principal Maintenance Inspector.
If you have any other questions or need additional guidance regarding the FAA's drug and alcohol testing requirements in 14 CFR Part 120, contact the Drug Abatement Division at 202-267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov.
Please visit our website to learn more about our program.
Applicable Regulations:
14 CFR § 1.1
14 CFR Part 43
14 CFR § 91.147
14 CFR § 120.1
14 CFR § 120.105(e)
14 CFR § 120.215(a)(5)
Yes. 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix A, defines the "refinishing of decorative coating of fuselage... cabin, or cockpit interior ..." as preventive maintenance. If the aircraft is operated under Part 121 or 135, or is used to conduct sightseeing operations as defined in 14 CFR § 91.147, the person painting the aircraft must be subject to drug and alcohol testing in accordance with 14 CFR Part 120.
The FAA's Flight Standards Service are the experts in determining whether work is considered maintenance or preventive maintenance, in accordance with the definitions in 14 CFR § 1.1 and Part 43. If you have additional questions about these definitions, please contact your local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) or your Principal Maintenance Inspector.
If you have any other questions or need additional guidance regarding the FAA's drug and alcohol testing requirements in 14 CFR Part 120, please contact the Drug Abatement Division at 202-267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov.
Please visit our website to learn more about our program.
Applicable Regulations:
14 CFR § 1.1
14 CFR part 43
14 CFR § 91.147
14 CFR § 120.105(e)
14 CFR § 120.215(a)(5)
No. The DOT drug and alcohol testing regulation (49 CFR Part 40) applies to transportation employers who are regulated by federal agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA's regulation (14 CFR part 120) defines specific drug and alcohol testing requirements for the aviation industry. Therefore, an individual's participation in a DoD testing program, or that of any other Federal agency, would not satisfy the FAA's drug and alcohol testing requirements.
If you have any further questions or need additional guidance that is more specific to your situation, please contact the FAA Drug Abatement Division at (202) 267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov.
Please visit our website to learn more about the program.
Applicable Regulations:
Your change of address applies to all certificates maintained in the Airmen Certification Branch, as well as your medical certificate. To update your address, please go to the Airmen Certification website. If you want to update your address on your certificate of Aircraft Registration, please go to the Aircraft Registration website.
However, we do not confirm receipt of change of address, nor do we automatically send replacement certificates showing your new address. To confirm that your change of address was received by the FAA, call the Civil Aviation Registry at 1-866-878-2498 or 405-954-3261. Press #1 for Airmen Certification, then press #0 to speak with an examiner OR press #2 for Aircraft Registration. You can also email us.
Your change of address applies to all certificates maintained in the Airmen Certification Branch, as well as your medical certificate. To update your address, please go to the Airmen Certification website. If you want to update your address on your certificate of Aircraft Registration, please go to the Aircraft Registration website.
However, we do not confirm receipt of change of address, nor do we automatically send replacement certificates showing your new address. To confirm that your change of address was received by the FAA, call the Civil Aviation Registry at 1-866-878-2498 or 405-954-3261. Press #1 for Airmen Certification, then press #0 to speak with an examiner OR press #2 for Aircraft Registration. You can also email us.
The FAA does not maintain a list of acceptable medications. Pilot performance is affected by both the underlying medical condition(s) and medication (s); we must consider both in individual cases.
You should consult with your FAA Regional Flight Surgeon or designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) to determine if your condition or treatment precludes flying. You can find contact information for your Regional Flight Surgeon or your AME on our website.
You may not fly if you are taking any of these types of medications. If you aren't sure whether your medication falls into one of these categories, you should check with your AME:
- Tranquilizers, such as but not limited to Valium, Librium, Ativan
- Most antidepressants. PLEASE NOTE: According to new FAA policy announced in the Federal Register on April 5, 2010, some conditions and medications are acceptable. Please see the Federal Register Announcement for the requirements to qualify for a special issuance authorization (waiver).
- Opiates, such as Morphine, Codeine, Lortab, Percodan, Oxycontin
- Muscle relaxants, such as Soma, Sonata, Flexeril
- Anicholinergics, such as Levsin, Bnetyl, Transderm Scop
- Sedating antihistamines, such as Benadryl, Chlorpheniramine, Zyrtec
- Antipsychotics, such as Mellaril, Thorazine, Haldol
- Over-the-counter active dietary supplements, such as Kava-Kava, Valerian
You can also find helpful information in our brochure "Medication and Flying".
Yes, the FAA pays for initial ATC training for entry-level ATC employees (FG-2152-03 Academy Training). ATCS Trainees attend an AT Basics course virtually from their home locations and receive an hourly salary. Upon successful completion of AT Basics, ATCS Trainees attend additional training at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. While in Oklahoma City, ATCS Trainees receive an hourly salary and are also entitled to long term per diem (unless their home location is within a 50 mile radius of the FAA Academy).
The FAA does not require the use of CRS's on commercial airplanes. However, the FAA strongly recommends the use of CRS's or an alternative FAA-approved device based on a child's weight.
You can find more information about flying with children on our website.
A responsible person is not required to hold an airman certificate issued under Part 107 to apply for or be issued a waiver. The responsible person must ensure that the person operating the UAS or drone under the waiver holds the required airman certificate and meets the currency requirements of Part 107.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
No. The Department of Transportation's (DOT's) procedural regulation, 49 CFR part 40, § 40.25(b), states that the prospective employer must request records from the individual's previous DOT-regulated employers who have employed the individual within the two years before the application or transfer date. This requirement did not change.
The 'aviation' suggested form changes Section II-A of the Department of Transportation's (DOT's) form to say 'While employed' versus 'In the two years prior to the date of the employee's signature (in Section I), for DOT-regulated testing'. This small change clarifies that the 'two-year' period does not apply to the date of the actual information or the date the employee signed the release. Consequently, the previous employer may respond with information that dates beyond two years. The DOT's procedural regulation, 49 CFR part 40, does not limit a previous employer from releasing more than the previous two years of records regarding an employee's positive drug test results or alcohol violations.
Although an employer is not required to use the DOT or FAA suggested forms, we believe it is a best practice to eliminate the language "In the two years prior..." from the form. Otherwise, an employer may risk getting a "No" response although the employee may actually have a previous drug or alcohol violation.
If you have any further questions or need additional guidance that is more specific to your situation, please contact the FAA Drug Abatement Division at (202) 267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov.
Please visit our website to learn more about our program.
Applicable Regulation:
No. The FAA no longer reviews or approves drug and alcohol testing programs for employers or C/TPAs. Employers certify their compliance when they sign the drug and alcohol testing paragraph (A449) in their Operations Specifications or when they register their program with the FAA Drug Abatement Division. C/TPAs do not submit documentation to the FAA. Consequently, an employer's or C/TPA's claim that it is "FAA-approved" is no longer valid.
If you have any further questions or need additional guidance that is more specific to your situation, please contact the FAA Drug Abatement Division at (202) 267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov.
Please visit our website to learn more about the program.
Applicable regulations:
Testing of appliances outside of restricted airspace is a challenge. I suggest you look up some current waivers and speak to those who obtained the BVLOS waivers. Many of the successful waiver applicants use a chase aircraft or multiple visual observers.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Anti-collision lights are only required between periods of civil twilight - 107.29(b).
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Only the UAS or drone crew are considered participants, not the emergency response personnel. You may need to use the Special Governmental Interest (SGI) process for a temporary, emergency waiver if operating under Part 107. If you fly as a Public Aircraft Operator (PAO), you have that ability in life safety situations.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
As far as the flight rules are concerned, when flying as a public aircraft, the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) is responsible (See 91.3(b)). When flying as a civil aircraft, the RPIC is responsible (See 107.19). When flying as a contractor to a public entity, refer to Advisory Circular 00-1.1B, Public Aircraft Operations, which provides information about the process you must go through to get public aircraft status given to you by the entity. The RPIC and responsible person are responsible for compliance with the flight rules to ensure everyone's safety.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Yes, the DoD has been briefed on the UAS Facility Map process. The FAA currently manually processes requests into controlled airspace delegated to DoD facilities. UAS Operators are responsible for staying clear of 99.7 Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs).
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
It is the employer's responsibility to evaluate the duties of its employees and make a determination of whether the work being performed is a safety-sensitive function (e.g., maintenance or preventive maintenance). When making this determination, employers should refer to the definitions of maintenance and preventive maintenance, which are found in 14 CFR § 1.1 and 14 CFR part 43.
Additionally, we suggest employers review the FAA Flight Standards Service's Guidance Alert on Maintenance or consult directly with their FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector or local Flight Standards District Office. The Flight Standards Service is the expert in clarifying maintenance or preventive maintenance duties. Please visit the FAA's website to find the Flight Standards District Office closest to you.
If you have any further questions or need additional guidance that is more specific to your situation, please contact the FAA Drug Abatement Division at (202) 267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov.
Please visit our website to learn more about our program.
Applicable Regulations:
14 CFR § 120.105(e)
14 CFR § 120.215(a)(5)
14 CFR § 1.1
14 CFR part 43
Unfortunately, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not maintain or distribute a listing of available service agents. We recommend that employers talk to other local aviation employers, search the local yellow pages or the Internet, or visit the Department of Transportation's website.
For lists of qualified MROs, visit the American Association of Medical Review Officers (AAMRO) website or the Medical Review Officers Certification Council (MROCC) website.
If you have any further questions or need additional guidance that is more specific to your situation, please contact the FAA Drug Abatement Division at (202) 267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov.
Please visit our website to learn more about the program.
As an employer, you are responsible for ensuring that your collector, STT and/or BAT is qualified in accordance with Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) procedural regulation (49 CFR § 40.15, § 40.33 and § 40.213). While a collector, STT and/or BAT may provide you with a certificate of training to demonstrate that he or she is qualified, that may not be sufficient if it does not include the proficiency requirements. We encourage you to ask for additional documentation to ensure you and your collection personnel are in compliance. The following are examples of what you might ask your collector, STT and/or BAT to provide to demonstrate they meet the proficiency requirements:
- For a collector, you may obtain copies of the following:
- Federal Custody and Control Forms (CCFs) completed during the five (5) mock error free collections to demonstrate the collector conducted two (2) uneventful collections, one (1) insufficient quantity collection, one (1) temperature out of range collection, and one (1) collection involving a donor's refusal to sign or initial the specimen bottle seal.
- Documentation indicating that the five (5) mock collections were monitored by a qualified collector with one (1) year practical experience as a collector, or one (1) year experience training other collectors, or successful completion of a "train the trainer" course.
- Written statement from the person who observed the mock collections and can attest that they were error free and monitored in person or "real time". The statement should include the number and type of scenarios/events covered during the mock exercises and other relevant information.
- For a STT and/or BAT, you may obtain copies of the following:
- Alcohol Testing Forms completed during the seven (7) consecutive error free mock breath alcohol tests or five (5) error free saliva tests. The mock tests must be performed using the alcohol testing devices that will be used by the BAT/STT and adequately gauge the BAT/STT's knowledge, skill and ability pertaining to the device' s messages, commands or displays including error messages or device malfunctions, as well as the procedures for performing air blank and external calibration checks.
- Documentation indicating that the seven (7) mock breath alcohol tests (and/or five (5) mock saliva tests) were monitored by a qualified instructor with one (1) year practical experience performing as a BAT/STT , or one year as a BAT/STT trainer, or successful completion of "train the trainer" course.
- Written statement from the person who observed the mock collections and can attest that they were error free and monitored in person or "real time". The statement should include the number and type of scenarios/events covered during the mock exercises and other relevant information.
- Other documents, which may include course materials and descriptions, checklists, etc.
For more information on this topic, please review the DOT’s Q&A’s collectors and breath alcohol technicians/screening test technicians.
If you have any further questions or need additional guidance that is more specific to your situation, please contact the FAA Drug Abatement Division at 202-267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov. Please visit our website to learn more about our program.
Applicable Regulations:
You can find information about clear title searches on our website.