Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your FAA questions.
Response by the Federal Air Surgeon
Over the past 3 years, the number of denials of third-class airman medical certificates has ranged from approximately 2000 to 2500 per year based on approximately 135,000 to 140,000 applications for third-class airman medical certification per year. Most of these denials resulted because of a failure of the applicants to provide sufficient information for the FAA to make a favorable decision.
The FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 required the agency to separate Track 1 applicants into multiple selection pools based upon educational background and veteran status. Pool 1 - Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) School graduates and Veteran’s with aviation experience. Pool 2 is all United States citizens; Veterans Preference is applied to both pools are required to balance selections between Pools.
Visit Applying for Federal Jobs with FAA for more information. Learn more about Direct Hiring Authorities if you are a veteran or a person with a targeted disability.
Waivers are special permissions the FAA issues to authorize certain types of UAS or drone operations not covered under the Part 107 rule. Learn more about applying for waivers to 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.
You can find regulations for agriculture aircraft operations (14 CFR Part 137) on the Government Printing Office's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Be sure to select Part 137.
For information regarding the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program, please visit the Transportation Security Administration's website.
For information regarding the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program, please visit the Transportation Security Administration's website.
For information regarding the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program, please visit the Transportation Security Administration's website.
Any domestic physician interested in becoming an AME should contact the applicable FAA Regional Flight Surgeon's (RFS) office listed for your area.
You can find information about how to become an Aviation Medical Examiner on our website.
According to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Procedural regulation, Title 49 CFR part 40, §§ 40.13(g), 40.41(a), and 40.227(a), an employer is prohibited from using the Federal custody and control form (CCF) and DOT alcohol testing form (ATF) for a non-DOT test. If you discover that you or your collector used a Federal CCF or DOT ATF on a non-DOT test for a non-covered employee and you want it changed, you may contact the FAA’s Drug Abatement Division for guidance.
However, if the error concerns a test on a safety-sensitive employee, you are prohibited from cancelling the test in accordance with 49 CFR §§ 40.209(b)(10) and 40.275(b) and must contact our office to request a change. We will conduct a case-by-case determination regarding errors that affect a safety-sensitive employee’s test regardless of the result and provide a written decision and instructions.
To request guidance or change on a DOT drug or alcohol test result to a non-DOT result, you must write to drugabatement@faa.gov and provide the following:
- A statement to explain whether it was an error on a non-covered employee, or you made a regulatory error by incorrectly testing a safety-sensitive employee for drugs and/or alcohol; and
- A copy of the result.
Please note that a service agent cannot make a request on your behalf.
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 Web site to learn more about our program.
Applicable Regulations:
- 49 CFR § 40.13(g)
- 49 CFR § 40.47(a)
- 49 CFR § 40.209(b)
- 49 CFR § 40.227(a)
- 49 CFR § 40.275(b)
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has a book available on choosing your flight instructor and flight school. The International Deaf Pilots Association (IDPA) has information regarding flight instructors who know how to sign. Generally speaking, you should visit the location to observe the professionalism of the school. You will need to discuss your particular degree of hearing impairment with the flight instructor and establish how to communicate best with each other. Have the flight instructor you select contact the IDPA for additional advice and assistance.
You can search for your nearest FSDO on our website. You can contact them for:
- Low-flying aircraft
- Accident Reporting
- Air carrier certification and operations
- Aircraft maintenance
- Aircraft operational issues
- Aircraft permits
- Airmen certification (licensing) for pilots, mechanics, repairmen, dispatchers, and parachute riggers
- Certification and modification issues
- Enforcement of Airmen & Aircraft Regulations
You can search for your nearest FSDO on our website. You can contact them for:
- Low-flying aircraft
- Accident Reporting
- Air carrier certification and operations
- Aircraft maintenance
- Aircraft operational issues
- Aircraft permits
- Airmen certification (licensing) for pilots, mechanics, repairmen, dispatchers, and parachute riggers
- Certification and modification issues
- Enforcement of Airmen & Aircraft Regulations
To locate a complete list of all Regional Ombudsman and their contact information, visit: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/noise_emissions/airport_aircraft_noise_issues/noise_ombudsman/.
The FAA’s federal drug and alcohol testing regulation is outlined in 14 CFR part 120 and applies to the following persons:
- All air carriers and operators certificated under 14 CFR part 119 and authorized to conduct operations under part 121 or part 135 of 14 CFR; all air traffic control facilities not operated by the FAA or by or under contract to the U.S. military; and all operators as defined in 14 CFR § 91.147.
- All individuals who perform, either directly or by contract, a safety-sensitive function listed 14 CFR §§ 120.105 and 120.215.
- All part 145 certificate holders who perform safety-sensitive functions and elect to implement a drug and alcohol testing program under part 120.
- All contractors who perform safety-sensitive functions and elect to implement a drug and alcohol testing program under part 120.
The steps to establish your program depend on your type of operation. According to 14 CFR §§ 120.117 and 120.225:
- A part 121 or 135 operator, or a part 145 repair station that elects to conduct its own testing must obtain an Operations Specification paragraph (A449) by contacting its FAA Principal Operations or Maintenance Inspector.
- An air tour operator as defined in 14 CFR § 91.147 must register its program by contacting the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and requesting a Letter of Authorization (LOA). The FSDO will issue an Operations Specification paragraph (A049) as the LOA. A part 121 or 135 operator that intends to begin operations as an air tour operator must advise the FAA Drug Abatement Division.
- An air traffic control facility not operated by the FAA or by or under contract to the U.S. Military, or a contractor that elects to conduct its own testing must register its program with the FAA’s Drug Abatement Division.
Once you establish your program, you must implement the testing program prior to the date you start operations as a part 121 or 135, air tour operator, or air traffic control facility, or prior to performing safety-sensitive duties by contract (including subcontract at any tier) for a part 121 or 135 or 91.147 employer. You must ensure that your testing program meets all the requirements under 14 CFR part 120 and 49 CFR part 40. For program guidance, including Drug Abatement’s Advisory Circular (AC 120-126), and helpful resources, you should visit the FAA’s industry drug and alcohol testing website and the Department of Transportation’s website. If you hire a service agent (defined in 49 CFR § 40.3 as a consortium/third party administrator (C/TPA), collector, breath alcohol technician and screening test technician, medical review officer, and substance abuse professional) to assist you in implementing or managing your program, you must ensure the service agent is qualified (where applicable) and compliant with the federal regulations. As the employer, you are responsible for all actions of your officials, representatives, and service agency in carrying out the requirements of 14 CFR part 120 and 49 CFR part 40.
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 on how to file an FOIA request on our website.
You can find information on how to file an FOIA request on our website.
Airports are in the best position to address local concerns and should be the first point of contact.
However, to learn more about how the FAA is working to address noise issues or to submit a complaint or inquiry, please visit the Noise Complaints & Inquiries page.
To find a list of Metroplex sites, please visit the Metroplex page.