Air Transportation Division

Training & Simulation Group

The Training and Simulation Group manages national standards, policies, and procedures relating to training and qualification under 14 CFR Part 121, Part 135, and Part 142. The group also manages the national standards and oversight of Flight Simulation Training Devices (FSTDs) that are qualified in accordance with 14 CFR Part 60. >>More

Training Systems

• Advanced Qualification Program (AQP)
• Air Carrier Training
• Air Carrier Contract Training
• Air Carrier Training Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ACT ARC)
• Competency and Checking Records
• National Simulation Program (NSP)
• Part 142 Training Centers
• Training Aids
• Training Advisory Circulars

Advisory Circulars

Address

Federal Aviation Administration
Training and Simulation Group,
Room # 831
800 Independence Avenue, S.W.,
Washington, DC 20591

Phone: (202) 267-8166
Fax: (202) 267-5229
Email: 9-AFS-200-Correspondence@faa.gov

Training & Simulation Group

• Develops part 121, 135, and 142 training and qualification policy for crewmembers, aircraft dispatchers, and certain other operations personnel.
• Develops technical standards and policy for the qualification and continuous oversight of FSTDs used for pilot training.
• Conducts initial and continuing qualification evaluations of FSTDs that are qualified in accordance with part 60.
• Determines the need for and helps develop new airline transport pilot, flight engineer, navigator, and aircraft dispatcher certification regulations and amendments.
• Provides the division focal point for International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aircrew training issues.
• Develops policy for the air carrier designated examiner (ADE) Program.
• Meets and coordinates with the aviation community on air carrier training matters.
• Provides operational support for the implementation of training policy and regulations.
• Provide both technical and administrative review of applications or memoranda of understanding from certificate holders, and coordinate documentation with other FAA offices.
• Develops program policy and guidance for use by FAA offices and the aviation industry.
  Monitors the effectiveness of the associated programs.
• Identifies human factors research requirements and provides oversight of studies and grants for pilot training and human factors research projects.
• Evaluates and makes recommendations on the use of new technologies in pilot training and safety programs.
• Provides technical assistance to FAA field offices and airlines for implementation and operation of these safety programs.

Contact Information

Federal Aviation Administration
Aviation Safety
Office of Aerospace Medicine
Drug Abatement Division (Washington, DC)
Phone: 202-267-8442
FAX: 202-267-5200
drugabatement@faa.gov
General weekday office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Nancy Rodriguez Brown
Director, Drug Abatement Division

Heath Hohensee
Deputy Director, Drug Abatement Division

Mark Adams (Acting)
Manager, Program Administration Branch

Latonya Williams (Acting)
Manager, Program Policy Branch

Lacey Jones
Manager, Special Investigations Branch

Chet Stevenson
Manager, Central Compliance and Enforcement Center (Ft. Worth, TX)
Phone: 817-222-5340
Fax: 202-267-5200 or 817-222-4427

Asher Levy
Manager, Western Compliance and Enforcement Center (El Segundo, CA)
Phone: 424-405-7717 or 424-844-7091
Fax: 202-267-5200 or 424-405-7736

Jerome LeBlanc
Manager, Eastern Compliance & Enforcement Center (Miramar, FL)
Phone: 954-641-6251
Fax: 202-267-5200 or 954-641-6260

Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS)

	In our continuing effort to improve EFVS operational policy and the quality of service, the Flight Operations Group encourages EFVS stakeholders to provide feedback directly to our EFVS Operational Policy Team. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
	Please send us feedback on your EFVS operations here, or through your tablet. The data you provide helps us evaluate sensor performance and informs future operational credit policy.
	EFVS User Feedback Summary. The information from the EFVS User Feedback web form is used to inform improvements to EFVS operational policy and increase awareness of EFVS sensor performance in the EFVS operator community.
	Operators without a “radio altimeter tolerant airplane” are prohibited from conducting EFVS operations to touchdown and rollout under § 91.176(a) at airports in the 48 contiguous U.S. Operators should consult their aircraft OEM for information regarding their aircraft’s “radio altimeter tolerant” status. More information can be found in Airworthiness Directive 2023-10-02.
	As the supply of incandescent lamps used in approach lighting systems dwindles, the FAA has begun using Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps to keep the approach lighting up and running. This page includes information regarding the dissemination of information of LED installation locations.

The following materials are available for your reference:

Regulations

Applicable FAA regulations for EFVS operations and pilot requirements.

Advisory Circulars (AC)

Applicable FAA Advisory Circulars for EFVS operations and EFVS airworthiness approval.

FAA Internal Guidance

Applicable inspector guidance material on the FAA Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS).

Application Guides

The application guides may not work properly if viewed or manipulated using a web browser (Chrome, Edge, etc.). Please use Adobe to view, complete, and save the appropriate application guide.

Date	Title	Revision
10/23/2024	Part 91 – Application Guide	8
10/03/2022	Part 91K – Application Guide	2
10/19/2022	Part 121 – Application Guide	3
10/03/2022	Part 129 – Application Guide	2
11/18/2024	Part 135 – Application Guide	6

Informational Documents

Information to clearly, and simply, explain certain EFVS topics. The informational documents may be viewed on either your web browser (Chrome, Edge, etc.) or you can use Adobe.

EFVS Newsletters

Contact the Flight Operations Group’s EFVS focal point (listed below) for assistance with EFVS operational policy.

EFVS Focal Point: Scott McLellan
Email: 9-AVS-AFS-EFVS@faa.gov

Aviation Safety (AVS)

Flight Technologies and Procedures Division

Organizational Effectiveness

Mission

Organizational Effectiveness ensures consistency, interdependence, critical thinking, and agility across the Division through implementation of SMS, SAS, QMS, workforce development, and communications.

Responsibilities

• Ensures the maintenance and implementation of the QMS and quality processes are applied across the division.
• Manages workforce development effort for division employees and maintains the efforts for the Flight Standards Services OJT program.
• Conducts strategic planning for the division through tools including the One Division Plan and the Annual Performance Plan.
• Analyzes and evaluates field execution of special training programs related to flight technologies and PBN and assists the agency in the conduct of approved programs.

Projects and Programs

• Business planning for the division
• One Division Plan
• Communications for the division
• Change management

• Employee development (including division workshops, OJT)
• QMS and division processes
• Records management (filing, document control, correspondence)
• Safety Programs (SAS, SMS)

Address:
Federal Aviation Administration
Flight Technologies and Procedures Division
Organizational Effectiveness
6500 S. MacArthur Blvd.
Building 26, Suite 217
Oklahoma City, OK 73169

Email:9-awa-avs-afs405@faa.gov

Performance Based Operations Aviation Rulemaking Committee (PARC)

The PARC provides a forum for the United States (U.S.) aviation community to discuss, prioritize, and resolve issues, provide direction for U.S. flight operations criteria and produce U.S. consensus positions for global harmonization. PARC input was invaluable in the drafting of the Roadmap for Performance-Based Navigation as well as the PBN NAS Navigation Strategy, and they have helped update numerous FAA regulatory documents. They continue to provide guidance and recommendations to help the FAA transition to a performance-based National Airspace System.

Brief History of the PARC

• Sponsored by AVS, the TAOARC was formed as a forum for the Aviation Industry to have their voices heard, November 2001
• Membership reduced and transitioned to the PARC with FAA Order 1110.139, February 2004
• The PARC charter was renewed in March 2006 and 2008, June 2010, 2014, 2018, and most recently in May 2022 for four years

Chair: Ronald Renk, United Airlines
FAA Co-Chair: Chris Hope, Manager, Flight Technologies and Procedures Division

PARC Charter(PDF)

PARC Products

Questions about the PARC, email Heather Mehler.

Office of Foundational Business

Executive Leadership:

• Victor L. Goodell (A)
  Director, Office of Foundational Business
• William J. McGowan (A) (AFB-2)
  Acting Deputy Director, Office of Foundational Business

The Office of Foundational Business provides resource and business management services to the entire Flight Standards Service and manages aircraft and airmen registration services for the public.

The Office of Foundational Business is responsible for the following:

1. Provides human resource management, administrative, staffing, budget and logistical services to the entire Service.
2. Manages and directs all matters associated with the planning, programming, and implementation of the Aircraft Registration and Airmen Certification Programs.
3. Represents the quality control and assurance arm of the Service’s Safety Management System (SMS) responsible for the application of safety management and quality management within the Service, and for identifying risks that transcend individual regulated entities, straddle multiple sectors of the industry, and/or rise to the level at which they require national or governmental attention.
4. Recruits and hires high-quality individuals for the Service and ensures their development is tailored to the individual and aligned to the needs of the Service.

The Office of Foundational Business is comprised of the following six divisions:

• Civil Aviation Registry Division
• Mission Services Division
• Safety Risk Management Division
• Strategic Planning and Financial Services Division
• Workforce Development Division
• Workforce Services Division

Flight Standards Service Key Officials

Hugh Thomas (Acting) 
Executive Director, Flight Standards Service, AFX-1 

Vacant
Deputy Executive Director, Flight Standards Service, AFX-2A

Jon Ottney (Acting)
Deputy Executive Director, Flight Standards Service, AFX-2B

Dennis J. Hill
Director, Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance, AFC-1

Vacant
Deputy Director, Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance, AFC-2A

Thomas A. Baird, Jr. (Acting)
Deputy Director, Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance, AFC-2B

Hardie H. DeGuzman
Director, Office of General Aviation Safety Assurance, AFG-1

Calvin Tillman 
Deputy Director, Office of General Aviation Safety Assurance, AFG-2A

Thomas A. Winston
Deputy Director, Office of General Aviation Safety Assurance, AFG-2B

Timothy R. Adams (Acting) 
Director, Office of Safety Standards, AFS-1

Robert Reckert (Acting)
Deputy Director, Office of Safety Standards, AFS-2A

Vacant
Deputy Director, Office of Safety Standards, AFS-2B

Victor L. Goodell (Acting)
Director, Office of Foundational Business, AFB-1

Vacant
Deputy Director, Office of Foundational Business, AFB-2A

William J. McGowan (Acting)
Deputy Director, Office of Foundational Business, AFB-2B       

Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance

Executive Leadership:

• J. Dennis Hill
  Director, Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance

• Thomas L. Baird, Jr.
  Acting Deputy Director, Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance

The Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance is comprised of divisions, which share responsibilities and balance the level of work identified below:

1. Provides all certification and oversight activities for aviation entities conducting operations under, or integrally related to, 14 CFR Part 121.
2. Ensures consistency and standardization in application of oversight activities, applies Risk-Based Decision Making (RBDM) for enhanced and focused utilization of certification and surveillance resources, and works across the Service to ensure stakeholder and public needs are proactively and expeditiously met.
3. Investigates accidents, incidents, and possible violations of 14 CFR and ensures compliance of operators’ flight procedures, operating methods, airmen qualifications and proficiency, and aircraft maintenance conducted under, or integrally related to, 14 CFR Part 121.

Air Carrier Safety Assurance Leadership

• James Brannon, Acting Division Manager
• Thomas F. Malone, Division Manager
• Andrew Ayers, Acting Division Manager
• Michael McNerny, Acting Division Manager
• Kirk F. Baldin, Acting Division Manager
• Michael Drew, Division Manager

ACSA Division Oversight

Flight Standards Service Office:

• Certificate Management Offices