Civil Aviation Registry-Airmen Certification Branch

Responsibilities

The Airmen Certification Branch has final authority for the issuance of permanent airman certificates, maintenance of certification records, and issues over 350,000 certificates each year. Of the more than 6 million airmen records, approximately 1.1 million are considered to be active pilots. Certificates are issued for:

• Pilots
• Flight Engineers
• Flight and Ground Instructors
• Aircraft Dispatchers
• Mechanics
• Repairmen
• Parachute Riggers
• Control Tower Operators
• Flight Navigators
• Flight Attendants

Disease Protocols

This Protocol establishes the authority for the Examiner to issue an airman medical certificate to binocular applicants using multifocal or accommodating ophthalmic devices.

Devices acceptable for aviation-related duties must be FDA approved and include:

• Intraocular Lenses (multifocal or accommodating intraocular lens implants)
• Bifocal/Multifocal contact lenses

Examiners may issue as outlined below:

• Adaptation period before certification:
  • Surgical lens implantation - minimum of 3 months post-operative
  • Contact lenses (bifocal or multifocal) - minimum of one month of use
• Must provide a report to include the FAAForm 8500-7, Report of Eye Evaluation, from the operating surgeon or the treating eye specialist. This report must attest to stable visual acuity and refractive error, absence of significant side effects/complications, need of medications, and freedom from any glare, flares or other visual phenomena that could affect visual performance and impact aviation safety
• Visual Acuity Standards
  • As listed below or better;
  • Each eye separately;
  • Snellen equivalent; and
  • With or without correction. If correction is used, it should be noted and the correct limitation applied.

Note: The above does not change the current certification policy on the use of monofocal non-accommodating intraocular lenses.

Office of Aerospace Medicine - Key Officials

Susan A. Northrup, M.D., MPH
Federal Air Surgeon

Brett A. Wyrick, D.O., MPH, FACOS
Deputy Federal Air Surgeon

Melchor J. Antuñano, M.D.
Director, Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Aviation Safety (AVS)

Aviation Safety is an organization responsible for the certification, production approval, and continued airworthiness of aircraft; and certification of pilots, mechanics, and others in safety-related positions.

Aviation Safety is also responsible for:

• Certification of all operational and maintenance enterprises in domestic civil aviation
• Certification and safety oversight of approximately 7,300 U.S. commercial airlines and air operators
• Civil flight operations
• Developing regulations

AVS Stakeholder Feedback

• Go to Stakeholder Feedback Form

Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS)

The The Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS) is a comprehensive knowledge center that includes all regulatory guidance material from the Office of Aviation Safety.

DRS combines more than 65 document types from a dozen repositories into a single searchable application. It also includes all information previously found in the now retired Flight Standards Information System (FSIMS) and Regulatory Guidance System (RGL). You can browse or search the more than 2 million regulatory guidance documents. A complex search engine serves as the backbone of DRS and allows for basic or very advanced searches, while applying a variety of filters. The system includes pending, current and historical versions of all documents along with their revision history. DRS is updated daily and mobile-friendly.

Search DRS now. 

Management Information Systems

Annual Management Information System (MIS) Reporting

The FAA's drug and alcohol testing regulation, 14 CFR part 120, requires employers to submit an annual report of testing statistics. The specific requirement is described in 14 CFR §§ 120.119(a) and 120.219(b).

Do I need to submit an MIS Report?

The following employers must submit an MIS report to the FAA:

• All part 121 certificate holders;
• All other employers conducting drug and alcohol testing with 50 or more safety-sensitive employees; and
• Any other employers conducting drug and alcohol testing and notified in writing by the FAA of the requirement to submit a report.

If you believe that your company must submit a MIS report and you were not notified, please contact the FAA's Drug Abatement Division at (202) 304-2971 or via email at MIS-drugabatement@faa.gov.

When is my MIS Report due?

The annual testing data being submitted for a specific calendar year is submitted by March 15th of the following calendar year. For example, to report the data for calendar year 2020, you must submit your report by March 15, 2021.

How do I submit my MIS Report?

All reports should be submitted electronically via the Department of Transportation's (DOT’s) Drug and Alcohol Management Information System (DAMIS) to ensure a timely and accurate submission.

On October 26, 2023, the DOT announced via a List Serve notice the new requirement for DOT-regulated employers to access the DOT’s Drug and Alcohol Management Information System (DAMIS) using  Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). The MFA Login requirements will begin with the 2023 Management Information System (MIIS) reporting that is due in calendar year 2024.  MFA will be implemented for DAMIS by using Login.gov; a secure sign-in service used by the public to sign into participating government agency web applications.  

A person’s email address is the “key field” for the Login.gov account. For DAMIS access, only one email address per employer or entity may be used.  

For more information about the new login procedure, please visit the Login.gov website or call 844-875-6446.

Who can I contact with questions?

If you have questions about submitting your MIS report, please contact the FAA's Drug Abatement Division at (202) 304-2971 or MIS-drugabatement@faa.gov.

For Login.gov questions, please visit the Login.gov website or call 844-875-6446. 

Air Traffic Safety Oversight Service

In May 2004, the FAA formally established the Air Traffic Safety Oversight Service (AOV) to provide independent oversight of the Air Traffic Organization (ATO). Similar to AVS's oversight of the aviation industry, this oversight bolsters public trust and demonstrates the FAA's strong commitment to safety.

At the time AOV was established, the existing state of the National Airspace System (NAS) was accepted as a baseline. This means the written processes, procedures, specifications, and other conditions of the system were accepted as the starting point for oversight of safety in the NAS.

Situated within the Aviation Safety (AVS) organization, the Air Traffic Safety Oversight Service establishes safety standards and provides independent oversight of the Air Traffic Organization – the provider of air traffic services in the United States. We accomplish this safety oversight in a variety of ways including:

• Validating the Air Traffic Organization safety related processes used for introduction of new separation standards, and modification of existing separation standards;
• Approving new standards, waivers, extension and modification of existing waivers;
• Analyzing and authorizing controls used by the Air Traffic Organization to mitigate hazards; and,
• Participating in operational review and analysis of information pertaining to the Air Traffic Organization employees, operations and programs.
• Developing and amending regulations and guidance for regulatory oversight and credentialing functions;
• Participating in the development and harmonization of air traffic control international standards;
• Providing regulatory oversight of the Air Traffic Organization Safety Management System;

Many of these tasks are carried out through:

• Auditing;
• Surveillance;
• Investigations;
• Inspections; and
• Cooperation with other FAA safety services

Telephone: (202) 267-5205

Public Feedback and Concerns: The FAA values your feedback and provides a dedicated phone service for messages, as well as a collection of answers to frequently asked questions. Please click on the "Contact FAA" link in the footer below to ensure your comments are routed to the right office.

FAA and DOT Employee/Stakeholder Feedback: We welcome comments on your interactions with AOV processes and personnel. Please click on the "Feedback Form" link below. This input form was designed to capture your feedback and ensure it flows into our continuous improvement process.

Thank you for taking the time to help us serve you better.

Feedback Form

Prompt Settlement Policy Guidance for Commercial Pilots in Drug and Alcohol Testing Cases

On July 19, 2018, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a notice of enforcement policy designated "Settlement Policy for Commercial Pilots in Drug and Alcohol Testing Cases(PDF)" in the Federal Register. The prompt settlement policy is effective October 1, 2018 and applies to commercial pilots who are first-time violators of the drug and alcohol testing regulations in 14 CFR part 120 and 14 CFR § 91.17(a)(1) (4). Pilots who participate in this policy and who have established qualifications to hold a new 14 CFR part 61 airman certificate and special issuance airman medical certificate under 14 CFR part 67 are expected to more quickly assume commercial flight crewmember duties.

Separate Prompt Settlement Policy Guidance is in effect for Legal Enforcement Actions Involving Medical Certificate Related Fraud, Intentional Falsification, Reproduction, or Alteration. Details are available at Airmen DUI/DWI and Law Enforcement Assistance Program (LEAP).

For Prompt Settlement Policy for Commercial Pilots in Drug and Alcohol Testing Cases, commercial pilots who have committed one of the following DOT/FAA violations may elect to participate in this prompt settlement policy with the FAA:

• Verified positive drug result or alcohol result with a breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04 or greater on any of the following test types¹:
  • Random
  • Reasonable Cause/Reasonable Suspicion
  • Post-Accident
• Refusals to submit to the following test types:
  • Pre-Employment Drug & Alcohol
  • Random Drug & Alcohol
  • Reasonable Cause/Reasonable Suspicion
  • Post-Accident Drug & Alcohol
• Pre-duty alcohol misuse violations
• Drug or alcohol violations of 14 CFR § 91.17(a)(1)-(4)

How to Participate

If you are preliminarily eligible to take advantage of the prompt settlement policy, a representative from the FAA's Drug Abatement Division will notify you in writing. Upon notification, you will have 10 days of receipt of your notification to inform the Drug Abatement Division at 9-FAA-Promptsettlement@faa.gov of your intent to participate. Failure to notify the Drug Abatement Division within 10 days will preclude you from participation.

Once you notify the Drug Abatement Division of your intent to participate, your case will be referred to the Enforcement Division in the FAA's Office of Chief Counsel. If you are eligible to take advantage of the prompt settlement policy, FAA enforcement counsel will send you a formal agreement that explains the conditions for prompt settlement. Once you receive your formal agreement, it must be executed (signed) within 10 days and returned to the FAA enforcement counsel.

Upon receipt of an executed agreement, FAA enforcement counsel will issue you an emergency order to initiate your revocation. The Emergency Order of Revocation will:

1. require you to immediately surrender all your certificates issued under 14 CFR parts 61 and 67;
2. notify you that failure to surrender these certificates will subject you to further legal enforcement action (including civil penalty); and
3. inform you that the FAA will not accept an application for a new part 61 airman certificate for a period of one year from the date of your emergency order of revocation.

If you have questions about the prompt settlement policy, please contact the FAA's Drug Abatement Division at 9-FAA-Promptsettlement@faa.gov.

¹ The prompt settlement policy does not apply to individuals who have verified positive drug test results and confirmed BAC results of 0.04 or greater on a pre-employment, return-to-duty, or follow-up tests.

Aircraft Certification Service

Staff and Divisions

AIR is currently organized into the Executive and Deputy Executive Directors, three staff offices, and six divisions. AIR staff and divisions are located throughout the United States.

Aircraft Certification Service Organizational Chart with Contact Information

• Executive Director of the Aircraft Certification Service, AIR-1
• Executive Staff Office, AIR-10
• Senior Technical Experts Office, AIR-20
• International Office, AIR-40
• Safety and Performance Integration Division, AIR-300
• Integrated Certificate Management Division, AIR-500
• Policy and Standards Division, AIR-600
• Compliance and Airworthiness Division, AIR-700
• System Oversight Division, AIR-800
• Enterprise Business Operations Division, AIR-900

AIR's local offices align under the functional divisions. To locate an office, visit our Local Offices page.

Aircraft Certification Service (AIR)

Policy and Standards Division (AIR-600)

The Policy and Standards Division supports aerospace safety by developing regulations, policy, and standards for the design, manufacturing, and airworthiness of aerospace products. The division promotes overall fleet safety, supports industry and government committees, and collaborates with standards development organizations.

Contact AIR-600

Leadership 

• Dan Elgas, Director