Fact Checking Medical Myths in Aviation

Office of Accident Investigation & Prevention

Accident Data

Use the interactive dashboard below to learn more about accident and incident information reported to the Office of Accident Investigation & Prevention. You can also view preliminary accident information reported to the Office of Accident Investigation & Prevention. All information is preliminary and subject to change.

Procedures Statement of Capability (PSOC)

Procedures Statement of Compliance;

Procedural Statement of Compliance (PSOC): The PSOC provides evidence of procedures compliance.

Operators should obtain a PSOC for their procedures from their procedure provider. The following are contacts for the procedure providers participating in the Streamlined Part 91 Operational Approval Process. You will not be able to obtain the PSOC from the FAA.

Procedure Providers are encouraged to use this guide to prepare and submit a request to obtain FAA acceptance of a PSOC.

Training Statement of Capability (TSOC)

 Training Statement of Compliance

Training Statement of Compliance (TSOC): The TSOC provides evidence of training compliance.

Operators should obtain a TSOC for their training from their training provider. The following are contacts for the training providers participating in the Streamlined Part 91 Operational Approval Process. You will not be able to obtain the TSOC from the FAA.

Training Centers are encouraged to use this guide to prepare and submit a request to obtain FAA acceptance of a TSOC.

Aircraft Statement of Capability (ASOC)

Aircraft Statement of Capability

Aircraft Statement of Capability (ASOC): The ASOC provides evidence of aircraft capabilities.

Operators should obtain the ASOC for their aircraft from their aircraft manufacturer. The following are contacts for the aircraft manufacturers participating in the Streamlined Part 91 Operational Approval Process. You will not be able to obtain an ASOC from the FAA.

Aircraft manufacturers are encouraged to use this guide to prepare and submit a request to obtain FAA acceptance of an ASOC.

Nick Fuller

Executive Director, Air Traffic Safety Oversight Service, AOV-1

Nick Fuller is the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Executive Director of the Air Traffic Safety Oversight Service (AOV), responsible for directing the independent, risk-based, data-driven safety oversight of air navigation services.

Aircraft Wake Turbulence

Wake Vortex Encounter - Mitigation

Wake vortices are masses of counter-rotating air created as a by-product of the generation of lift. Every aircraft that uses a fixed or rotary airfoil to generate lift in flight creates wake vortices of varying initial strength and persistence. Wake vortices from similar or larger size generating (lead) aircraft are a hazard to encountering (following) aircraft that may vary from light turbulence encounters to a Loss of Control-Inflight or in-flight breakup accident. 

Pilots are advised to: 

• Learn to visualize the behavior, location, and movements of wake vortices from similar or larger size generating aircraft. 
• Proactively adjust their flight path or delay operations as needed to avoid or mitigate a wake vortex encounter. 
• Be alert for possible wake vortex encounters, particularly during takeoff, approach, and landing operations. 
• Follow the wake vortex encounter avoidance and mitigation guidance contained in AC 90-23 as amended, applicable aircraft manuals, and the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).

Pilots have the ultimate responsibility for the safe operation of their aircraft. Pilots arriving and departing from uncontrolled airports, or accepting a clearance for a visual approach, operating using Visual Flight Rules (VFR) outside of controlled airspace are accepting the responsibility for wake vortex encounter avoidance and mitigation. When Air Traffic Control (ATC) is providing separation services, the controller shares in this responsibility. ATC mitigates wake vortex encounter risk through minimum separation standards between leader aircraft and follower aircraft, as well as information reports to pilots such as Wake Turbulence Cautionary Advisories.

Below you will find links to Wake Turbulence guidance, as well as detailed information on the airspace and equipment requirements and capabilities.

Advisory Circulars (AC)

Other Information and Guidance

Focal Point: Flight Technologies and Procedures Division, Flight Operations Group (AFS-410)
Email: 9-AWA-AVS-AFS-400-Flight-Technologies-Procedures@faa.gov

Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS)

Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)

Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) was developed as a safety-enhancing system to reduce the likelihood of mid-air collisions between aircraft. ACAS is a family of airborne devices that function independently of the ground-based Air Traffic Control (ATC) system and provides collision avoidance for a broad spectrum of aircraft types.

ACAS iterations include Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) I, TCAS II, and ACAS Xa. TCAS I provides Traffic Advisories (TAs) that indicate on a display the positions and relative altitudes (if the target is altitude reporting) of transponder operating aircraft to assist a flightcrew in the visual acquisition of aircraft with a potential for collision. 

ACAS II (TCAS II or ACAS Xa) provides both TAs and Resolution Advisories (RAs). RAs are recommended vertical maneuvers, or vertical maneuver restrictions that maintain or increase the vertical separation between aircraft for collision avoidance. 

With the introduction of ACAS Xa, the FAA now permits four variants of ACAS II in U.S. airspace, TCAS II version 6.04a Enhanced, TCAS II version 7.0, TCAS II version 7.1, and ACAS Xa including optional ACAS Xo features. If an aircraft has an ACAS II installed, it must be TCAS version 7.0, version 7.1, or ACAS Xa to operate within Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) airspace. 

Operators flying outside of U.S. territorial airspace are advised to ensure that appropriate ACAS software updates are incorporated for compatibility with oceanic and international equipage and operation standards for ACAS. International requirements differ by type of operation, type of aircraft, and airspace entry requirements. Consult documents of ICAO and the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with jurisdiction of the airspace to be flown for more information.

Below you will find links to ACAS regulations and guidance, as well as detailed information on the airspace and equipment requirements and capabilities.

 
Regulations

Advisory Circulars (AC)

Related Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFOs) and Information for Operators (INFOs)

Other Information and Guidance

Focal Point:  Flight Technologies and Procedures Division, Flight Operations Group (AFS-410)
Email:9-AWA-AVS-AFS-400-Flight-Technologies-Procedures@faa.gov  
 

Oceanic and Remote Continental Application Guides

This application guide was developed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Technologies and Procedures Division (AFS-400) to provide users with an organized method for submitting required content as part of an Oceanic and Remote Continental application package. This guide is optional. However, we recommend its use because it will help expedite the application process. Please note that there are two application formats below. The first link is for certificated operations (i.e. Parts 91K, 121, 125, and 135). The second link is only for Part 91 operators.

In order to properly view this document, download it to your desktop and open it with Adobe Acrobat (preferred) or download the free Adobe pdf-Reader at: https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/pdf-reader.html

• Oceanic and Remote Certificated AG
• Oceanic and Remote Part 91 AG

Aircraft Certification Service

Integrated Certificate Management Division (AIR-500)

The AIR Integrated Certificate Management Division supports the certification, system oversight and continued operational safety functions of commercial airplanes and engines.

Contact AIR-500

Leadership

• Victor Wicklund, Acting Director