Recurrent and Transition Training

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. 27905]

Recurrent and Transition Training

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice requests public comment to identify acceptable

industry standards for transition and recurrent flight training for

civil aviation pilots other than those engaged in commercial air

transportation. This notice asks each commenter to provide subjects and

standards for transition and recurrent flight training that may be

incorporated into one or more new or revised Advisory Circulars (AC).

This information will help the FAA develop effective advisory material

in partnership with the aviation community.

DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before January 19, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be in triplicate to: Federal Aviation

Administration, Office of the Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket

(AGC-10), Docket No. 27905, 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC

20591. Comments delivered must be marked Docket No. 27905. Comments may

be examined in the Rules Docket, room 915-G, weekdays between 8:30 a.m.

and 5 p.m., except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Thomas Glista, AFS-850, Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation

Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591;

telephone (202) 267-8150.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this notice the FAA is announcing an

evaluation of transition and recurrent flight training for civil

aviation pilots other than those engaged in commercial air

transportation. One of the goals of the 1994 General Aviation Action

Plan (GAAP) calls for increasing the effectiveness of the pilot and

aircraft maintenance technician training infrastructure (flight

instructors, schools, practical test standards, knowledge testing

publications), and transition training and recurrent training programs.

Additionally, the GAAP states that FAA efforts will include programs to

solicit customer (the aviation community) feedback and other input on

our services. Consequently, the FAA is requesting information on

industry standards for transition and recurrent flight training.

Currently, there are several ACs that address various transition

and recurrent flight training subject areas. Some of these are: AC 61-

9B, Pilot Transition Courses for Complex Single Engine and Light Twin-

Engine Airplanes; AC 61-10A, Private and Commercial Pilot Refresher

Courses; AC 61-66 Annual Pilot in Command Proficiency Checks; AC 61-

89A, Pilot Certificates: Aircraft Type Ratings; AC 61-98A, Currency and

Additional Qualification Requirements for Certificated Pilots; AC 61-

103, Announcement of Availability: Industry-Developed Transition

Training Guidelines for High Performance Aircraft; and AC 61-107,

Operations of Aircraft at Altitudes Above 25,000 Feet MSL and/or MACH

numbers (Mmo) Greater Than .75. The FAA is considering combining these

ACs into one or two ACs.

Often a pilot will transition from basic training aircraft to

faster and more complicated aircraft. The FAA is seeking information on

whether a pilot should receive transition training with some or all of

these changes of aircraft and, if so, what training. Especially with

the development and certification of pressurized single engine and

light twin engine aircraft with complex systems not requiring a type

rating, transition training has become more critical. The FAA believes

that it should publish information on the recommended training to

transition from aircraft to aircraft.

The FAA recognizes that many civil aviation pilots desire, and may

obtain, an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate, although that

certificate is not required for civil aviation operations which are not

air carrier operations. The FAA believes that many corporate flight

departments, for their own reasons, require their pilots to hold an ATP

certificate. Insurance company requirements may influence pilots to

gain an ATP certificate even though it is not required for the

operations performed by those pilots. Commenters should feel free to

address transition and recurrent flight training subjects that they

believe to be applicable to the ATP certificate as well as the

recreational, private, and commercial certificates.

Additionally, the FAA believes that appropriate recurrent training

can be very effective in reducing accidents and incidents. Regression

analysis of the general aviation fatal accident rate data indicates

that following the implementation of the biennial flight review

requirement (November 1, 1974) there was a one-time 10 percent decrease

in fatal accident rates beyond the existing long-term declining trend

in accident rates. The FAA also believes that the more appropriate the

recurrent flight training, the greater the reduction in accidents.

Consequently, the FAA is requesting that the public identify subjects

and standards for transition and recurrent flight training, if the

current ACs should be modified and if so, how they should be modified,

and the content of the ACs.

The FAA is especially seeking comments from flight instructors,

manufacturers, industry groups, aircraft specific type clubs and

societies, and insurance underwriters.

Issued in Washington, DC on September 14, 1994.

Louis C. Cusimano,

Acting Manager, General Aviation and Commercial Division.

[FR Doc. 94-23260 Filed 9-20-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-M