The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is empowered
by the U.S. Congress to promote aviation safety
by prescribing safety standards for civil aviation. This
is accomplished through the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFRs) formerly referred to as Federal
Aviation Regulations (FARs).
Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)
part 61 pertains to the certification of pilots, flight
instructors, and ground instructors. 14 CFR part 61 prescribes
the eligibility, aeronautical knowledge, flight
proficiency, and training and testing requirements for
each type of pilot certificate issued.
14 CFR part 67 prescribes the medical standards and
certification procedures for issuing medical certificates
for airmen and for remaining eligible for a medical
certificate.
14 CFR part 91 contains general operating and flight
rules. The section is broad in scope and provides
general guidance in the areas of general flight rules,
visual flight rules (VFR), instrument flight rules
(IFR), aircraft maintenance, and preventive maintenance
and alterations.
1-1
Ch 01.qxd 5/6/04 11:25 AM Page 1-1
1-2
Within the FAA, the Flight Standards Service sets the
aviation standards for airmen and aircraft operations in
the United States and for American airmen and aircraft
around the world. The FAAFlight Standards Service is
headquartered in Washington, D.C., and is broadly
organized into divisions based on work function (Air
Transportation, Aircraft Maintenance, Technical
Programs, a Regulatory Support Division based in
Oklahoma City, OK, and a General Aviation and
Commercial Division). Regional Flight Standards division
managers, one at each of the FAA’s nine regional
offices, coordinate Flight Standards activities within
their respective regions.
The interface between the FAA Flight Standards
Service and the aviation community/general public
is the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).
[Figure 1-1] The approximately 90 FSDOs are
strategically located across the United States, each
office having jurisdiction over a specific geographic
area. The individual FSDO is responsible for all air
activity occurring within its geographic boundaries.
In addition to accident investigation and the
enforcement of aviation regulations, the individual
FSDO is responsible for the certification and surveillance
of air carriers, air operators, flight
schools/training centers, and airmen including pilots
and flight instructors.
Each FSDO is staffed by aviation safety inspectors
whose specialties include operations, maintenance,
and avionics. General aviation operations inspectors
are highly qualified and experienced aviators.
Once accepted for the position, an inspector must
satisfactorily complete a course of indoctrination
training conducted at the FAA Academy, which
includes airman evaluation and pilot testing techniques
and procedures. Thereafter, the inspector must
complete recurrent training on a regular basis. Among
other duties, the FSDO inspector is responsible for
administering FAA practical tests for pilot and flight
instructor certificates and associated ratings. All questions
concerning pilot certification (and/or requests for
other aviation information or services) should be directed
to the FSDO having jurisdiction in the particular geographic
area. FSDO telephone numbers are listed in the
blue pages of the telephone directory under United States
Government offices, Department of Transportation,
Federal Aviation Administration.
Airplane Flying Handbook