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130408 ATST WG Background Information for FR Review 

## Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee Airman Testing Standards and Training Working Group

Industry

- Led Changes to FAA Airman Testing Standards and Training

Background: Building an ARC

For many years, the aviation training community has criticized the FAA’s airman testing standards and training materials as being outdated and out of touch with current technology and education/training methods. Industry also faulted the agency for pieceme al and unilateral efforts

to make revisions.

To address these issues, in September 2011 the FAA chartered the Airman Testing Standards and Training Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to make recommendations on the content

, process

, methodology , and pr iorities for updating airman testing standards and training material. The ARC included broad representation from the aviation community, including industry associations, universities, training providers, and professional associations.

The ARC submitted i ts report and nine recommendations to the FAA on April 13, 2012.

The ARC’s key recommendation on content called for the FAA to integrate knowledge, skills, and risk management for each major task in the current Practical Test Standards (PTS) into a single Airman Certification Standards (ACS) document. ARC members stated that this approach would improve and integrate testing and training by clearly mapping aeronautical knowledge and risk management to the flight proficiency skills as defined in the PTS.

From ARC to ARAC: Mapping a New Model for Airman Testing and Training

To accomplish this task and other ARC recommendations, the FAA accepted the ARC’s process and methodology recommendations to establish a stakeholder body of industry subject
matter expe rts (SMEs). In August 2012, the FAA assigned this task to the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC), a formal standing committee comprised of representatives from aviation associations and industry. ARAC provides industry input in the form of infor mation, advice and recommendations to be considered in the full range of FAA rulemaking activities, including regulatory support.

The FAA announced the ARAC’s acceptance of this task through a Federal Register Notice published on September 12, 2012. This Notice described the task elements and solicited participants for the ARAC Airman Testing Standards and Training Working Group ( ARAC ATST WG), which formed and began its work in November 2012. Members of the ARAC ATST WG are listed on the final page of this document.Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee Airman Testing Standards and Training Working Group

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130408 ATST WG Background Information for FR Review As stated in the Notice, the FAA specifically tasked the ARAC ATST WG to provide:

• An integrated Airman Certification Standards (ACS) document that aligns the aeronautical knowledge testing standards required by 14 CFR part 61 with the fl ight proficiency standards ("Areas of Operation") set out in 14 CFR part 61 and the existing Practical Test Standards (PTS). Consistent with the ARC’s recommended prioritization, the FAA asked the

ARAC ATST WG to develop complete ACS documents for the priv ate pilot and flight instructor certificates and the instrument rating.

• A detailed proposal to align and, as appropriate, streamline and consolidate existing FAA guidance material (e.g., FAA H

- series handbooks) with the integrated Airman Certification

S tandards documents developed in accordance with the first task. The FAA also asked the

ARAC ATST WG to recommend a process for ongoing stakeholder review and revision of

these materials.

• Proposed knowledge test item bank questions that are consistent with both the newly

developed Airman Certification Standards documents and the test question development principles set forth in the ARC's recommendations. In addition, the FAA asked the ARAC ATST WG to recommend methods that provide for expert outside review (“boarding”) of proposed questions while safeguarding the integrity of the testing process.

Wind Check: Seeking Public Review and Comment

As of April 2013, the ARAC ATST WG has developed draft Airman Certification Standards (ACS) documents for the priva te pilot certificate and the instrument rating.

As envisioned by the original ARC, these draft documents align the aeronautical knowledge testing standards required by 14 CFR part 61 with the flight proficiency standards set out in the existing Practical Test Standards (PTS). Where appropriate, the ARAC ATST WG al so consolidated overlapping and/ or duplicative Areas of Operation or Tasks.

In addition to supporting the FAA’s effort to improve the relevance, reliability, validity, and effectiveness of aeronautical testing and training materials, the draft ACS documents contribute

to the goal of reducing fatal general aviation accidents by inc orporating task

- specific risk management considerations into each Area of Operation.

The FAA views the ACS documents as the foundation of its transition to a more integrated and systematic approach to airman certification testing and training. To accompl ish this objective and achieve its overall safety goals, the FAA intends to use the safety management system (SMS) framework. SMS methodology provides a systematic approach to achieving acceptable levels of safety risk. The ACS, associated guidance, and t est item bank question components of the airman certification system are being constructed around the four functional components of

an SMS:

• Safety Policy that defines and describes aeronautical knowledge, flight proficiency, and risk management as integr ated components of the airman certification system;

• Safety Risk Management processes through which internal and external stakeholders identify and evaluate regulatory changes, safety recommendations, or other factors that require modification of airman te sting and training materials;Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee Airman Testing Standards and Training Working Group

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130408 ATST WG Background Information for FR Review • Safety Assurance processes to ensure the prompt and appropriate incorporation of changes arising from new regulations and safety recommendations; and

• Safety Promotion in the form of ongoing engagement with both external sta keholders (e.g., the aviation training industry) and FAA policy divisions.

Given the foundational nature of the ACS documents and their importance in the ongoing evolution of the airman certification testing and training system, the ARAC ATST WG has asked

the FAA to make its draft ACS documents for the private pilot certificate and the instrument rating available to the public now for review and comment. The ARAC ATST WG will use the comments it receives to refine and inform its ongoing work on this projec t.

Next Steps: Moving to Completion and Implementation

The ARAC ATST WG continues its work to develop the authorized instructor ACS and complete its remaining assignments. As noted, these include developing a detailed proposal to align and, as appropriat e, streamline and consolidate existing FAA guidance material (e.g., H

- series handbooks) with each integrated Airman Certification Standards document; and to propose methodologies to ensure that knowledge test item bank questions are consistent with both th e ACS documents and the test question development principles set forth in the ARC's

recommendations.

The ARAC ATST WG is scheduled to provide its final report with draft documents and recommendations to the ARAC and the FAA by September 30, 2013. A possi ble next step is for the FAA to assign the ARAC a follow

- on task to develop the ACS and associated materials for the Commercial and Airline Transport Pilot certificates. The FAA would ask the ARAC to solicit participation in any such follow

- on work from bo th members of the current ARAC ATST WG and other appropriate stakeholder organizations.

In addition to working closely with the ATST WG during the process of developing the integrated airman certification testing and training system, the FAA is beginning to identify those changes required in internal documents (e.g., guidance to aviation safe ty inspectors and designees), job aids, and standardized business processes (e.g., Quality Management System) to implement and support the transition to the integrated ACS

- driven airman certification testing standards and training system. The goal is to f ield the new Airman Certification Standards (along with associated guidance and updated test item data bank questions) for the private pilot certificate, the instrument rating, and the authorized instructor certificate, no later than the beginning of

FY15.Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee Airman Testing Standards and Training Working Group

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130408 ATST WG Background Information for FR Review 

## Airman Testing Standards & Training Working Group

PARTICIPANTS

Name Organization

Jason Blair, Co

- Chair

David Oord, Co

- Chair AOPA

Eric Crump Polk State College

Jeremy Desruisseaux Jeppesen

Kate Fraser General Aviation Manufacturers Association

John King King Schools

Dr. Janeen Kochan Aviation Research, Training, & Services, Inc.

Kent Lovelace University of North Dakota

John “Mac” McWhinney King Schools

Kurt Reesman Liberty University

Hans Reigle University Aviation Association

Roger Sharp Redbird Simulations

Jackie Spanitz Aviation Supplies & Academics

Doug Stewart SAFE

Batson Michael Wilson Anywhere Education Inc.

Susan Parson FAA Flight Standards , Technical Special Assistant

Van Kerns FAA AFS

- 600 , Regulatory Support Division

Danny Goss FAA AFS

- 630, Airman Testing Standards Branch

Jim Viola FAA AFS

- 800 , General Aviation & Commercial Division

Jeff Smith FAA AFS

- 810 , Certification & Flight Training Branch

Marcel Bernard FAA AFS

- 810 , Certification & Flight Training Branch

Ray Johnson FAA AFS

- 810 , Certification & Flight Training Branch

Bradley Palmer FAA AFS

- 810 , Certification & Flight Training Branch

Robert Burke FAA AFS

- 210 , Air Carrier Training Branch

Robyn LaPorte FAA AFS

- 210, Air Carrier Training Branch

Leisha Bell FAA, AFS

- 270, Policy Integration Branch

Barbara Adams FAA AIR

- 230, Aviation Safety Inspector

Sabrina Jawed FAA AGC , Office of the Chief Counsel

Randa Hayes FAA Program Support ( McBreen & Kopko )