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VOLUME 13 FLIGHT STANDARDS DES IGNEES
CHAPTER 3 DESIGNATED AIRCRAFT DISPATCH ER EXAMINER
Section 4 The Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test
13

- 221 APPLICABILITY. This section contains directives, guidance , and information related to the administration of the Aircraft Dispatcher Practic al Test. For the purposes of this section , the term “examiner” applies to a Designated Aircraft Dispatch er Examiner (DADE) or an Aviation Safety Inspector

– Aircraft Dispatcher (ASI

- AD) who administers the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test. This chapter is primarily directed towards DADEs and their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) managing specialists. However, the information contained in this section that is related to the actual conduct of the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test applie s to any examiner. Applicant eligibility requirements and application processing information are contained in this section and in Volume 5, Chapter 5, Section 10, which contains information on the overall requirements for aircraft dispatcher certifi cation.
13

- 222 PROGRAM TRACKING AND REPORTING SUBSYSTEM (PTRS) ACTIVITY CODES.
A. PTRS Activity Codes: 1513, 1524, 1555.

B. Information on PTRS Entries. See Volume 5, Chapter 5, Section 10 for information regarding specific PTRS entries.
13

- 223 GENERAL.
A. No More Than Two Tests Per Day. An e xaminer may not administer more than two Aircraft Dispatcher Practical T ests per day. ( See Vo lume 13, Chapter 3, Section 2

. )

B. Single Applicant Only

. An examiner may not administer any portion of the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test to more t han one applicant at a time.
C. No Applicant Notes. Examiners must not permit applicants to have any notes or documents in the testing area other than those specifically listed in the current edition of FAA

- S

- 8081

- 10, Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test Standa rd s (PTS)

. D. No Instruction During Testing. Examiners may not provide the applicant with any instruction during the practical test. If the applicant requires instruction, then it’s possible that the applicant is struggling in a particular area and could fail the test.

E. Policy Regarding Observers. Generally, observers may not be present during the conduct of the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test. 1) At no time will another applicant for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate observe, or be present in the same room or testing area , during the conduct of the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test.

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2) An FAA managing specialist may always observe a DADE conducting the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test. 3) No other observers may monitor the test without permission from the FAA
ma naging specialist and agreement from the DADE and the applicant.

F. Test Time. In accordance with the Aircraft Dispatcher P TS , a n examiner should allot, on average, no less than 4 hours and no more than 6 hours to conduct a test. The PTS requirements are exte nsive, and examiners must ensure that they thoroughly administer the test

. An applicant’s ability to complete any portion of the test in a reasonable amount of time must be part of the examiner’s evaluation criteria. Inability by an applicant to complete t he Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test in a timely manner may be an indication that the applicant lacks the ability to manage his or her workload. Workload management is a critical element of performing the duties of an aircraft dispatcher.
13

- 224 PREREQUISITES AN D COORDINATION REQUIREMENTS.
A. Prerequisites. This task requires knowledge of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations ( 14 CFR ) parts 1, 61, 65, 91, 110, 119, 121, and 183 and the policies set forth in this order.

B. Coordination. This task may require coor dination between the managing FAA office, regional Flight Standards division (RFSD), and/or the Air Transportation Division (AFS

- 200).
13

- 225 REFERENCES, FORMS, AND JOB AIDS.
A. References (current editions):

• Title 14 CFR P arts 1, 61, 65, 91, 110, 119, 121, and 183

. • Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.).

B. Forms:

• FAA Form 8000

- 36, P rogram T racking and R eporting S ubsystem Data Sheet

. • FAA Form 8060

- 4, Temporary Airman Certificate

. • FAA Form 8060

- 5, Notice of Disapproval of Application

. • FAA Form 8400

- 3, Applicati on for an Airman Certificate and/or Rating

. • FAA Form 8710

- 6, Examiner Designation and Qualification Record.
C. Job Aids :

• Figure 13

- 20, Sample Letter of Aeronautical Competency

– Successful Applicant of Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate Less Than 23 Years of Ag e.

• Figure 13

- 21, FAA Form 8060

- 5 , Notice of Disapproval of Application

. • Figure 13

- 22, Sample Letter of Discontinuance.

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13

- 226 APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

. Prior to testing any applicant for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate , an examiner must verify:
A. Age. To be eligibl e to take the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test, a person must be at least 21 years of age. This is based on the minimum age requirement for the “ ADX K nowledge T est ”

. The minimum age requirement for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate is 23 years of age. T herefore, applicants who take the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test prior to reaching 23 years of age are not entitled to an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate. Applicants under the age of 23 who pass the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test will be issued a L etter of Aeronautical Competency in lieu of a Temporary Airman Certificate. The FAA managing specialist will issue the letter. A DADE may not issue a Letter of Aeronautical Competency. (Letters of Aeronautical C ompetency are discussed in greater detail in subparagraph 1 3

- 23 3 B. See also Volume 5, Chapter 5, Section 10

. )

B. English Language Requirements. To be eligible to take the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test and be issued an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate, a person must be able to read, speak, write, an d understand the English language in accordance with part 65, § 65.53. Any applicant who fails to demonstrate this ability will not be issued an A ircraft D ispatcher C ertificate. An examiner will administer the entire Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test in E nglish. An e xaminer must establish an applicant’s ability to read, speak , and write the English language prior to administering the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test. 1) Follow AC 60

- 28 Guidelines. In order to establish an applicant’s English l anguage skill s, examiners will use the current edition of Advisory Circular (AC) 60

- 28, English Language Skill Standards Required by 14 CFR P arts 61, 63, and 65 , as a baseline. The AC provides guidelines on basic requirements for pronunciation, structure, vocabulary, f luency, interaction , and comprehension , as well as guidelines that are specific to applicants for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate. In accordance with the AC, examiners will require each applicant to read, and demonstrate an understanding of, Aviation Ro utine Weather Reports (METAR) and Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF). The applicant must be able to demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and concisely using the various methods of radiotelephony communications such as telephone, satellite phone, and v ery h igh f requency (VHF) and h igh f requency (HF)
r adio. 2) Applicants Must be Capable of Clear and Concise Communication in English. Aircraft dispatchers are required for all part 121 domestic and flag operations. When working for a part 121 domestic an d/or flag air carrier, aircraft dispatchers are required to communicate critical information to pilots in command (PIC) using these various methods of radiotelephony communications. Examiners must be able to establish that an applicant is capable of clear and concise communication using any of these methods. (See also Volume 5, Chapter 5, Section 10

. )
C. Airman Knowledge Test. Each applicant must present an original, embossed Airman Knowledge Test Report showing satisfactory test results. The applicant must ha ve passed the test within the preceding 24 calendar

- months prior to completion of the practical test.

D. Application. Each applicant must complete and sign an FAA Form 8400

- 3

.

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E. Experience/Training Requirement. Each applicant for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certific ate must show evidence satisfactory to the Administrator of having obtained experience or training in accordance with § 65.57. 1) Graduates of an FAA

- Approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course in Accordance with § 65.57(b). Applicants possessing a s tat ement of g raduation and an instructor’s recommendation from an FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification C ourse meet the training requirements of § 65.57(b) and are eligible to take the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test. A DADE may test an applicant who has graduated from an FAA

- approved course. a) Written Statement of Graduation. The applicant must present a valid written
s tatement of g raduation. A s tatement of g raduation is valid for 90 days, unless revalidated by the course operator. A course operato r may revalidate a s tatement of g raduation for an additional 90 days in accordance with § 65.70(b). Course operators typically issue a s tatement of g raduation in the form of a graduation certificate or diploma. Each s tatement of g raduation is required to
c ontain at least the following:

1. A signature by an authorized representative of the course operator attesting to the applicant’s successful completion of the A ircraft D ispatcher C ertification C ourse

. 2. The total number of hours of instruction administered to t he applicant

. 3. The s tatement of g raduation must contain or have attached to it all of the topics and subtopics for which a student has been given credit allowed by § 65.61(d). If included as an attachment, the student will present the attachment along with a copy of the s tatement of g raduation to the examiner who administers the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test. In conjunction with the requirements contained in the Aircraft Dispatcher P TS , examiners will focus attention on the topics for which a student ha s been given credit to determine if the student has an adequate level of understanding of those topics. b) Instructor’s Recommendation. The applicant must have an instructor’s recommendation. FAA Form 8400

- 3 requires an instructor to enter his or her recommen dation in
s ection 7. The instructor’s signature indicates the applicant has met the requirements for, and is ready to take, the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test. 2) Applicants W ho Provide Documentary Evidence of Experience in Accordance with § 65.57(a)(1), (2), or (3). Applicants who have not graduated from an FAA

approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course, but instead present documentary evidence of having experience in accordance with § 65.57(a)(1), (2), or (3), may be eligible to take the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test , provided the Administrator finds the documentary evidence to be satisfactory. In this case, the Administrator will be represented by the FAA managing specialist , who will review the documentary evidence to determine if it is sati sfactory. A DADE may not make this determination. If the FAA managing specialist determines the documentary evidence is satisfactory, the specialist may authorize the DADE to administer the test to the applicant. If an ASI

- Air Carrier Operations ( ASI

- AC

- OP ) has been temporarily assigned as the FAA managing specialist, an ASI

- AD must determine the documentary evidence is satisfactory before the ASI

- AC

- OP may authorize a DADE to administer the test. An FAA m anaging

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s pecialist may grant the authorization to th e DADE to test an applicant who qualifies under § 65.57(a)(1), (2), or (3) on a case

- by

- case basis only. The FAA managing specialist must retain the applicant’s documentary evidence as part of the airman certification file. (See also Volume 13, Chapter 3, S ections 1 and 2 , a nd Volume 5, Chapter 5, Section 10

. ) 3) Applicants Who Provide Documentary Evidence of Experience in Aircraft Operations in Accordance with § 65.57(a)(4) Require Approval from AFS

- 200. Section 65.57(a)(4) allows an applicant to present docu mentary evidence to the Administrator of having performed other duties in aircraft operations that may provide equivalent experience to what is prescribed in § 65.57(a)(1), (2) or (3). For the purposes of § 65.57(a)(4), the Administrator will be represente d by AFS

- 200, who will make the ultimate determination as to whether or not the applicant’s documentary evidence is satisfactory and shows experience equivalent or greater than what is prescribed in § 65.57(a)(1), (2), or (3). No examiner (ASI

- AD or DADE) may administer the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test to an applicant presenting evidence of equivalent experience in accordance with § 65.57(a)(4) without first obtaining written approval from AFS

- 200. a) Requests for approval from AFS

- 200 must come from th e AFS f ield o ffice
m anager, through t he m anager of the RFSD, to t he m anager of AFS

- 200. All requests for approval must be accompanied by documentary evidence of the applicant’s experience. b) Prior to requesting approval from AFS

- 200, all documentary evidence submitted by the applicant must be reviewed by an ASI

- AD. The ASI

- AD is responsible to make the initial determination as to whether or not the documentary evidence is satisfactory. If the ASI

- AD ’ s initial determination is that the evidence is satisfactory , the AFS field office m anager will document the ASI

- AD’s determination in the memo requesting approval from AFS

- 200 to test the applicant. The AFS field office m anager will send the memo to the m anager of AFS

- 200 through the m anager of the RFSD. c) Upon rece iving the memo from the AFS field office m anager , the RFSD must review the request. If the RFSD concurs with the request , the manager will concur by memo and recommend approval to the m anager of AFS

- 200. d) If the RFSD does not concur with the request, it may not forward it to headquarters ( HQ ) for review. e) If AFS

- 200 determines the applicant’s documentary evidence showing equivalent experience is satisfactory, AFS

- 200 will grant approval to test the applicant via
memo. f) Upon receiving approval from AFS

- 200, the FAA m anaging s pecialist may authorize the DADE to test the applicant on a one

- time

- only basis. The FAA m anaging s pecialist must observe the DADE administering the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test to the applicant. Approval letters from AFS

- 200 must be r etained as part of an applica nt’s airman certification file. (See also Volume 5, Chapter 5, Section 10

. )

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4) Required Documentation of Training and Experience to b e Provided by the Applicant. a) An applicant who has graduated from an FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatc her Certification Course in accordance with § 65.57(b) must present the following documentary evidence:

• An original , embossed Airman Knowledge Test Report showing satisfactory test results,

• A s tatement of g raduation , issued or revalidated in accordance wi th § 65.70(b), showing that the applicant has successfully completed an FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher C ertification Course, and

• FAA Form 8400

- 3 with an instructor’s recommendation entered in
s ection 7. b) An applicant providing documentary evidence of expe rience in accordance with any of the provisions of § 65.57(a) must submit the following types of docum ents as evidence of experience:

• Letters from employers on company letterhead accompanied by applicable training records ( l etters from employers must conta in contact information (e.g. , telephone or fax) for verification purposes ) ;

• Log books;

• Military serv ice records; and

• Employment r ecords. c) The FAA managing specialist must verify the validity of all documentary evidence presented in association with any of th e provision s of § 65.57(a) as part of the process for determining whether or not the documentary evidence is satisfactory. The FAA managing specialist must retain a copy of the documentary evidence provided by the applicant as part of the applicant’s airma n certification file. If AFS

- 200 granted approval to test the applicant, the approval letter must also be retained as part of the certification file.
13

- 227 IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. The identification requirements contained in this section are based on the re quirements contained in the curre nt edition of FAA Order 8080.6 , Conduct of Airman Knowledge Tests.
A. Verification of Identity. The applicant must provide valid, positive proof of identification. The identification may be presented in more than one form, and must contain at least the fol lowing:

• An official photograph of the applicant , • The applicant’s date of birth , • The applicant’s signature , and

• The applicant’s physical residential address

.

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B. Acce ptable Forms of Identification. 1) U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens

. Acceptable forms of photo identification for U.S. citizens and resident aliens include:

• Driver’s license issued by a U.S. state or territory , • U.S. g o vernment i dentification c ard , • U.S. m ilitary identification card , or

• Passport or alien residency card. 2) No n - U.S. Citizens. Acceptable forms of photo identification for non

- U.S. citizens must include a passport and one or more of the following:

• Driver’s license issu ed by a U.S. state or territory, and/or

• Identification card issued by any government entity.
C. Anno tation of Identification Accepted. When an examiner accepts the form(s) of identification, he or she must annotate the “Practical Test Report” section of FAA Form 8400

- 3

. Copies of identification documentation do not have to accompany the application packa ge; simply reference the identification in the appropriate section on the back of the form.
13

- 228 CONTENTS OF APPLICATION PACKAGE. The applicant must provide the following prior to testing:

• A completed FAA Form 8400

- 3 with an instructor’s recomm endation entered in
s ection 7;

• An original , embossed Aircraft Dispatcher Airman Knowledge Test Report showing satisfactory test res ults;

• A s tatement of g raduation issued or revalidated (in accordance with § 65.70(b)) showing that the applicant has successfully completed an FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course (a s tatement o f g raduation is not required if the applicant has not attended an FAA

- approved part 65 A ircraft D i spatcher C ertification C ourse ) ; and

• If the applicant does not have a s tatement of g raduat ion, then the application package must include the documentary evidence required to support the previous experience listed in § 65.57 ( a). ( See subparagraph 13

- 226E2) through 4)

. )
13

- 229 APPLICATIONS PROCESSED VIA THE INTEGRATED AIRMAN CERTIFICATION AND/OR RATING APPLICATION (IACRA). Information related to the use of the IACRA system to process airman applications is available at the following Web site: https://iacra.faa.gov/iacra/default.aspx

. DADEs require approval from their FAA managing specialist before using IACRA

. 13

- 230 AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER P TS

. The FAA requires examiners to administer all Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Tests in accordance with the Aircraft Dispatcher P TS

. While using the PTS, the examiner must evaluate the applicant’s knowledge and skill in sufficie nt depth to determine that the applicant met the standards of performance listed for all “Tasks.”

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A. Introduction. The “I ntroduction ” section of the Aircraft Dispatcher P TS contains general guidance, information, and examiner responsibilities. Examiners must review the “I ntroduction ” section thoroughly and adhere to instructions contained therein.

B. Areas of Operation. “A reas of o peration ” are phases of the practical test arranged in a logical sequence within the standard. They begin with “F light P lanning /D ispat ch R elease ” and end with “A bnormal and E mergency P rocedures .” The examiner, however, may conduct the practical test in any sequence that will result in a complete and efficient test.
C. Task. “T asks ” are titles of knowledge areas or procedures appropriate to an a rea of
o peration

. D. Plan of Action (POA)

. The examiner will develop a written POA for each Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test he or she administers. The POA must include all required t ask s in each
a rea of o peration . If the elements in one t ask have alrea dy been evaluated in another t ask , they need not be repeated. An examiner may change the sequence or combine t ask s with similar objectives to conserve time. An examiner only needs to evaluate each element once if he or she has evaluated it sufficiently wit hin a particular task. Examiners are expected to follow the POA; therefore, they must construct it in a manner that flows and is flexible enough to account for variables and unexpected situations, should they arise. A POA must be comprehensive enough to
en sure evaluation of all selected t ask s.
NOTE: Although the Aircraft Dispatcher P TS allows for utilization of different POAs, examiners should always administer tests in a manner that best illustrates a logical working flow of aircraft dispatcher duties and respo nsibilities as they would be at an air carrier. It is of the utmost importance that the examiner captures a logical workflow through the use of realistic scenarios in order to be able to evaluate the applicant’s ability to perform the duties of an aircraft dispatcher with a high degree of safety.

E. Knowledge. The knowledge portion of the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test is often referred to as the oral portion. In this phase of the test , examiners will determine through oral questioning whether the applican t has acquired adequate practical knowledge. 1) Examiners should base questions on the t ask s outlined in the Aircraft Dispatcher PTS and phrase them in clear and concise terms. Examiners must test to the greatest extent practicable the applicant’s correlative abilities, rather than rote memorization of facts, throughout the practical test. 2) In accordance with the Aircraft Dispatcher P TS , there is no formal division between the knowledge and skill portions of the practical test. Evaluation of applicants must be an ongoing process throughout the test. The examiner should use oral questioning prudently to determine the applicant’s knowledge of tasks and related safety factors. Examiners must test to the maximum extent practicable the applicant’s correlative abiliti es, rather than rote memorization of facts, throughout the practical test.

F. Skill. The skill portion of the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test is the phase where the applicant demonstrates the ability to complete several intricate manual calculations , inclu ding

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those necessary to prepare a manual flight plan. Once the applicant completes these calculations, examiners must test the applicant in his or her knowledge of the manual calculations involved through oral questioning. In accordance with the PTS , the s kill portion of the test requires the following critical calculations ( r efer to the PTS for the ful l requirements) :

• Preparation of a manual flight plan and dispatch release for a flight between authorized airports selected by the examiner ;

• Preparation of a load manifest ;

• Calculation of takeoff data ; and

• Cal culation of landing data

. G. Satisfactory Performance. In accordance with § 65.17, the minimum passing grade for each test prescribed by part 65 is 70 percent. Calculating a test score for the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical T est c an be somewhat subjective. The Aircraft Dispatcher P TS defines satisfactory performance this way: “ Satisfactory performance : means that, in the judgment of the examiner, the applicant is able to demonstrate skill and correctly respond to the examiner’s qu estions at least 70 percent of the time

. ” Each examiner must have a method of determining this.

H. Unsatisfactory Performance. Unsatisfactory performance is determined by the examiner. If, in the judgment of the examiner, the applicant does not meet the obje ctives of any t ask, or otherwise fails to correctly respond to the examiner’s questions at least 70 percent of the time, the examiner will deem the applicant’s performance to be unsatisfactory.

I. Typical Areas of Unsatisfactory Performance and Grounds for Di squalification. The PTS contains a list of t ypical a reas of u nsatisfactory p erformance and g rounds for d isqualification. Errors, lack of performance , and/or failures in these areas should be considered as ground s for failure of the entire Airc raft Dispatch er Practical Test.

• Failure to appropriately apply the conditions and limitations of any minimum equipment list (MEL)/Configur ation Deviation List (CDL) item;

• Actions by the applicant that would constitute a violation of 14 CFR if the applicant wer e actuall y dispatching a flight;

• Exceeding any Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) limitation ;

• Failure to comply with operation s specifications (OpSpecs); and

• Failure to properly interpret any Notice s to Airmen (NOTAM).
J. Special Emphasis Areas. The Aircraft Dispatcher P TS list s several “Special Emphasis Areas.” Examiners must place special emphasis upon areas that are most critical to dispatching and flight safety. Among these are:

• Positive o perational c ontrol ;

• Aircraft p erformance and d riftdown ;

• Weather r equirements for d e parture/ d estination and a lternate a irports ;

• Haza r dous w eather a wareness, r ecognition , and a voidance ;

• Aeronautical d ecision

- m aking (ADM) ;

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• Risk m anagement p rocedures (RMP) ;

• Dispatcher r esource m anagement (DRM) ; and

• Other areas deemed appropriate to any phase of the practical test.

NOTE: Although these areas may not be specifically addressed under each t ask , they are essential to dispatching and flight safety and must be evaluated during the practical test.

K. Reference Materials. Where appropriate, the applicant shoul d be allowed to use printed reference material commonly available to an aircraft dispatcher while working at an air carrier. Reference materials may only include those items specifically listed in the Aircraft Dispatcher P TS . Examiners must not permit appl icants to have any personal notes or documents in the testing area at any time during the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test.
13

- 231 ADMINISTER THE AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER PRACTICAL TEST.
A. Prior Notification. A DADE must notify the FAA managing specialist at least 48 hours prior to scheduling any Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test (including a retest) in order to provide the specialist with an opportunity to conduct surveillance of the DADE. The FAA managing specialist may instruct the DADE to provide more than 48 hou rs notice.

B. Test Scenarios. The examiner will develop at least three flight plan test scenarios , which use actual operational data to simulate irregular operations and non

- normal situations. Developing multiple scenarios allows the examiner to choose which scenario he or she will use for a particular test, and it prevents test applicants from successfully sharing test information with each other. The FAA managing specialist will review the test scenarios periodically and advise a DADE when the scenarios need to be revised or updated . Examiners will update the scenarios as necessary at least once a year and will provide at least the following items to the applicant:

• Weather, to include METAR, Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts ( TAF), Winds Aloft, appropriate ch arts , and Pilot Weather Reports (PIREP);

• NOTAM s ;

• The authorized airports upon which the manual flight plan will be calculated; and

• Weight and Balance (W&B) Form for the appropriate aircraft

. NOTE: Refer to the Aircraft Dispatcher P TS for student supply requirements

. C. Testing Facility. The examiner must ensure that the testing facility meets requirements equivalent to those required by § 65. 65 and Volume 3, Chapter 63 , Section 3. The facility must be private, be free from distractions, and provide the applicant with s ufficient space to complete the skill portions of the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test. The testing facility must be equipped with writing surfaces (desks, tables, etc

. ) that provide the applicant with sufficient space to use all necessary testing materi als such as aeronautical en route charts and AFM s

. D. Tracking. A DADE must keep a record of the practical test he or she has administered. To satisfy this requirement , a DADE may keep a copy of each FAA Form 8400

- 3 ,

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- 65

or he or she may use another means to trac k each test , such as the one illustrated in Volume 13, Chapter 3, Section 1 , Figure 13

- 14, Sample Practical Test Tracking Form

. 13

- 232 EVALUATION OF THE APPLICANT. Examiners will evaluate each applicant in accordance with the requirements of the Aircraft Dispatch er P TS . Each examiner is responsible for determining that the applicant demonstrates acceptable knowledge and skill for each t ask within the PTS. An examiner must test to the greatest extent practicable the applicant’s correlative abilities , rather than ro te memorization of facts , throughout the practical test. If an examiner determines that a t ask is incomplete or the outcome is uncertain, he or she may require the applicant to repeat that t ask or portions of it. An examiner must not provide instruction to the applicant or allow the applicant to practice for the purposes of successfully completing any t ask

. Examiners must inform applicants of the level of performance expected before beginning the test.
13

- 233 SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS. When an applicant has successful ly completed the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test, examiners and the FAA managing specialist will accomplish the following, according to the applicant’s age.
A. Applicants 23 Years of Age or Older. Successful applicants who are 23 years of age or older are entitled to a Temporary Airman Certificate (FAA Form 8060

- 4). 1) Prepare the Application for an Airman Certificate and/or Rating (FAA Form 8400

- 3 )

. DADEs and FAA managing specialists must complete FAA Form 8400

- 3 as follows: a) DADE. The DADE will complete sect ions 8 and 10 and note any remarks in the “Remarks” section at the end of the form.

1. Section 8 , Evaluation Record. Complete the Evaluation Record in
s ection 8 of the form. Only complete the “ P ractical Test Aircraft Dispatcher” block of the section. The “Ora l” block of section 8 does not apply to the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test. DADEs will use the “Examiner” column of s ection 8, affix their signature, enter their designation and Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate numbers , and then sign the form. DADEs wil l enter the date on which they administered the test.

2. Section 10 , Practical Test Report. Complete the p ractical t est r eport in
s ection 10 of the form. Document the subject areas w ith an “S” for satisfactory.

3. Section 10 , Practical Test Report Remarks. Compl ete the “ Remarks ” sect ion of the form as appropriate. b) Managing Specialist. The FAA managing specialist will complete s ection 9 of FAA Form 8400

- 3, as follows:

1. Select either “Temporary Airman Certificate Issued” or “Notice of Disapproval of Application Issu ed,” as appropriate

.

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2. Select “ Examiner’s Action Accepted ” (unless the FAA managing specialist intends to reject the DADE’s actions)

. 3. Enter signature, date, and FAA office information

. 4. Select “Aircraft Dispatcher” located under the box provided for the FAA O ffice information. 2) Issue FAA Form 8060

- 4. If authorized in the letter of authority ( LOA ) , the DADE will issue the Temporary Airman Certificate in duplicate and sign the signature block as the examiner. The DADE will enter his or her designee number and the date the designation expires. The DADE will give one copy of the Temporary Airman Certificate to the applicant and retain the other copy with the certification file. (See Volume 5, Chapter 1, Section 5, to view instructions at the end of the section for c ompleting this form.) 3) Obtain Contact Information. The DADE will obtain contact information where the applicant can be reached during the next 120 days in the event of application problems. The DADE will record the contact information in the “Remarks” sect ion of FAA Form 8400

- 3. 4) Forw ard Application Package to FAA Managing S pecialist. A DADE will forward an application package to the FAA managing specialist within 7 calendar

- days of administering the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test, unless otherwise speci fied by the FAA managing specialist. FAA managing specialists may specify another time period based on a high volume of tests. However, the time in which a DADE may forward an application package may not be extended beyond 14 calendar

- days after conducting a test. The DADE must provide the following documents to the managing specialist as part of the application package:

• The completed FAA Form 8400

- 3;

• Original copy of FAA Form 8060

- 4 (if issued by the DADE);

• The o riginal Airman Knowledge Test Report ;

• A copy of the w ritten s tatement of g raduation ( t he applicant retains the original) if the applicant has successfully completed an FAA

- approved Aircraft D ispatcher Certification Course; and

• A completed FAA Form 8000

- 36 ( i f provided by the managing specia list). 5) Fo rward Application Package to the Airmen Certification Branch ( AFS

- 760 )

. The FAA managing specialist will forward certification application packages to AFS

- 760, as follows:

• The completed FAA Form 8400

- 3;

• The original copy of FAA Form 8060

- 4 ;

• The o riginal Ai rman Knowledge Test Report ; and

• A copy of the w ritten s tatement of g raduation (the applicant retains the original) if the applicant has successfully completed an FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course

.

12DATE DRAFT 8900.1 CHG DADE

- 65

6) Document the DADE’s Activity. The FAA m anaging specialist will document the DADE’s activity in the PTRS using activity code 1555,

“ CERT/EXMNR/DESIG/DISPATCHER

. ” Instructions on how to complete the activity are contained in Volume 5, Chapter 5, Section 10, paragraph 5

- 137 1

. B. Applicants Under the Age of 23. An applicant under the age of 23 is not entitled to a Temporary Airman Certificate until the applicant reaches his or her 23rd birthday. Successful applicants under the age of 23 will be issued a Letter of Aeronautical Competency in lieu of a Te mporary Airman Certificate. The FAA managing specialist will issue the letter on official FAA letterhead. The Letter of Aeronautical Competency must contain the statement that the applicant has met all of the requirements for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certifi cate except for age

. A sample Letter of Aeronautical Competency is contained in Figure 13

- 20. 1) Prepare the Application for an Airman Certificate and/or Rating (FAA Form 8400

- 3 )

. The DADE complete s sections 8 and 10 of the form and enters the following state ment into the “ Remarks ” s ection of the form: “ APPLICANT IS LESS THAN 23 YEARS OF AGE. HOLD APPLICATION. LETTER OF AERONAUTICAL COMPETENCY ISSUED. ” 2) Forw ard Application Package to FAA Managing S pecialist. A DADE will forward the application package to the F AA managing specialist as soon as practicable, but no more than 7 calendar

- days from administering the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test, unless otherwise specified by the FAA managing specialist. The FAA managing specialist cannot issue the Letter of Aer onautical Competency without first reviewing the application package. The DADE will forward the following:

• The completed FAA Form 8400

- 3 with the completed “Remarks” section ;

• The o riginal Airman Knowledge Test Report ;

• A copy of the w ritten s tatement of g ra duation (the applicant retains the original) if the applicant has successfully completed an FAA

- approved part 65 A ircraft D ispatcher C ertification C ourse; and

• A completed FAA Form 8000

- 36 ( i f provided by the managing specialist)

. 3) Forward the Application Pa ckage to AFS

- 760. The FAA managing specialist will forward the following for applicants under the age of 23 as follows:

• The completed FAA Form 8400

- 3. The “Remarks” section of the form must contain the following statement: “APPLICANT IS LESS THAN 23 YEARS OF AGE. HOLD APPLICATION. LETTER OF AERONAUTICAL COMPETENCY ISSUED ; ”

• The o riginal Airman Knowledge Test Report ;

• A c opy of s tatement of g raduation (the applicant retains the original) if the applicant has successfully completed an FAA

- approved part 65 A ircr aft D ispatcher C ertification C ourse ; and

• A copy of the Letter of Aeronautical Competency.

13DATE DRAFT 8900.1 CHG DADE

- 65

4) Document Actions in PTRS. The FAA managing specialist will document the issuance of the Letter of Aeronautical Competency using PTRS a ctivity c ode 1513 , “CERT/AIRM/DI SP/LTR COMPTENCY.” 5) Issue a Certificate When the Applicant is at Least 23 Y ears of Age. Once the applicant has reached the age of 23, he or she may go to any Flight Standards District Office ( FSDO ) and present the following documents in exchange for a Tempo rary Airman Certificate:

• The original Let ter of Aeronautical Competency;

• Proof of age;

• Any other identification required by paragraph 13

- 227 ; and

• An updated FAA Form 8400

- 3

. a) Letters of Aeronautical Competency do not expire. However, prior to issuing a Temp orary Airman Certificate in exchange for a Letter of Aeronautical Competency, the aviation safety inspector ( ASI ) issuing the certificate must contact AFS

- 760 to verify that the applicant’s original application is on file. Information on how to contact AFS

- 760 is located on the FAA ’s public W eb site at http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/ contact_airmen_certification

. b) If AFS

- 760 does not have the original application package , cannot reconstruct the application file, or otherwise st ates that the applicant should not be issued a certificate, the ASI can attempt to contact the AFS field office that issued the original Letter of Aeronautical Competency to see if that office has the original application package. Otherwise , the ASI will i nstruct the applicant that a Temporary Airman Certificate cannot be issued and that the applicant will have to requalify for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate in accordance with § 65.57. c) If AFS

- 760 indicates that they have reconstructed , or are able to re construct , the original application package, and there is nothing that should otherwise prevent the issuance of a Temporary Airman Certificate, the ASI will issue the Temporary Airman Certificate and forward the updated application package to AFS

- 760. The package must contain:

• The completed FAA Form 8400

- 3 , • A copy of the Letter of Aeronautical Competency , and

• The o riginal copy of FAA Form 8060

- 4.
13

- 234 UNSUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS. If, in the judgment of the examiner, the applicant does not meet the standards of performance of any task performed, then he or she is considered to have failed the associated area of operation and, therefore, has failed the entire Aircraft Dispatcher Prac tical Test. When failure is impending, the exami ner will notify the applicant. At this point either the examiner or the applicant may discontinue the test. The examiner may only continue the test with the consent of the applicant. Continuation of the te st when failure is impending does not constitute a retest. An examiner must administer a retest separately and on a later date, in accordance with § 65.19. The examiner may only credit the applicant for those areas of operation and the associated tasks he or she has performed satisfactorily.

14DATE DRAFT 8900.1 CHG DADE

- 65

A. Record the Results. DADEs will record the results of the practical test on the back of FAA For m 8400

- 3 and document subject areas with a “U” for unsatisfactory. In addition, the DADE will list the specific failed areas from the PTS in the “Remarks” section of FAA Form 8400

- 3, in the “Remarks” section of the PTRS d ata s heet (if provided by the FAA
m anaging specialist), and on FAA Form 8060

- 5

. The DADE will enter the date of test completion in the “Evaluation Record” section along with a si gnature and designation number.

NOTE: If the unsuccessful applicant has satisfactorily completed some subject
areas , th e DADE may note the area with an “S” for satisfactory.

B. Return the Original Written Test Report. The DADE will return the original written test report to the applicant and instruct the applicant to retain it for future presentation to an examiner when retes ting.

NOTE: The applicant always retains the original w ritten s tatement of g raduation.
C. Prepare the Notice of Disapproval of Application (FAA Form 8060

- 5 )

. The DADE will complete FAA Form 8060

- 5 (see Figure 13

- 21 ) in duplicate and give the original to the applica nt. Instructions for completing the form are contained in Volume 5, Chapter 5, Section 10, paragraph 5

- 137 2 , and Volume 5, Chapter 1 , Section 6. The DADE will instruct the applicant to retain the Notice of Disapproval of Application for future presentation to an examiner when retesting.

D. Forward the Application Package to the FAA Managing Specialist. DADEs will forward the application to the FAA managing specialist within 7 calendar

- days of administering the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test, unless otherwi se instructed by the specialist. T he DADE will include:

• The completed FAA Form 8400

- 3 , • A d uplicate of FAA Form 8060

- 5, and

• The completed FAA Form 8000

- 36 ( i f provided by the managing specialist)

. E. Forward the Application Package to AFS

- 760. The FAA managin g specialist will forward the application package for unsuccessful applicants to AFS

- 760 and i nclude the following documents:

• The completed FAA Form 8400

- 3, and

• A d uplicate of FAA Form 8060

- 5.
13

- 235 RETEST AFTER FAILURE. In accordance with § 65.19, an applicant may retest after failing the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test:

• Thirty days after the date the applicant failed the test, or

• Before the 30 days have expired if the applicant presents a signed statement from an airman who holds an Aircraft Dispatcher Certi ficate, certifying that the airman has given the applicant additional instruction in each of the s ubjects failed and the airman considers th e applicant read y for retesting.

15DATE DRAFT 8900.1 CHG DADE

- 65

A. Application. Each applicant for a retest must complete and sign FAA Form 8400

- 3

. B. Ai rman Knowledge Test. Each applicant for a retest must present an original, embossed Airman Knowledge Test Report showing satisfactory test results.
C. Statement of Graduation ( i f Applicable). Each applicant for a retest must present a copy of a s tatement of g raduation if he or she has successfully completed an FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course

. D. Original Copy of the Notice of Disapproval of Application (FAA Form 8060

- 5 ). Each applicant for a retest must present an original copy of FAA Form 8 060

- 5. The form should contain the list of the subjects failed by the applicant; otherwise , the retest must be administered in its entirety.

E. Time Period f or Retest. 1) An applicant may only be retested within the validity period of a s tatement of g raduation i ssued in accordance with § 65.70(b) ; and 2) An applicant may only be retested within 24 months of having passed the Aircraft Dispatcher Knowledge Test (ADX Knowledge Test) in accordance with § 65.55(b)

. F. T ask s and A rea s to Retest. An applicant may receive cred it for those a rea s of
o peration and the associated t ask s that have been performed satisfa ctorily on the previous test , under the following conditions: 1) Retesting Within 30 Days After the Date of F ailure. An examiner administering a retest may give the appli cant credit for those a rea s and/or t ask s completed satisfactorily on the previous test. If testing within 30 days of failure, § 65.19 requires an applicant to present a signed statement from an airman who holds an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate. In the st atement, the airman must certify that he or she has given the applicant additional instruction in each of the a rea s and/or t ask s previously failed by the applicant, and that he or she considers the applicant ready for retesting. The certifying statement mu st include the airman’s Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate number. A certifying statement of this nature does not relieve an examiner from his or her duty to thoroughly evaluate an applicant. If the examiner doubts the applicant’s competency in any a rea or t a sk , the examiner will retest the applicant in any and all a rea s a nd t ask s the examiner sees fit. 2) Retesting A fter 30 Days b ut No More than 60 Days f rom the Date of F ailure. Examiners should exercise caution when retesting an applicant who is applying for a retest more than 30 days after failing the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test. Section 65.19 contains no requirement for an applicant to receive additional instruction if he or she applies for a retest 30 days after he or she failed the test. An examiner administering a retest may give the applicant credit for those a rea s and t ask s completed satisfactorily on the previous practical test(s) if the retest occurs within 60 calendar

- days of the original test. However, an examiner may choose to retest an applic ant on any and all areas and/or tasks if the examiner doubts the applicant’s competence in any area or task he or she previously performed satisfactorily. Whether or not a t ask or a rea needs to be retested is at the examiner’s discretion.

16DATE DRAFT 8900.1 CHG DADE

- 65

3) Retesting A fter 60 days from the D ate of F ailure. An applicant who desires a retest after 60 calendar

- days from having failed the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test is not entitled to any credit for t ask s or a rea s previously passed. In this case, the examiner must adminis ter the entire Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test.
G. Retesting an Applicant who has Qualified for Testing Under the Provisions of § 65.57(a)(4) i s Not Permitted. In accordance with subparagraph 13

- 226E3 of this section, an examiner requires prior approval fr om AFS

- 200 in order to administer the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical test to any applicant who provides documentary evidence in accordance with § 65.57(a), as a means to qualify for testing. If the applicant fails the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical T est on t he first attempt, AFS

- 200 will not grant approval to an examiner to administer a retest.
H. Forward the Application Package. If the applicant passes the retest, the DADE and FAA managing specialist will forward the application package in accordance with the g uidance contained in this section applicable to successful applicants.
13

- 236 DISCONTINUATION OF THE PRACTICAL TEST FOR REASONS OTHER THAN UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE

. A. Letter of Discontinuance. An examiner will issue a Letter of Discontinuance when reasons other than unsatisfactory performance lead to the termina tion of a practical test. Some examples of reasons for discontinuing a test include, but are not limited to:

• Power f ailure,

• Family eme rgency,

• Inclement w eather , and

• Illness

. NOTE: Poor performance by an applicant is not a valid reason to discontinue a test. Poor performance is considered grounds for failure of t he Airc raft Dispatcher Practical Test.

B. Issue the Letter of Discontinuance. When an examiner discontinues the test for reasons other than unsatisfactory performance, he or she will prepare, sign, and issue a Letter of Discontinuance to the applicant and return the FAA Form 8400

- 3, the original Airman Knowledge Test Report , and s tatement of g raduation (when applicable) to the applicant. The examiner must retain a copy of the Letter of Discontinuance and make it part of an applicant’s certification file and the DADE’s designated examiner file. At no time will an examiner issue a Letter of Discontinuance in lieu of FAA Form 8060

- 5 when it appears an applicant may fail any portion of the Aircraft Dispatcher Pract ical Test. The examiner will identify in the Letter of Discontinuance all a reas of o peration associated t ask s successfully completed by the applicant. The examiner will instruct the applicant to present the Letter of Discontinuance when he or she resumes t he Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test for the purpose of being allowed credit for those
a rea s and t ask s successfully completed. The applicant should resume the test with the same examiner; however, the test may be continued with another examiner (ASI

- AD or DADE) if

17DATE DRAFT 8900.1 CHG DADE

- 65

circumstances such as continued illness of the previous examiner warrant the use of a nother examiner.
C. Valid Time. A Letter of Discontinuance is valid for no more than 60 days after the test is discontinued . After 60 days from the discontinuation and the issuance of the Letter of Discontinuation, an applicant is no longer entitled to credit for any a rea s or t ask s previously satisfied during the initial test. In addition to the maximum of 60 days valid time of a Letter of Discontinuance, examiners m ust adhere to the following time limits:

• The t est must be continued within the validity period of a s tatement of g raduation (when issued ) in accordance with § 65.70(b); and

• The t est must be continued within 24 months of the applicant having passed the ADX Knowledge Test in accordance with § 65.55(b)

. D. T ask s and A rea s to Continue. When c ontinuing a n Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test, examiners will credit applicant s for the successful completion of the a rea s of o peration and associated tasks listed in the Le tter of Discontinuance. If an examiner doubts the applicant’s knowledge or competence in any given a rea of o peration or t ask previously satisfied during the initial test, the examiner may retest the applicant to the extent the examiner deems necessary. Whe n the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test is completed, the examiner will include a copy of the Letter of Discontinuance with the application package

. ( See Volume 5, Chapter 5, Section 10, paragraph 5

- 137 4 and Figure 5

- 139A , for an example of a Letter of Di scontinuance. )
13

- 237 RETENTION OF APPLICATION PACKAGES. The certificate

- holding district office ( CHDO ) will retain all aircraft dispatcher certification documentation in accordance with the current edition of FAA Order 1350.15, Records Organization, Transfer, a nd Destruction Standards , Chapter 11.

18DATE DRAFT 8900.1 CHG DADE

- 65

Figure 13

- 20. Sample Letter of Aeronautical Competency

– Successful Applicant of Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate Less Than 23 years of Age

[ District Office Letterhead ] Letter of Aeronautical Competency

This letter is evidence that:
[ Name of Applicant ] has successfully completed the required written, knowledge , and skill tests for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate; however, the applicant has not reached 23 years of age. The applicant may obtain a Temporary Airman Ce rtificate (FAA Form 8060

- 4) from any Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) upon presenting the following: 1) Proof of age (23 years old)

. 2) A current application, FAA Form 8400

- 3, Application for a n Airman Certificate and/or Rating

. 3) This original let ter

. 4) Two valid forms of photo identification.

Aviati on Safety Inspector Signature: Aviation Safety Inspector Name (print):

Date:
District Office Number Office Location

___________________ _____________

This Letter of Aeronautical Competency does not expire.

19DATE DRAFT 8900.1 CHG DADE

- 65

Figure 13

- 21. FAA Form 8060

- 5, Notice of Disapproval of Application

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

– FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

NOTICE OF DISAPPROVAL OF APPLICATION NOTE

PRESENT THIS FORM UPON APPLICA TION FOR REEXAMINATION

NAME AND ADDRESS OF APPLICANT CERTIFICATE OR RATING SOUGHT

On the date shown, you failed the examination indicted below:
FLIGHT ORAL PRACTICAL
AIRCRAFT USED (Make and Model) FLT. TIME RECORDED IN LOGBOOK

PILOT

- IN

- COMM. OR SOLO INSTRUMENT DUAL

UPON REAPPLICATION YOU WILL BE REEXAMINED IN THE FOLLOWING:

I ha v e personally tested this applicant and deem his or her performance unsatisfactory for the issuance of the certificate or rating sought.

DATE OF EXAMINATION SIGNATURE OF EXAMINER OR INSPECTOR DESIGNATION OR OFFICE NO.

FAA Form 8060

- 5 (4

- 82)

20DATE DRAFT 8900.1 CHG DADE

- 65

Figure 13

- 22. Sample Letter of Discontinuance

Dear , On this date, , you successfully completed a portion of the Aircraft Dispatcher P ractical T est indicated below: You have successfully completed the following areas of the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test : [ List successfully completed a reas of o peration and asso ciated t asks from the PTS. ]

The practical test was discontinued because of: [ State Reason ] You may present this letter no later than [ e nter 60 days from the date of the initiation of the test ( s ame as date entered at the beginning of the letter) ] as proof of your successful completion of the a reas of o peration and associated t asks listed above. After [ e nter expiration date ] , you will be required to complete the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test in its entirety. This letter does not extend the expiration date of your ADX K nowledge T est results or statement of graduation issued by [ enter the name of the FAA

- a pproved p art 65 Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course if applicable ]

. Sincerely,
[ ASI

- AD or DADE ] Certificate/Designation Number:

RESERVED. Paragraphs 13

- 23 8 through 13

- 250.

21