U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 

# Advisory Circular

Subject: FAA

- Approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Courses Date: DRAFT
Initiated by: AFS

- 2 0 0 AC No: 65

- DADE Change:

1. PURPOSE. This a dvisory c ircular (AC) presents guidelines for the development of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course in accordance with the requirements of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regul ations (14 CFR) p art 65 s ubpart C and a ppendix A. This AC provides an acceptable means of complying with the regulations; however, it is not the only means of compliance. When this AC uses mandatory language (e.g., “ must ” or “ may not ” )

, it is typically quo ting or paraphrasing a regulatory requirement or prohibition. When this AC uses permissive language (e.g., “ should ” or “ may ” ), it describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, of obtaining approval to conduct a p art 65 Aircraft Dispatcher Certific ation Course.

2. REGULATORY REFERENCES. Title 14 CFR p art 65 s ubpart A

, subpart C, and appendix A.

3. RELATED READING MATERIAL ( current edition s ).

a. F AA Resources. Guidance regarding the necessary FAA resources to approve, renew

, or conduct oversight of an FAA

- app roved A ircraft D ispatcher C ertification C ourse is contained in FAA Order 8900.1 , Flight Standards Information Management System (FSIMS), Volume 3, Chapter 6 3

, S ection 2.

b. Approval , Renewal , a nd Oversight o f Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Courses

. Guidanc e specific to approval, renewal

, and oversight of p art 65 Aircraft Dispatcher Certifications Courses is contained in Order 8900.1

, V olume 3, Chapter 6 3

, S ection 3.

c. Certification o f Aircraft Dispatchers

. Guidance specific to the certification of aircraft di spatchers is contained in Order 8900.1

, V olume 5, Chapter 5, S ection 10.

d. Designated Aircraft Dispatch er Examiners (D ADE ). Guidance specific to managing DADEs and the duties and responsibilities of DADEs is con tained in Order 8900.1

, Volume 13, Chapter 3.

e. E nglish Language Requirements. The current edition of AC 60

- 28, English Language Skill Standards Required by 14 CFR P arts 61, 63, and 65, contains requirements and guidelines related to English language skills for aircraft dispatchers certificated under par t 65.DATE DRAFT AC 65

- DADE

4. BACKGROUND.

a. Requirement f or Cert ificated Aircraft Dispatchers

. FAA

- c ertificated aircraft dispatchers are required for all air carriers who conduct 14 CFR p art 121 dom estic and/or flag operations. In accordance with part 65, § 65.51, a person is actin g as an aircraft dispatcher by exercising responsibility with the pilot in command (PIC) in the operational control of a civil aircraft involved in air commerce . Each person acting as an aircraft dispatcher must carry on his or her person an Aircraft Dispa tcher Cert ificate issued by the FAA. Each person who holds an A ircraft D ispatcher C ertificate must present it for inspection upon request of the Administrator

, an authorized representative of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) , or of any F eder al, S tate, or local law enforcement.

b. Certification o f Aircraft Dispatchers

. Part 65 contains requirements for certification of airmen other than pilots. Specifically, p art 65 s ubpart C, Aircraft Dispatchers, contains requirements for Aircraft Dispatcher Ce rtificates and for FAA

- approved A ircraft D ispatcher C ertification C ourses. An applicant for an A ircraft D ispatcher C ertificate may complete an FAA

- approved A ircraft D ispatcher C ertification C ourse as a means to satisfy the training requirements of § 65.57( b ). Aircraft D ispatcher C ertification C ourses must comply with the applicable requirements of p art 65 s ubpart A ( General ) and p art 65 s ubpart C ( Aircraft Dispatchers ) and must provide certification training on the topics and subtopics required by
p art 65 a ppendix A. Aircraft D ispatcher C ertification C ourses are not themselves certificated by the FAA. Rather, the FAA individually approves each part 65 Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course.

5. PART 65 SUBPART A PROH I BITIONS.

a. Cheating Prohibited

. Section 65.18 prohibits cheating on written tests. For the purpose of aircraft dispatcher certification, the term “written test” applies to the Aircraft Dispatcher Knowledge Test (ADX Knowledge Test) and any portion of the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test that is not administered orally. In accordance with the current edition of FAA

- S

- 8081

- 10, Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test Standards (PTS)

, the knowledge portion of the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical T est is cons idered to be the oral portion. Therefore, the skill po rtion (demonstration of abilities) of the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test is considered to be the written portion of the test. The prohibitions contained in § 65.18 apply to a person. In accordance with the 14 CFR p art 1 definition of “ person, ” § 65.18 applies directly to an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course o perator and an applicant for an Ai rcraft Dispatcher Certificate. Therefore, an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator or applicant for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate may not (u nless authorized by the Administrator):

(1) Copy or intentionally remove a written test required by p art 65 s ubpart C. The Administrator g enerally allows the publication of an ADX Knowledge Test p reparation b ook and the Aircraft Dispatcher PTS . However, the Ad ministrator does not allow the copying of an actual Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test as it would be, or was, administered by an FAA or designated examiner

. (2) Give help on that test to or receive help on that test from any person during the period that the test is being given

.

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(3) Take any part of that test on behalf of another person

. (4) U se any material or aid during the period that the test is being given (unless authorized by the Aircraft Dispatcher PTS )

. (5) Intentional ly cause, assist, or participate in any act p rohibited by § 65.18.

b. Falsification o f Applica tions , Reports , a nd/ o r Records

. Section 65.20 prohibits a
per son from falsifying documents. In accordance with § 65.20, an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course o perator or applicant for an Aircraft Dispatch er Certificate (as applicable) may not make or cause to be made:

(1) Any fraudulent or intentionally false statement on any application for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate.

(2) Any fraudulent entry in a record or report required by p art 65 s ubpart C

.
6. PART 65 SU BPART C REQUIREMENTS. FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course o perators are responsible to ensure that each student attending the course for the purpose of certification, and satisfying the requirements of § 65.57(b), is able to meet the
requ i rements of p art 65 s ubpart C.

a. General Eligibility Requirements f or Certification a s a n Aircraft Dispatcher

. (1) Knowledge Test. To be eligible to take the ADX Knowledge Test, a person mus t be at least 21 years of age. An applicant for an Aircraft Dispatcher C ertificate must present documentary evidence satisfactory to the Administrator of having passed the ADX Knowledge Test within the preceding 24 calendar

- months.

(2) English Language Requirements. To be eligible for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate

, a person m ust be able to read, speak, write

, and un derstand the English l anguage. AC 60

- 28 contains requirements and guidelines related to English language skills for a ircraft dispatchers certificated under part 65.

b. Eligibility f or a n Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate

. To be eligible for an A ircraft D ispatcher C ertificate, a n applicant must be at least 23 years of age.

c. Knowledge Requirements. An applicant for an A ircraft D ispatcher C ertificate must meet the knowle dge requirements of § 65.55.

d. Experience o r Training Requ irements

. An applicant for an A ircraft D ispatcher C ertificate must meet the experience of § 65.57 (a) or the training requirements of § 65.57 (b). The training requirements of § 65.67(b) are met upon successful completion of an FAA

- approved Aircraft D ispatch er Certification Course.

e. Skill Requirements. An applicant for an A ircraft D ispatcher C ertificate must pass an Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test given by the Admini strator (or his or her designee). Aircraft

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Dispatcher Certification Course o perators are req u ired to show that at least 80 perce nt of its graduates passed the Aircraft Dispatcher Practica l Test on their first attempt.

7. APPLICATION TO CONDUCT AN AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER CERTIFICATION COURSE.

a. Where to Apply

. An individual seeking FAA approval to operate an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course should contact the nearest FAA Flight Standards (AFS) f ield o ffice located within the geographic area of the desired course location. FAA AFS field office s are responsible for maintain ing oversight and conduct ing surveillance of the entities or individuals they approve, authorize

, or certificate (e.g.

, a ir carriers, repair stations, designated examiners

, and course operators)

. An FAA AFS field office may not approve a course unless the office has the adequate

reso urces to maint ain oversight of that course. Potential and existing Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operators should review Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapte r 6 3 , Section 2, for a better understanding of the FAA’s policies related to resources and sta ffing where Aircraft Dispatcher Certi fication Courses are concerned. Applicants should note that the FAA will typically require at least 120 days from the date the course applicant submits its application to complete the original (initial) approval process for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course. If the FAA identifies deficiencies in the application, the overall approval process could take considerably longer, depending on the extent of the deficiencies.

b. Application Requirements. In accordance with § 65.63, an application for original approval or for renewal of an FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatche r Certification Course must be:

(1) Made in writing to the FAA AFS field office r esponsible for approving the course

. (2) Accompanied by a description of the equipmen t and facilities to be use d

. (3) Accompanied by a list of the instructors and their qualifications

. (4) F or renewal

, made 30 days prior to the month in which the course approval expires

.

c. Contents of an Application Package

. An application package for initial approv al, renewal

, or revision of an FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course must include

a L etter of I ntent for an initial approval or a letter requesting the renewal or revi sion to an existing approval.

(1) A Letter of Intent for initial approval mus t include at least the following information:

• The proposed name of the course operator;

• The proposed address of the course training facility;

• The name, address, telephone number

, and email address of the owner of the

course ; and

• The proposed date the appl icant desires to begin conducting the course

. (2) A letter requesting renewal or approval of a course revision for an existing course must contain:

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• The name of the course operator;

• The name(s), address, telephone number

, and email address of the owner(s) of th e

course ; and

• For a course revision, the revision number and the date on which the revision becomes effective.

(3) In accordance with § 65.63, all application packages must contain:

• Two copies of the training course outline ( TCO ) required under § 65.61(b);

• A d escription of the training facility ; and

• A list of instructors along with the r é sum é of each instructor.

(4) The application package must contain a compliance plan for the recordkeeping requirements of § 65.70. The plan should include the method the applicant intend s to use to transmit the r eport required by § 65.70(a)(1).

8. AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER CERTIFICATION COURSE OUTLINE REQUIREMENTS.

a. Content and Minimum Hours

. In accordance with § 65.61, a n FAA

- approved p art 65 Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course must:

• Pr ovide instruction in the areas of knowledge and topics listed in p art 65 a ppendix A ; and

• Provide a minimu m of 200 hours of instruction.

b. TCO

. An applicant for approval or renewal of an A ircraft D ispatcher C ertification C ourse must submit an outline that des cribes the major topics and subtopics to be covered and the number of hours proposed for each. For the purposes of this AC, this outline will be referred to as a TCO. Each FAA

- approved TCO must contain the s ubject s required by p art 65

a ppendix A. Section 6 5.61(b) requires an FAA

- approved TCO and subsequent revisions to describe the major topics and subtopics of the course and provide the number of proposed hour s for each topic and subtopic. Each TCO must include a List of Effective Pages (LEP) that reflects the current date of e ach page contained in the TCO. TCOs must also include at least:

• The methods of instruction (e.g.

, instructor

- led or computer

- based) ;

• Type of courseware to be used (e.g.

, P ower P oint presentations or handouts);

• Evaluation requirements s uch as testing;

• Successful c ompletion s tandards;

• A sample of a w ritten s tatement of g raduation ; and

• Written s tatement of g raduation r evalidation c riteria.

c. Required Training Hours. Section 65.61(a)(2) requires a minimum of 200 hours of instr uction. A course operator may offer more hours of instruct ion than the minimum required. A course operator may not include any subjects in addition to those r equired by p art 65

a ppendix A in the minimum 200 hours

. A course operator may only administer the additional

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subje cts in addition to the minimum 200 hours. All hours of instruction, including those beyond the minimum requirement, are subject to FAA approval as part of the TCO.

d. Credit f or Previous Experience or Training

. Section 65.61(d) allows a student to substitute previous experience or training for a portion of the minimum 200 hours of required training. An FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator may grant the student credit provided the course operator develops specific criteria by which to determine the
amount of appropriate credit to grant toward the minimum 200 hours instruction. The course operator may determine the number of hours of credit to grant a student based on an evaluation of the student’s previous experience and/or training. Th e basis for the c redit and substitution criteria is subject to approval by the FAA as part of the TCO. The course operator must include in the criteria the maximum number of hours the course operator will grant any student. This is required to mainta in com pliance with § 65.61(b).

(1) The course outline must contain details on the methods the course operator uses to evaluate (e.g.

, a test) an applicant for the purpose of providing substitution credit. Credit hours should not exceed one half of the hours of instr uction required by § 65.61(a)(2) and no credit is allowed toward p art 65 a ppendix A, section VIII, Practical Dispatch Applications, or any of the topics contained therein, due to t he criticality of the content.

(2) The course outline must contain specific crit eria related to the maximum amount of credit given in each subject area. For example:

• Up to 8 hours of credit on the topic of r eg ulations for an individual who has documented experience in providing in struction on this topic as required by part 121 s ubpart N.

• Up to 5 hours of credit for the topic of r eg ulations for an individual who holds an airline transport p ilot ( ATP ) certification , but does not meet the time period specified in § 65. 5 7(a)

. (3) If combined with Interactive Remote Instruction (IRI), the combi nation of credit hours and IRI may not exceed 50 percent of the total FAA

- approved hours of instruction.

(4) The course operator may also use a matrix to establish credit criteria. See Figure 1

, Sample Credit Matrix, fo r a sample. It’s important to note that t he credit matrix included in this AC is an example provided as a guideline. Section 65.61 allows an A ircraft D ispatcher C ertification C ourse operator to determine the number of hours of credit based on an evaluation of an applicant’s prior experience or tr aining. However, the criteria and maximum allowable credit hour s are subject to FAA a pproval. FAA approval is based strictly on the course operator’s criteria and maximum number of hours, not on an individual student’s prior experience or training.

(5) Any tim e a course operator grants a student credit for previous experience or training, the course operator must include in the student’s record the total number of credit hours granted
to the student along with the basis for the credit.

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FIGURE 1 . SAMPLE CREDIT MATRIX

Credit for Previous Experience and Trainin g - Academic, Military or Industry Area of k nowledge and t raining h our c redit based on documented previous experience. The number of hours depicted in the m atrix represents the maximum allowable credit per subject

. Appendix A Subject Maximum Credit Per Area of Knowledge Regulations 8 Meteorology 20 Navigation 4 Aircraft 12 Communications 4 Air Traffic Control (ATC) 4 Emergency and Abnormal Procedures 4 Total M aximum C redit for P revious F ormal T raining A llo wed 56

Previous Training and Experience Based on Airman’s Certificates Held Area of k nowledge and t raining h our c redit. The number of hours depicted in the

m atrix represents the maximum allowable credit per subject. Credit for each type of certificate may not be combined. Credit for previous experience and training in conjunction with an airman certificate cannot be combined with credit for previous academic, m ilitary

, or industry training. Appendix A Subject Private Pilot Comm. Pilot Comm. Pilot w/ In strument Rating ATP A&P Regulations 1 2 2 5 1 Meteorology 2 2 2 5 No Credit Navigation 1 2 4 5 No Credit Aircraft 1 2 2 5 6 Communications 1 1 2 5 No Credit Air Traffic Control (ATC) 1 1 2 5 No Credit Emergency and Abnormal Procedures No Credit 1 2 5 No Credit

Total Credit All o wed 8 11 16 35 7

e. Methods o f Instruction

. A TCO must include a description of the methods of instruction the course operator will use. Instructional methods in clude, but are not limited to:

• Lecture
,

• Computer

- based,

• Discussion

,

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• IRI
,

• Scenario

- b ased, and

• Demonstration p erformance.

f. Courseware

. Courseware is the instructional material developed for each curriculum. Instructor courseware should be clearly titled for the appropriate topic and the instructor must be able to provide det ailed instruction for each topic and subtopic utilizing the course operator’s

courseware. A course operator must ensure all courseware remains current and must identify current materials appropriately. An example of this type of identification is a revisio n number. Courseware is subject to acceptance by the FAA. The FAA will periodically review and reevaluate courseware content to ensure continued adequacy and compliance with regulatory requirements and FAA standards. A t any time the FAA determines coursewa re to be unacceptable, it will notify the course operator in writing, provide an explanation of deficiencies, and provide the operator with a timeframe during which the operator is expected to correct the

courseware. Courseware must accurately represent an d support the proposed training curriculum. Courseware for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course should consist of:

• Lesson plans that flow in a logical sequence

,

• Instructor guides

,

• Audiovisual materials

,

• Workbooks

,

• Airplane F light M anuals (AFM ),

• Oper ations specifications (OpSpec s )

,

• General Operations Manual (GOM)

,

• Current FAA

- S

- 8081

- 10, Aircraft Disp atcher Practical Test Standards (PTS)

,

• Handouts, and

• Any other materials used to s upport the training curriculum.

g. Student Evaluation Methods. A course ope rator’s student evaluation methods must provide an adequate means of assessing an individual’s cognitive skills and overall comprehension of the instruction pro vided. The desired outcome is that each student will have a solid foundation of knowledge and un derstanding of the topic and subtopics required b y p art 65

a ppendix A. Evaluation methods include , but are not limited to:

• Oral examination s ,

• Written examination s ,

• Weight and B alance (W&B) computations

,

• Manual flight planning scenarios , and

• Simulated c apta in’s briefings

.
h. Suc cessful Completion Standards. Section 65.1 7 requires a minimum passing grade for each test required by p art 65 to be 70 percent. This requirement applies to the ADX Knowledge Test and the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test. As a matter o f FAA policy, the 70 percent minimum passing grade required by § 65.17 sets the precedent for all testing conducted by an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator

. A course operator may require a higher passing grade. However, at no time may an op erator’s passing grade requirements be less than

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70 percent. In addition to minimum required testing scores, course operators should provide students with minimum standards for overall course completion, as well as standards for completion of indivi dual as signments and scenarios.

i. Statement o f Graduation

. An FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator must provide each student who successfully completes the course with a w ritten

s tatement of g raduation, which is valid for 90 days. The cour se operator may revalidate the

s tatement of g raduation for an additional 90 days in accordance with § 65.70(b). A course operator may issue a s tatement of g raduation in the form of a grad uation certificate or diploma.

(1) Required Contents. Each w ritten s tatem ent of g raduation must contain a statement that attests to the student’s successful completion of the course and the number of course hours administered to the student.

(a) The w ritten s tatement of g raduation must contain a signature by an authorized represent ative of the course operator attesting to the applicant’s successful completion of the Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course

. (b) The w ritten s tatement of g raduation must contain the total number of hours of instruction a dministered to the student

. (c) The w rit ten s tatement of g raduation must contain or have attached to it all of the topics and subtopics for which the course operator has given the student credit allowed by § 65.61(d). An FAA examiner will review the graduation certificat e/diploma and its attachm ents. In conjunction with the requirements of the Aircraft Dispatcher PTS , an examiner will focus on the topics and subtopics for which a s tudent has been granted credit.

(2) Revalidation Criteria. Section 65.70(b) allows an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification C ourse operator to revalidate a graduation certificate after 90 days for an additional 90 days if the course operator determines that the student remains proficient in the subject areas listed in
p art 65 a ppendix A. The revalidation methods the course opera tor uses, such as a test, must be consistent and should be part of an FAA

- a pproved Aircraft Di spatcher Certification Course. The revalidation methods utilized by the course operator must be comprehensive enoug h to allow the course operator to reasonably es tablish that the student has in fact remained proficient in all of the subject areas listed in p art 65 a ppendix A.

9. INSTRUCTORS. Section 65.67 requires Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operators to have adequate and qualified personnel

. Ultimately, the overall adequacy of an instructor will be determined by the FAA

.

a. List of Qualified Instructors. In accordance with § 65.63(a)(4)

, a course operator must maintain a current list of qualified instructors, including r é sum é s for each instructor. In accorda nce with the requirement of § 65.63(d), a course operator must notify the FAA approving office in writing of any revision to the list of qualified instructors. The FAA approving office will assign an inspector to be the Dispatch Course Program Manager (DCP M). Course operators will address the notification to the DCPM.

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b. Instructor W ho Holds an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate. In accordance with § 65.67(a)(1), each Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator must have at least one instructor who holds an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate and is available to coordinate all training course instruction.

c. Student t o Instructor Ratio

. The ratio of students to instructor s may not exceed 25 to 1.

d. Practical Dispatch Applications. The instructor who teaches the Pract ical Dispatch Applications area of p art 65 a ppendix A must hold an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate

.

e. Knowledge o f Training Policies

. Instructors must know the course operator’s training policies and procedures and how to complete required training forms

.
f. Kn owledge o f Topics a nd Subtopics

. Instructors must be knowledgeable in the specific topic and subtopic of instruction and must be able to present the material in a logical, clear, and organized manner.

g. Adherence to Lesson Plans

. Instructors should follow th e applicable lesson plans, guides, or other training aids to properly present the material as designed.

10. TRAINING FACILITIES. In accordance with § 65.65, each FAA

- approved A ircraft D ispatcher C ertification C ourse operator must have facilities, equipment

, an d materials adequate to provide each student the theoretical and practical aspects of aircraft dispatching. An A ircraft D ispatcher C ertification C ourse training facility must be available for inspection by the Administrator at any time. In addition, each A ircraft D ispatcher C ertification C ourse training facility, including all train ing rooms and spaces used

, must:

• Be temperature controlled

,

• Be l ighted

,

• Be v entilated

,

• Be f ree from distraction , and

• Conform to all local building, sanitation

, and health codes

.

a. Adequate Work s pace. Course operators must provide students with adequate workspace, equipment

, and materials to complete intricate calculations related to aircraft performance and fl ight planning. The workspace must provide each student with enough room to properly use all necessary aeronautical charts and reference materials.

b. Adequate Facilities. Each course operator’s training facilities should provide a safe and clean environment that is conducive to learning. Student access to emergency exits and adequa te facilities for physiological needs is required at all times. If there is no cell phone access, the facility must have means to contact the appropriate personnel by telep hone in case of an
emergency. The FAA will determine the adequacy of a training faci lity based on the following parameters:

(1) Temperature Controlled. Each course operator’s training facility, including training rooms and spaces

, must be maintained at a comfortable temperature. This is typically within the

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range of 68 to 76 degrees Fahrenhei t. This range comes from the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 ( OSH Act ) recommended temperatures for the workplace. Temperature controls must not present a hazard and must provide heat for the en tire room or training space. In other words, an old small space heater in the corner of a large training room does not constitute adequate temperature control

. (2) Lighted

. Each c ourse operator’s training facility

, room , and/or space must have adequate lighting to provide each student with the proper lighting for viewing any written material and/ or other training courseware.

(3) Ventilated

. Each course operator’s training facility

, room , and/or space must have adequate ventilation that provide s air circulation for students.

(4) Free F rom Distraction

. Each course operat or’s training facility

, room , and/or space should provide a clean and quiet environment that allows each student an unobstructed view of training presentations. Training facilities

, rooms , and spaces should be conducive to a student’s overall ability to co ncentrate. Each training facility

, room , and/or space must be located so that the students in that facility are not distracted by the instruction conducted in other rooms.

(5) Conformance w ith Local Building, Sanitation , a nd Health Codes. It is a course operat or’s responsibility to verify that the training facility conforms to all local building

, sanitation

, and health codes. A course operator must be able to provide proof of conformance with these codes upo n request by the Administrator.

c. Location o f Approved F acility

. An FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course is subject to continual oversight by the FAA. Therefore, with limited exception, the course facility must be located within the geographic are a of the FAA approving office. This is required to allow the FAA a viation s afety i nspector (ASI) who has been assigned as the DCPM to conduct required onsite inspections at least once annually, and thereafter at any time the DCPM deems it necessary. Potential and existing course operators should be awar e of the FAA’s policies governing the resources, staffing

, and oversight responsibilities of AFS field office s as they relate to oversight of Aircraft Dis patcher Certification Courses. T hese policies can be found in Order 8900.1

, Volume 3, Chapter 6 3 , Sect ion 2.

d. Temporary Authorization t o Conduct a n Existing Course a t a Facility Located Outside t he Geographic Area of t he Approving Office

. If an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator has a need to administer its course outside of the geographic ar ea of responsibil ity, a l etter of a uthorization (LOA) from the FAA approving office is required

. The FAA approving office may consider authorizing a course operator to administer its approved course outside of the geographic area of responsibility on a cas e

- by

- case basis only. An FAA approving office may not authorize a course operator to conduct the course outside of the office’s geographic area of resp onsibility on an ongoing basis. This type of course activity requires a separate approval of the certific ation course by a n AFS field office in whose geographic area the course operator desires to conduct the course. The FAA approving office may not authorize a course operator to conduct its course outside of the geographic area of responsibility unless that office is able to maintain adequate oversight of the course through onsite sur veillance whenever necessary. Course operators who have a need to administer a

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course outside of the geographic area of responsibility of the FAA approving office must be

aware o f the following requirements and should review Order 8900.1

, V olume 3, Chapter 6 3

, Section 3.

(1) Ability to Conduct Oversight. The FAA approving office is required to maintain the ability to conduct oversight through onsite surveillance of the course while th e course operator administers it at a facility located outside of the approving office’s geographic area of responsibility.

(2) The FAA W ill R equire A dequate T ime for C oordination. Coordinating oversight and surveillance of a course as it is conducted outside of the geographic area of the FAA
appro ving office requires time. The FAA will require time to coordinate such things as facilities inspections, inspector travel, and coordina tion for surveillance support. Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operators must provide the FAA approving offic e with no less than 15 working days prior notification of its desire to administer the course outside of the geographic area of the FAA approving office.

(3) Authorization is N ot G uaranteed. The FAA approving office of an A ircraft Dispatcher Certification Course may not grant authority to a course operator to conduct a course outside of the office’s geographic area of responsibility unless the approving office is able to fulfill its responsibility to maintain adequate oversi ght through surveillance.

(4) Authorization is T emporary. Authorization to administer an FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course at a location outside of the geographic area of responsibility of the FAA approving office is temporary and will be g ranted by an LOA. When issuing the LOA, the FAA approving office will issue it for a single application of the course in its entirety. The course operator may conduct a single application of the course ov er a specified period of time. The expiration date o n the temporary LOA will be based on the estimated time of course completion.

11. INTERACTIVE REMOTE INSTRUCTION (IRI). For the purposes of Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Courses, the term Interactive Remote Instruction ( IRI ) is used to describe a method of interactive instruction specifically designed to be delivered remotely, as opposed to being delivered by an instructor collocated with students in a traditional classroom

.

a. The Difference Between IRI and Distance Learning. IRI is not the same as Distance L earning

. In accordance with FAA policy, the term “ Distance Learning ” is used to describe learning that is accomplished by any training method not including an instructor and a gathering of trainees collocat ed in a traditional classroom. The fundamental dif ference between Distance Learning and IRI is that IRI places the emphasis on instruction, which must be provided by the course operator, while Distance Learning places the emphasis on learning and training

, which is accomplished by the student. Additionall y, IRI requires instruction to be interactive. Interactive delivery methods are not necessarily a requirement for Distance Learning

.
b. What Qualifies as Instruction in Accordance With the Requirements of § 65.61.

(1) IRI q ualifies as i nstruction. An Aircraft Dis patcher Certification Course operator may use IRI to administer a portion of the minimum hours of instruction required by § 65.61. The

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remaining portion of the instruction must be administered by a qualified instructor and provided in a traditional classro om setting. The portion of instruction that may be administered via IRI is described in p aragraph 12 below.

(2) Distance Learning does not qualify as i nstruction for the p urposes of aircraft dispatcher certification and the r equirements of § 65.61. Training a ccomplished via Distance Learning may not be counted towards the minimum hours of i nstruction required by § 65.61. However, Distance Learning may be used for training that is part of an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course, provided the training is in addition to the minimum required hours of instruction.

12. REQUIREMENTS FOR IRI.

a. Must be Clearly Depicted in the TCO. All topics and subtopics that are approved by the FAA to be administered via IRI must be clearly depicted as such in the course operator’s FAA approved TCO.

b. Must Provide an Equivalent Level of Instruction. IRI must provide an equivalent or greater level of instruction to that which would be delivered by an instructor in a traditional classroom setting. IRI may not include any form of “home study ” or “self

- study.” Study is what a student does to gain knowle dge or to prepare for testing. Instruction is what a course operator must provide a student in accordance with the requirements of § 65.61.

c. Maximum Use of IRI.

(1) IRI may not exceed 50 percent of t he total FAA

- approved hours of instruction. This include s those hours in excess of the minimum 200 required by § 65.61(a)(2). For example, if the course includes a total of 220 hours of instruction, IRI may consist of up to 110 hours

. (2) If combined with the credit hours allowed by § 65.61(d), the combination of IRI and credit hours may not exceed 50 percent of the total FAA

- approved hours of instruction

.
d. Limitations on Instruction. As a matter of policy, the FAA places the following limita tions on IRI for air craft dispatcher c ertification

(1) May N ot b e Used as the Sole Means of Instruction f or A ny Area of Knowledge. A course operator may not use IRI as the sole means of instruction in any area of knowledge required by part 65 a ppendix A. The areas of knowled ge ar e represented by sections I

- VIII within part 65 a ppendix A. Each area of knowledge contains numerous topics (also refe rred to subjects in § 65.61(c). A course operator may administer the majority of a particular topic (except those containe d in part 65 a pp endix A, section VIII) via IRI, provided the course operator has significant evaluation criteria to ensure the student has a good understanding and can demonstrate having adequate knowledge in that topic.

(2) May Not be Used to Administer any Instruction in th e Area of Practical Dispatch Applications. The area of knowledge contained in part 65 a ppendix A , section VIII, Practical Dispatch Applications

, is perhaps the most critical for aircraft dispatcher certification. As a matter of policy

, the FAA will not app rove a course operator to use IRI to deliver any

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instruction in the area of Practical Dispatch Applications, set forth in par t 65 a ppendix A, section VIII. This area of knowledge, including all topics contained therein, must be administered via traditional classroom traini ng at the course operator’s FAA

- approved training facility by an instructor who holds an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate. This is necessary to allow full instructor

- student interaction and to ensure students are fully engaged in the lesson s, thus maximi zing student comprehension.

e. Training Objectives and Performance Criteria. IRI must contain clearly defined knowledge and cognitive training objectives and performance criteria.

(1) Objectives must include at least the following:

• Students are able to recall and recognize topics administered via IRI ;

• Students are able to comprehend topics administered via IRI ; and

• Students are able to apply the knowledge gained via IRI

. (2) Performance criteria must ensure students are able to demonstrate their ability to apply the knowledge gained via IRI

.
f. Definitive Evaluation Standards. IRI must contain definitive validation testing and methodology for verifying that the training objectives have been met and that the students have the required level of knowledge in ea ch topic and subtopic. Evaluation standards must include assessment of an individual’s practical application o f the knowledge gained through IRI.

g. Student Controls. IRI should include controls that ensure that the student of record is the one completing the lessons. An example of a control would be interactive software that requires a student to have a unique user name and password.

h. Student Access t o Instructors

. All students receiving instruction via IRI must have open access to the instructor who has overa ll responsibility for each area and topic

. In order to provide an equivalent level of training to that which is administered in a traditional classroom, “open access” means that students have unrestricted and timely access to the instructor , who must be

av ailable to resolve student s ’ questions. Open access may include medium such as email and telecommunication.

i. Documentation i n Student Record

. Section 65.70 requires an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator to maintain a record for each student t hat includes a chronological log of instructors and subjects (areas and topics) covered. In order to maintain compliance with § 65.70(a), course operator s must list a responsible instructor for each subject administered via IRI . Course operators should inc lude documentation of the subjects, topics

, and subtopics that were administered via IRI

.
13. AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER CERTIFICATION COURSES EMBE D DED IN COLLEGIATE PROGRAMS. Colleges and u niversities that desire to include an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Cours e as part of an academic program must comply with all of the requirements of p art 65 s ubpart C and a ppendix A and should follow the requ irements contained in this AC. As far as FAA approval is concerned, the FAA treats each Aircraft Dispatcher

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Certificatio n Course as a separate entity, whether it is embedded in a collegiate program or not. All Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operators are required to comply w ith all of the requirements of p art 65 sub part C and a ppendix A. Therefore, these requireme nts apply directly to Air craft Dispatcher Certification C ourses affiliated with a college or university

.

a. Regulatory Requirements. All FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Courses must comply with the requirements of p art 65 s ubpart C. The FAA app roving office, through the DCPM, is responsible to ensure that each Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator continues to meet all of the requirements of p art 65 subpart C and a ppendix A. The DCPM is required to be particularly diligent in ensurin g collegiate programs adhere to the requirements for facilities (§ 65.65); instructor certification (§ 65.67), and student

- to

- instructor ratio (§ 65.67(a)(2)).

b. Instruction Requirements. All instruction that is part of an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification C ourse, including one embedded in a collegiate program, must be administered in accordance with part 65 subpart C and a ppendix A. Any instruction administered contrary to these requirements, does not qualify towards the minimum ho urs of instruction required by § 65.61(a)(2), or toward any hours in excess of the minimum required, if those hours are part of the FAA

- approved TCO.

(1) Instruction T hat M ay B e Included in t he Minimum Hours Required b y § 65.61( a )(2). Any instruction in the areas, topics, and subtopics required by part 65 appendix A that is administered in accordance with the requirements of part 65 subpart C (including the student

- to

- instructor ratio of no more than 25 to 1) may count toward in the minimum hours of instruction required by § 65.61(a)(2).

(2) Instruction T hat M ay N ot B e Included in the Minimum Hours , B ut M ay B e Considered for Credit as Previous Training in Accordance W ith § 65.61( d ). Instruction provided in a collegiate program that contains some or all of the required topics and subtopics of
p art 65 a ppendix A, but does not meet all of the requirements of p art 65 s ubpart C

, may not be included in or counted toward the 200 minimum hours of instruc tion required by § 65.61(a)(2). However, an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator may g rant a student some credit for successfully completed aviation collegiate program courses that include the topics and subtopics required by p art 65 a ppendix A provided the course operator has the appropriate credit crite ria in its FAA

- approved TCO. ( See su b p aragraph 8 d and Figure 1 ).

14. RECORDS. Section 65.70 contains recordkeeping requirements for Aircraft D ispatcher Certification C ourse operator s. Student records must be made available for inspection b y the Administrator at any time. When applying for initia l FAA approval to conduct a course, applicants should include an explanation of how they intend to comply with the recordkeeping requirements of § 65. 70 as part of the application package for approval. Course operator records must meet the following criter ia:

a. Student Records.

(1) Chronological Log. Each student record must maintain a chronological log for each student that lists all instructors, subjects covered, course examinations

, and results.

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(2) Hours o f Instruction

. Each student record must include the total number of hours of instruction provided. Any credit for previous experience or training allowable by § 65.61(d) must be included in the record along with the basis for the credit and the number of hours credited.

(3) Student Record Retention. Maintain each stu dent record for at least 3 years after each student’s graduation.

b. Annual Report. An Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course o perator must prepare an annual report for its records and for transmission to the FAA AFS field office with approval and oversight responsibility. The course operator must transmit the annual report no later than January 31 of each year. Each annual report must con tain the following information from the previous year :

• The names of all students who graduated

, together with the results of their Aircraft D ispatcher C ertification C ourses , and

• The names of all of the students who failed or withdrew

, together with the results of their A ircraft D ispatcher C ertification C ourses or the reasons for their withdrawal.

15. AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER CERTIFIC ATION COURSE OPERATORS SERVING AS DADE s . When an operator

, owner , or employee of an FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course is also authorized as a DADE, the different responsibilities of each role become interrelated. There becomes a fine li ne between the role as a part 65 course operator

, owner , or employee who is subject to the regulatory authority of the Administrator and the role

as a 14 CFR part 183 DADE who is a representative of that Administrator. A course operator,

owner , or employee who is also a DADE must ensure at all times that the responsibility for regulatory compliance as an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course o perator does not conflict with the responsibility and authority of being a representative of the Administrator.

a. C ourse Operator’s Responsibility as an Entity Regulated by the Adminis trator

. An operator, owner , or employee of an FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course is responsible for regulatory compliance and is subject to approval and regulatory over sight by the Administrator.

b. A DADE ’ s Responsibility as a Representative of the Administrator

. A DADE is a representative of the Administrator and

, as such, must always be conscious of that authority and the res ponsibility that goes with it. This is the cas e even when the DADE is not necessarily exercising the privileges of his or her designee authority.

(1) Must Maintain Conduct Befitting a Representative of the FAA. When acting in the capacity of an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification C ourse operator, owner , or employee, an individual who is also a DADE must maintain compliance with p art 65 while continuing to conduct him or herself in a manner befittin g a representative of the FAA.

(2) May N ot Act in a Manner T hat Reflects Poorly on the FAA. A DADE must not act in a manner that reflects poorly on the FAA, such as a failure to maintain a reputation for integrity and dependability within the aviation industry and community. (Refer to FAA

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Order 8900.1, Volume 13, Chapter 1, S ection 2, paragraph 13

- 40 and Volume 13, Chap ter 3, Section 2, paragraph 13

- 178).

(3) May N ot Instruct and Test the Same Individual. A DADE who is also an instructor for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course may not administer t he Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test to any student the DADE has also provided instruction to. This is necessary to ensure adequate and objective evaluati on of the applicant by a DADE. ( Refer to Order 8900.1, Volume 13, Chapter 3, Section 2

. )

c. FAA Oversight. The FAA is responsible for oversight and surveillance of both an Air craft Dispatcher Certification Course op erator and a DADE. When an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator

, owner , or employee is also a DADE who tests the course graduates, the FAA’s surveillance will place emphasis on ensuring that the responsi bilities of a course operator are not in conflict with those of a DADE.

16. FAA APPROVAL.

a. Initial Approval. If the FAA finds a course operator’s application to be acceptable, the FAA will grant approval of an Aircraft Dispatcher Cer tification Course in writing

. The FAA approving office will approve and sign the TCO LEP and att ach it to the approval letter. A course operator must retain each approval letter until it expires, is withdrawn, or is otherwise cancelled or superseded . Course operators must make the ap proval letter available to t he Administrator upon request. FAA approval of an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course lasts until the last day of the 24th month from the month the approval was issued.

b. Renewal of Approval

. In accordance with § 65.63 (c)

, an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator must submit an application for course renewal within 30 days preceding the month the approval expires. The application for renewal must meet all of the requirements of original approval in accordance with § 65.63(a) ( s ee paragraph 7)

. The FAA will renew its approval of an Aircraft Dispatcher Certi fication Course provided the course operator meets the following requirements :
(1) There is documentary evidence indicating that at least 80 percent of the graduates o f the course who applied for and took the practical test required by § 65.59 passed the test on their first attempt.

(2) The course continues to meet the requirements for course approval

.

c. Approval of a Course Revision

. In accordance with § 65.63(d), an Aircraf t Dispatcher Certification Course operator who desires to revise its FAA

- approved course must submit a request for approval of the revision in accordance with the same application requirements as those for initial approval. Section 65.63(a) and paragraph 7 contain these requirements. The course operator must submit proposed revisions to the TCO or a description of the facilities in a format that will allow an entire page or pages of the approved outline or facility description to be removed and rep laced by an approved revision. A course operator may revise the list of instructors at any time

, provided the course operator can continue to me et the requirements of § 65.67. Revisions to the list of instructors do not require prior approval from the FAA. However, a course operator is required to notify the FAA approving office in writing and include

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the revised list of instructors. All course revisions must continue to meet the requirements of part 65 s ubpart C and a ppendix A. The FAA will grant approval of a cour se revision in writing. Approval of a course revision is considered to be an addendum to the current course approval. Course operators must retain the revision approval as part of the overall course approval until such a time as it is superseded by another revision

, the course approval expires, or it is oth erwise withdrawn or cancelled

. Course operators must make revision approval letters available to the Administrator upon request.

17. DENIAL OF APPROVAL. Under the following circumstances, the FAA will deny re quests for approval:

a. Deny Initial Approval. The FAA will deny initial approval of an Aircraft D ispatcher Certification Course a pplicant under the following circumstances:

(1) Applica nt Fails to Meet Requirements

. The FAA will den y initial approval of a

course applicant who fails to meet the requirements of part 65 subpart C and appendix A. The FAA will also deny approval to a course applicant who fails to meet the standards set forth in Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 63 and this AC.

(2) Applicants Who Apply to a n AFS Field O ffice Located Outside of the Geographic Area in W hich the Course is Located. The FAA will deny initial approval to an applicant whose proposed course is located outside of the geographic area of responsibility of the FAA office to which the appl ication was made.

b. Deny Renewal. The FAA approving office will deny renewal of a course approval under the following circumstances:

(1) Applic ant Fails to Meet Requirement s . The FAA approving office will deny renewal to an applicant who fails to adhere to the p rohibitions of part 65 subpart A, or fails to continue to meet the requirements of part 65 subpart C, part 65 appendix A, and/or FAA Order 8900.1

. (2) Inactive Course Operator. If an a ir craft dispatcher c ertification o perator has been inactive for more than 24 consecutive calendar

- months (one full renewal cycle) it could suggest a lack of public need. An FAA approving office has the option of denying a request to renew a course approval of an inactive operator, provided the office can establish that denying the renewal will not affe ct the public and its need for a irc raft d ispatcher c ertification in the geographic area. Denying approval based on inactivity and lack of public need is at the discretion of the FAA approving office manager. When making the determinat ion, the manager will consider the staffing and workload needs of the office. Examples of wha t constitute a public need for a ircraft d ispatcher c ertification are as follows ( s ee also Order 8900.1 Volume 3, Chapter 63, Section 2):

(a) There is a part 121 dispat ch center or flight

- following facility located in, moving to, or setting up in the area.

(b) There is a 14 CFR part 91 subpart K (part 91K) program manager or 14 CFR part 135 air carrier that requires an individual to hold an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate as a

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condition of employment, located in, moving to, or setting up in the geographic area of the office.

(3) Lack of FAA Resources. If the FAA approving office of an existing Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course is no longer able to maintain adequate oversig ht due to lack of appropriate ASI resources, the office manager will be required to follow the guidance contained in Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 63, Section 2. The guidance requires the office manager to request the regional Flight Standards d ivision ( RFSD) to transfer the course approval to another AFS f ield office that has the appropriate resources. The RFSD’s actions in this case are governed by Order 8900.1, Volume 3

, Chapter 63, Section 2.

18. WITHDRAWAL OR CANCELLATION OF APPROVAL.

a. Cancellation by a C ourse Operator

. An FAA

- approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator may request cancellation of its course approval. The request must be made in writing to the FAA approving office. Upon request by the course operator, the FAA will immediatel y cancel approval.

b. Withdrawal of FAA Approval

. In accordance with § 65.63( e ), failure to continue to meet the requirements of p art 65 s ubpart C for the approval or operation of an approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course is grounds for withdrawal of approval of the course. The FAA will withdraw its approval in writing and provide the reason(s) for withdrawal. In addition to the grounds stated in § 65.63( e )

, the FAA may withdraw its approval based on the following circumstances:

(1) Failure by the cours e operator to adhere to the prohibitions contained in §§ 65.18 and/or 65.20.

(2) Failure by the course operator to continue to meet the requ irements of part 65

s ubpart C.

(3) Failure by the course operator to notify the FAA of a change in ownership, name

, and/or l ocation within the 10

- day time period required by § 65.63(f) or (g).

(4) Falsification of records

. (5) Documented evidence of continued unsatisfactory performance of a course operator. Documented evidence includes FAA Program Tracking and Reporting Subs ystem (PTRS ) information, formal correspondence from the FAA, and formal complaints filed by the public.

19. CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP, NAME , OR LOCATION.

a. Change in Ownership. If any change in ownership of an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course occurs, continued FAA appro val of the course is contingent upon the following:

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(1) Within 10 days after the date that any change in ownership occurs, the course operator must apply for an appropriate amendment to the original approval or renewal that was based on the previous owner

. (2) The re is no change in facilities, personnel

, or content of the approved A ircraft D ispatcher C ertificatio n C ourse that is involved.

(3) A course operator seeking an amendment to the original approval or renewal of a course due to a change in ownership will make an application in writing to the FAA approving office and provide the name, address, telephone number

, and email address of the new owner of the course. The FAA will not grant an amendment to an existing course approval based on a change in ownership unless the course operator meets the requirements of subparagraphs (1) and (2) above and continues to meet all of the requirements of p ar t 65 s ubpart C and a ppendix A.

b. Change in Name or Location. If an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator changes its name or location, continued FAA approval is contingent upon the course operator notifying the FAA approving office in writing within 10 days after the date of the change. If the course operator moves its location outside of the geographic area of responsi bility of the FAA approving office, it may affect the ability of that office to maintain adequate oversight through surveillance. Any time the ability to maintain adequate oversight is in question

, the FAA may transfer the course approval to another FAA AF S field office that has the capability to maintain ad equate oversight of the course.

John S. Duncan Director, Flight Standards Service

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