Source: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=A-95-036
Timestamp: 2019-08-25 16:38:10
Document Index: 206660107

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 129', 'art 129', 'arts 91', 'art 129', 'ART 129', 'ART 129', 'ARTS 91', 'ART 129', 'ARTS 91', 'ART 129', 'ART 129', 'ART 129']

Safety Recommendation A-95-036
Recommendation: THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE FAA: REQUIRE THAT ALL OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS OF PART 129 OPERATORS BE REVIEWED TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE CURRENT, & CONTAIN SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT ESTABLISHES RVR, WHEN REPORTED, AS CONTROLLING FOR PURPOSES OF ESTABLISH VISIBILITY MINIMUM.
Date Closed: 6/20/2001
Response: Previously, the Safety Board expressed concern with how the FAA's automated subsystem directly related to this recommendation. The FAA has now confirmed that all Part 129 operations specifications are current and contain language establishing RVR as controlling for purposes of establishing visibility minimums. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation A-95-36 is classified "Closed-Acceptable Action."
Response: Letter Mail Controlled 04/26/2001 4:03:44 PM MC# 2010357 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has developed the automated operations specifications subsystem and has entered the operations specifications for 14 CFR Parts 91, 121, 125, 129, 133, 135, 137, 141, 142, 145, and 147. This automated subsystem enables the FAA to confirm that the operations specifications are current and contain language that establishes runway visual range (RVR), when reported, as controlling for purposes of establishing visibility minimum. All aviation safety inspectors who handle these operations have been trained. The FAA has confirmed that all operations specifications for 14 CFR Part 129 operators are current and contain language that establishes RVR when reported, as specific controlling for purposes of establishing visibility minimum. I consider the FAA's action to be completed on this safety recommendation.
Response: WHILE THE SAFETY BOARD IS PLEASED THAT THE FAA HAS DEVELOPED AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM TO CHECK THE DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS, THE BOARD IS CONCERNED THAT THIS IS THE FAA'S PRIMARY RESPONSE TO THIS RECOMMENDATION. THE BOARD NOTES THAT THE RECOMMENDATION EMPHASIZED THAT THE SPECIFICATIONS CONTAIN SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT ESTABLISHES RVR, WHEN REPORTED, AS CONTROLLING FOR PURPOSES OF ESTABLISHING VISIBILITY MINIMUM. THE FAA'S EFFORTS ARE DEVOTED TO MAKING ITS AUTOMATED SYSTEM OPERATIONAL, BUT NO PLAN IS OFFERED TO USE THE SYSTEM TO CHECK FOR THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT HIGHLIGHTED IN THE RECOMMENDATION. THE SAFETY BOARD IS ALSO CONCERNED WITH THE FAA'S LACK OF A TIMELY RESPONSE TO THIS RECOMMENDATION. THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS ISSUED APPROXIMATELY 5 1/2 YEARS AGO, YET THE FAA STILL HAS NOT PERFORMED THE RECOMMENDED ACTION. PENDING A REVIEW OF THE OPERATIONS SPECIFICATION FOR ALL PART 129 OPERATORS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE CURRENT AND CONTAIN SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT ESTABLISHES RVR, WHEN REPORTED, AS CONTROLLING FOR PURPOSES OF ESTABLISHING VISIBILITY MINIMUM, A-95-36 IS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."
Response: Letter Mail Controlled 09/01/2000 1:46:10 PM MC# 2001202 THE FAA IS CONTINUING TO ADDRESS THIS RECOMMENDATION. THE FAA HAD DEVELOPED THE AUTOMATED OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS SUBSYSTEM TO CHECK THE DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF 14 CFR PART 129 (FOREIGN AIR CARRIER) OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS. THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FIELD OFFICE (IFO) WAS SELECTED AS THE TEST SITE. DURING THE BETA TESTING, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS NEEDED TO BE STANDARDIZED AND THE SUBSYSTEM SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS FOR OPERATORS UNDER 14 CFR PARTS 91, 121, 125, 129, 133, 135, 137, 141, 142, 145, AND 147. THE AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTORS WHO HANDLE 14 CFR PART 129 OPERATORS COMPLETED THE TRAINING IN MARCH 2000. ALL REMAINING AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTORS WILL COMPLETE TRAINING BY 9/30/00. THE FAA IS CURRENTLY ENTERING THE EXPANDED OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS (APPROXIMATELY 264,000 AFFECTED OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS) INTO THE AUTOMATED OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS SUBSYSTEM FOR OPERATORS UNDER 14 CFR PARTS 91, 121, 125, 129, 133, 135, 137, 141, 142, 145, AND 147. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE DATA ENTRY EFFORT WILL BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER 2000. I WILL KEEP THE BOARD INFORMED OF THE FAA'S PROGRESS ON THIS RECOMMENDATION.
Date: 1/15/1997
Response: THE ANTICIPATED COMPLETION DATE INCLUDES THE PLACEMENT OF HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, & COMPLETION OF INSPECTOR TRAINING TO OPERATE THE SYSTEM. PENDING THE BOARD'S REVIEW OF THE PROGRAM, A-95-36, CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."
Response: THE AUTOMATED OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS SUBSYSTEM FOR PART 129 OPERATORS HAS BEEN DEVELOPED, & IS UNDERGOING BETA TESTING AT THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FIELD OFFICE (IFO) DURING NOVEMBER 1996. THE FAA ANTICIPATES THAT ALL APPROPRIATE IFO'S WILL BE TRAINED & HAVE THE SYSTEM OPERATIONAL BY JUNE 1997.
Response: THE BOARD NOTES THAT THE FAA IS REVISING PART 129 OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY OF APPLICATION & CURRENCY OF AGENCY POLICIES. THE REVISION WILL CONTAIN SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ESTABLISHING THAT RVR REPORTS, WHEN AVAILABLE FOR A PARTICULAR RUNWAY, ARE CONTROLLING FOR ALL TAKEOFFS FROM, APROACHES TO, & LANDINGS ON THAT RUNWAY. ALSO, THE FAA WILL ISSUE A FLIGHT STANDARDS INFO BULLETIN (FSIB) DIRECTING THAT EACH FOREIGN AIR CARRIER'S OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS BE AMENDED ACCORDINGLY. THEREFORE, PENDING ISSUANCE OF THE FSIB, A-95-36 IS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."
Response: THE FAA AGREES WITH THE INTENT OF THIS RECOMMENDATION & IS REVISING THE 14 CFR PART 129 STANDARD OPERATING SPECIFICATIONS TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY OF APPLICATION & CURRENCY OF AGENCY POLICIES. THE REVISED STANDARD OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS WILL CONTAIN SPECIFIC LANGUAGE WHICH ESTABLISHES THAT RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE REPORTS, WHEN AVAILABLE FOR A PARTICULAR RUNWAY, ARE CONTROLLING FOR ALL TAKEOFFS, APPROACHES TO, & LANDINGS ON THAT RUNWAY. THE FAA WILL PUBLISH THE REVISED STANDARD OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE FAA WILL ISSUE A FLIGHT STANDARDS INFO BULLETIN DIRECTING THAT EACH FOREIGN AIR CARRIER'S OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS BE AMENDED FOR ESTABLISHING THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE REPORTS, WHEN AVAILABLE FOR A PARTICULAR RUNWAY, ARE CONTROLLING FOR ALL TAKEOFFS, APPROACHES TO, & LANDING ON THAT RUNWAY. I WILL PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH A COPY OF THE BULLETIN AS SOON AS IT IS ISSUED.