FAA Safety Team | Safer Skies Through Education

FAAST Blast Notice Number: NOTC5485 FAAST Blast — July 27— August 1, 2014Biweekly FAA Safety Briefing News Update     FAA Holds Public Update on Avgas at AirVenture The FAA recently announced that it has received nine replacement fuel proposals from five different producers who have submitted their fuels for further evaluation by the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI), an industry-government initiative designed to help the GA industry transition to an unleaded aviation gasoline. The FAA will now assess the viability of the candidate fuels to determine which fuels may be part of the first phase of laboratory testing. The analyses will focus on the candidate fuels’ impact on the existing fleet, the production and distribution infrastructure, their impact on the environment, their toxicology, and the cost of aircraft operations.   Key PAFI members representing the FAA, AOPA, EAA, and GAMA spoke during an EAA AirVenture forum designed to update the flying public on the initiative’s accomplishments. The goal is not only to identify, select, and provide an unleaded fuel for the GA fleet, but also to ensure fleet wide certification for those fuels. The new unleaded fuel is expected to be identified by 2018.   To learn more check out http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/avgas/   Update on Airman Certification StandardsIn 2011, the FAA established an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) composed of industry experts to provide recommendations on improving the FAA’s airman testing and training materials. The ARC concluded that aviation safety and community needs would be best served by integrating task-specific aeronautical knowledge from the areas listed in 14 CFR part 61 into the appropriate Area of Operation in the existing PTS, and by adding task-appropriate risk management elements for each Area of Operation. This “Airman Certification Standards” (ACS) approach would thus define not only the performance metrics for knowledge and skill, but also the required content for guidance materials such as the FAA-H-series handbooks and for relevant knowledge test questions.   The FAA has continued to work with industry to develop and refine the ACS approach. An industry-led Airman Certification System Working Group has created ACS documents for major pilot certificates and the instrument rating. The industry group has now published draft ACS documents for the commercial pilot certificate and the authorized instructor certificate in the Federal Register for public review and comment. The docket, which also includes an explanatory notice and a “frequently asked questions” document, will be open until August 25, 2014. To read the Notice, please go to:  http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-06-25/pdf/2014-14791.pdf. You can access the docket via this link: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2013-0316.    GA Awards Presented at AirVentureThe GA Awards Program and the FAA will present the 2014 General Aviation Awards this week at AirVenture. The General Aviation Awards Program — started in 1963 — is a cooperative effort between the FAA and 38 GA industry partners. Each year it recognizes aviation professionals for their contributions in the fields of aviation, education, and flight safety. Applicants are evaluated against at least four required metrics: professional involvement, pro bono service to the aviation community, continuing education, and the strength of three letters of recommendation. This year’s winners are: Howard William Wolvington- Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) of the Year Max Lloyd Burnette- Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) of the Year David Brian Kocak- Avionics Technician of the Year Richard Loren Stowell- FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) Representative of Year   For more information on the winners check out page seven of the July/August 2014 issue of FAA Safety Briefing: http://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/ For those unable to make it out to AirVenture this year, you can view any of the FAA safety forums online at: http://www.faasafety.gov/SPANS/event_details.aspx?eid=57027   Produced by the editors, FAA Safety Briefing, http://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/ Address questions or comments to: SafetyBriefing@faa.gov. Follow us on Twitter @FAASafetyBrief or https://twitter.com/FAASafetyBrief. This notice is being sent to you because you selected "General Information" in your preferences on FAASafety.gov. If you wish to adjust your selections, log into https://www.faasafety.gov/Users/pub/preferences.aspx where you can update your preferences.