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FAA Pandemic-related Exemptions & Deviations [Further Extensions to Air Carrier Training Requirement Exemptions]

To keep tabs on all of ARSA’s work related to the current pandemic, visit arsa.org/anti-viral-measures.

To review FAA-provided resources via the agency’s website, go to www.faa.gov/coronavirus or the Central FSIMS Page. For links to international resources, visit arsa.org/covid19-international.


Note: Guidance, exemptions and other resources will be added to this page as they become available. Review below to see new content.

Information, Deviations and Special Rules

The FAA’s Flight Standards organization has issued several deviation and information memoranda and bulletins to assist in continued operations of air carrier, schools, pilots and repair stations.

While most of these documents are available on the agency’s Flight Standards Information Management System (FSIMS; Order 8900.1), ARSA will post any that it finds or is provided to assist the aviation community in continuing compliance with aviation safety requirements. Readers are also encouraged to keep tabs on the 

Anyone needing more information can contact AFS directly at 9-AVS-FS-Requests@faa.gov.

Added Nov. 6: Enforcement Discretion For Random Drug and Alcohol Testing 2020

Added Sept. 30: SAFO 20009 – Updated Interim Occupational Health and Safety Guidance for Air Carriers and Crews

Added Sept. 30: SFAR 118-2 – Second Limited Extension of Relief for Certain Persons and Operations during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency

Updated June 29: SFAR 118-1 – Limited Extension of Relief for Certain Persons and Operations During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) Public Health Emergency

Added April 30: SFAR 118 – Relief for Certain Persons and Operations during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak

Added April 25: COVID 19 Virus IA Refresher Course Provider Letter

Added April 2: Central FSIMS Page: COVID-19 Relief For Certificate Holders: Policy Deviations, Exemptions, and Rule Changes

Added April 1: [Final Rule] Enforcement Policy for Expired Airman Medical Certificates

Added March 31: COVID-19 Deviation for 14 CFR Part 142 Training Center Certificate Holders

Added March 31: Deviation to FAA Order 8000.95, Designee Management Policy and FAA Order 8100.15, Organization Designation Authorization Procedures, in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Added March 31: Deviation to FAA Order 8120.23A, Certificate Management of Production Approval Holders, in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Deviation to FAA Order 8900.1 for 14 CFR Part 145 Repair Stations

Flight Standards Designee Oversight and Recurrent Training requirements related to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Operational Control Part 121 Air Carriers

Oxygen Mask Requirement: Supplemental Oxygen for Emergency Descent and for First Aid; Turbine Engine Powered Airplanes With Pressurized Cabins

Special Guidance for part 147 AMTS Regarding Training Interruptions Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Applicable Deviations to Order 8900.1.

Special Guidance for Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation (14 CFR) part 141 Pilot School Regarding Training Interruptions Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Applicable Deviations to Order 8900.1.

Exemptions

In response to requests from Airlines for America (A4A) and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), the FAA has granted the following exemptions from training requirements of parts 121 and 135:

Updated Dec. 2: Avoiding Touching Certain Cabin/Cockpit Equipment Under Part 121 Training Requirements (Extension issued through July 31, 2020) (Additional extension issued through Nov. 30, 2020) (Additional Extension issued through Mar. 31. 2021)

Updated Dec. 2: Avoiding Touching Certain Cabin/Cockpit Equipment Under Part 135 Training Requirements (Extension issued through July 31, 2020) (Additional extension issued through Nov. 30, 2020) (Additional Extension issued through Mar. 31. 2021)

Updated July 30:“Grace Months” Under Part 121 Training Requirements (Corrected Copy) (Extension Issued through Oct. 30, 2020) (Additional extension issued through Dec. 31, 2020)

Updated July 30: “Grace Months” Under Part 135 Training Requirements (Extension issued through Oct. 30, 2020) (Additional extension issued through Dec. 31, 2020)

Added July 14: Partial Grant of Exemption for Carrying Cargo on Main Deck of Transport Category Airplanes Used in Part 121 Operations

Extending Medical Certificates for Part 121 Pilots and Flight Engineers

Extending Medical Certificates for Part 135 Pilots and Flight Engineers

Previous FAA strategy and planning updates...



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