On Thursday, January 2nd, the FAA posted a Notice of Policy Change in the Federal Register for the use of FAA Approved Training Devices (ATDs). 

This change will sunset all current Letters of Authorization (LOAs) for ATDs as of January 1, 2015, and will cause a reversion back to the guidance of CFR 61.65(i) limiting the use of all FTDs to just ten hours as acceptable "aeronautical experience" for the instrument rating. 

This draconian policy change will impact virtually every flight training facility that utilizes ATDs. SAFE believes that the implementation of this proposed Policy Change has no concern for safety, and further, that it would end up degrading the safety of flight being achieved under current LOAs.

SAFE vehemently opposes this proposed policy change, and submitted comments to the FAA on January 7, 2014 recommending that:

1. The FAA proposed Notice of Policy Change regarding the Use of FAA Approved Training Devices be rescinded; and
2. That all FTDs currently being operated under an exemption be allowed to continue to be used within the guidance of said exemption, without limitation, until such time as the FAA can issue new rulemaking that addresses all areas of concern.

 You can read the full response from SAFE here.

I strongly encourage every one of you to respond to this Notice. If the FAA is flooded with comments, there is a good chance that it might rescind this regressive proposal. I ask you to help in this effort by responding to the Policy Change no later than February 3, 2014.

 

Sincerely,

Doug Stewart
Executive Director
The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators