[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 228 (Monday, November 29, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 73014-73015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-29921]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 61
Notice of Public Meeting: Updating the Flight Instructor Renewal
Process To Enhance Safety of Flight
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The FAA announces a public meeting to receive industry input
as to how to improve the Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) biennial
renewal process to enhance the safety of flight in the General Aviation
(GA) community. This is an information gathering meeting.
DATES: The public meetings will be held on the following dates.
December 6, 2010, from 9 a.m. until no later than 4 p.m.,
and
December 7, 2010 from 9 p.m. until no later than 4 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The December 6 and 7, 2010, public meetings will be held at
the FAA headquarters building B, located at 600 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20591.
Because of limited capacity, we ask that all those who anticipate
attending the meeting contact [email protected] with written
confirmation of attendance and the number of members in the attending
party. If we find that we are nearing capacity, we may request that
those who are planning on sending more than a single representative
reduce the number in their party. If this is the case, respondents will
be notified by e-mail and/or phone prior to the meeting date.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests to attend this public
meeting, questions regarding the logistics of the meeting, and any
technical questions should be directed to Inspector Gregory French,
AFS-800, General Aviation and Commercial Division, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591;
telephone (202) 267-8212, facsimile (202) 267-5094, or, preferably, via
e-mail at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA has been reviewing safety of flight data in the general
aviation (GA) community over the last ten years. Even with the advent
of new technologies to assist the GA pilot, there has been little
improvement in the accident/incident rate among that community of
aviators.
CFIs are responsible for ensuring that pilots are properly educated
to operate safely within the National Airspace System (NAS). For CFIs
to accomplish that mission effectively they must be provided the means
and knowledge to do so, and there must be some objective method of
measuring that information transfer and retention. The FAA has been
reviewing indicators that suggest that the processes currently in place
may lack sufficient effectiveness in ensuring that CFIs are being
provided the best information in the most useful manner. This meeting
will elicit input from the community of authorized flight instructor
renewal program operators so that the FAA can better analyze how to
improve the process.
Purpose of the Public Meeting
The purpose of this public meeting is for the FAA to hear the
public's views and obtain information relevant to improving the CFI
biennial renewal process. The FAA will consider comments made at this
public meeting before making decisions on any suggested changes to the
current policy.
More specifically, the FAA seeks information on the following
questions. The FAA requests that that all meeting participants provide
written comments to support any positions they may express support for,
or disagreement with.
How effective have Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics
been in transferring relevant information to flight instructors?
What can be done to improve the effectiveness of flight
instructor refresher clinics?
How effective are the written tests provided at the
conclusion of flight instructor refresher clinics?
How can the effectiveness of flight instructor knowledge
be better assessed?
How effective have the online courses been?
How do we effectively measure the success of knowledge
transfer in online flight instructor renewal courses?
Should there be changes to 14 CFR part 61.197?
Are those non-FIRC methods of CFI biennial certificate
renewal found in 14 CFR part 61.197 adequate and effective in ensuring
that CFIs possess the most up to date information in terms of both
proficiency and knowledge?
What can the community conducting flight instructor
recurrent training, the FIRC providers, do to contribute to enhancing
safety of flight among the GA community at large?
Participation at the Public Meetings
Commenters who wish to present oral statements at the December 6
and 7, 2010, public meetings will be permitted to do so on an ad-hoc
basis during the meeting.
The FAA will have available a projector and a computer capable of
accommodating Word and PowerPoint presentations from a compact disk
(CD) or USB memory device. Persons requiring any other kind of
audiovisual equipment should notify the FAA prior to the meeting.
Sign and oral interpretation can be made available at the meeting,
as well
[[Page 73015]]
as an assistive listening device, if requested 10 calendar days before
the meeting.
Public Meeting Procedures
A panel of representatives from the FAA will be present. An FAA
representative will facilitate the meetings in accordance with the
following procedures:
(1) The meetings are designed to facilitate the public input on
policies that directly affect them. The meetings will be informal and
non-adversarial. No individual will be subject to cross-examination by
any other participant. Government representatives on the panel may ask
questions to clarify statements and to ensure an accurate record. Any
statement made during the meetings by a panel member should not be
construed as an official position of the government.
(2) There will be no admission fees or other charges to attend or
to participate in the public meetings. The meetings will be open to all
persons, subject to availability of space in the meeting room. The FAA
will make every effort to accommodate all persons wishing to attend.
The FAA asks that participants sign in at 9 a.m. on each day of the
meeting being attended. The FAA will try to accommodate all speakers;
however if available time does not allow this, speakers will be
scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis. The FAA reserves the
right to exclude some speakers, if necessary, to obtain balanced
viewpoints. The meetings may adjourn early if scheduled speakers
complete their statements in less time than is scheduled for the
meetings.
(3) The FAA will prepare agendas of speakers and presenters and
make the agendas available at the meetings.
(4) The meeting is intended to produce an environment conducive to
an exchange of ideas. If speakers wish to give dedicated presentations,
they may be limited to 5-10-minute statements. If possible, the FAA
will notify speakers if additional time is available.
(5) The FAA will review and consider all material presented by
participants at the public meetings. Position papers or materials
presenting views or information related to the topics discussed may be
accepted at the discretion of the presiding officer and will be
subsequently placed in the public docket. If the attendees wish to
provide written materials, the FAA requests that the presenters provide
at least 10 copies of all materials for distribution to the panel
members. Presenters may provide other copies to the audience at their
discretion.
(6) Each person presenting comments is asked to submit data to
support the comments. The FAA will protect from disclosure all
proprietary data submitted in accordance with applicable laws.
Issued in Washington, DC on November 18, 2010.
Melvin O. Cintron,
Manager, General Aviation and Commercial Division.
[FR Doc. 2010-29921 Filed 11-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P