[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 14, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR60.15]

[Page 9-10]
 
                     TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
 
CHAPTER I--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 60_FLIGHT SIMULATION TRAINING DEVICE INITIAL AND CONTINUING 
QUALIFICATION AND USE--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  60.15  Initial qualification requirements.

    (a) For each FSTD, the sponsor must submit a request to the NSPM to 
evaluate the FSTD for initial qualification at a specific level and 
simultaneously request the Training Program Approval Authority (TPAA) 
forward a concurring letter to the NSPM. The request must be submitted 
in the form and manner described in the applicable QPS.
    (b) The management representative described in Sec.  60.9(c) must 
sign a statement (electronic signature is acceptable for electronic 
transmissions) after confirming the following:
    (1) The performance and handling qualities of the FSTD represent 
those of the aircraft or set of aircraft within the normal operating 
envelope. This determination must be made by a pilot(s) meeting the 
requirements of paragraph (d) of this section after having flown all of 
the Operations Tasks listed in the applicable QPS appendix relevant to 
the qualification level of the FSTD. Exceptions, if any, must be noted. 
The name of the person(s) making this determination must be available to 
the NSPM upon request.
    (2) The FSTD systems and sub-systems (including the simulated 
aircraft systems) functionally represent those in the aircraft or set of 
aircraft. This determination must be made by the pilot(s) described in 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section, or by a person(s) trained on simulator 
systems/sub-systems and trained on the operation of the simulated 
aircraft systems, after having exercised the operation of the FSTD and 
the pertinent functions available through the Instructor Operating 
Station(s). Exceptions, if any, must be noted. The name of the person(s) 
making this determination must be available to the NSPM upon request.
    (3) The cockpit represents the configuration of the specific type; 
or aircraft make, model, and series aircraft being simulated, as 
appropriate. This determination must be made by the pilot(s) described 
in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, or by a person(s) trained on the 
configuration and operation of the aircraft simulated. Exceptions, if 
any, must be noted. The name of the person(s) making this determination 
must be available to the NSPM upon request.
    (c) Except for those FSTDs previously qualified and described in 
Sec.  60.17, each FSTD evaluated for initial qualification must meet the 
standard that is in effect at the time of the evaluation. However--
    (1) If the FAA publishes a change to the existing standard or 
publishes a new standard for the evaluation for initial qualification, a 
sponsor may request that the NSPM apply the standard that was in effect 
when an FSTD was ordered for delivery if the sponsor--
    (i) Within 30 days of the publication of the change to the existing 
standard or publication of the new standard, notifies the NSPM that an 
FSTD has been ordered;
    (ii) Within 90 days of the NSPM notification described in paragraph 
(c)(1)(i) of this section, requests that the standard in effect at the 
time the order was placed be used for the evaluation for initial 
qualification; and
    (iii) The evaluation is conducted within 24 months following the 
publication of the change to the existing

[[Page 10]]

standard or publication of the new standard.
    (2) This notification must include a description of the FSTD; the 
anticipated qualification level of the FSTD; the make, model, and series 
of aircraft simulated; and any other pertinent information.
    (3) Any tests, tolerances, or other requirements that are current at 
the time of the evaluation may be used during the initial evaluation, at 
the request of the sponsor, if the sponsor provides acceptable updates 
to the required qualification test guide.
    (4) The standards used for the evaluation for initial qualification 
will be used for all subsequent evaluations of the FSTD.
    (d) The pilot(s) who contributes to the confirmation statement 
required by paragraph (b) of this section must--
    (1) Be designated by the sponsor; and
    (2) Be qualified in--
    (i) The aircraft or set of aircraft being simulated; or
    (ii) For aircraft not yet issued a type certificate, or aircraft not 
previously operated by the sponsor or not having previous FAA-approved 
training programs conducted by the sponsor, an aircraft similar in size 
and configuration.
    (e) The subjective tests that form the basis for the statements 
described in paragraph (b) of this section and the objective tests 
referenced in paragraph (f) of this section must be accomplished at the 
sponsor's training facility, except as provided for in the applicable 
QPS.
    (f) The person seeking to qualify the FSTD must provide the NSPM 
access to the FSTD for the length of time necessary for the NSPM to 
complete the required evaluation of the FSTD for initial qualification, 
which includes the conduct and evaluation of objective and subjective 
tests, including general FSTD requirements, as described in the 
applicable QPS, to determine that the FSTD meets the standards in that 
QPS.
    (g) When the FSTD passes an evaluation for initial qualification, 
the NSPM issues a Statement of Qualification that includes all of the 
following:
    (1) Identification of the sponsor.
    (2) Identification of the make, model, and series of the aircraft or 
set of aircraft being simulated.
    (3) Identification of the configuration of the aircraft or set of 
aircraft being simulated (e.g., engine model or models, flight 
instruments, or navigation or other systems).
    (4) A statement that the FSTD is qualified as either a full flight 
simulator or a flight training device.
    (5) Identification of the qualification level of the FSTD.
    (6) A statement that (with the exception of the noted exclusions for 
which the FSTD has not been subjectively tested by the sponsor or the 
NSPM and for which qualification is not sought) the qualification of the 
FSTD includes the tasks set out in the applicable QPS appendix relevant 
to the qualification level of the FSTD.
    (h) After the NSPM completes the evaluation for initial 
qualification, the sponsor must update the Qualification Test Guide 
(QTG), with the results of the FAA-witnessed tests together with the 
results of all the objective tests described in the applicable QPS.
    (i) Upon issuance of the Statement of Qualification the updated QTG 
becomes the Master Qualification Test Guide (MQTG). The MQTG must be 
made available to the NSPM upon request.