For Your Pilot: FAA Sets New Guidance for Certain Instrument Procedures

Two recently published draft advisory circulars provide guidance on obtaining FAA approval concerning instrument flight procedures (IFPs) by non-agency providers. Comments on both documents must be submitted by October 7.

Draft AC 90-110B delivers assistance for non-agency service providers to become FAA-approved to develop public, space-based IFPs, area navigation performance (RNP) and area navigation global positioning systems (RNAV GPS), and other future capabilities. The document also serves as advice for FAA flight-standards personnel directly associated with the procedure-development process “and/or charged with the responsibility to authorize and provide oversight of non-FAA service providers.”

Meanwhile, draft AC 90-113B offers approved methods for conducting satellite-enabled performance-based navigation (PBN) IFPs for airplanes and helicopters. It also addresses validation of helicopter WAAS special IFPs. Additionally, the draft contains ground validation, preflight validation (including simulator evaluation and obstacle assessment), and flight validation procedures.

Both circulars are related by their discussion of non-FAA service providers and the application of recent revisions to FAA branch designations. Organizational changes include the elimination of regional flight standards offices and the creation of four functional organizations: Air Carrier Safety Assurance, General Aviation Safety Assurance, Safety Standards, and Foundational Business. Flight Procedure Implementation and the Oversight Branch realign under Safety Standards and now operates as the Flight Procedures and Airspace Group.