[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 16 (Friday, January 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3730-3731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1767]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; Training and
Qualification Issues--New Tasks
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of new task assignments for the Aviation Rulemaking
Advisory Committee (ARAC).
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SUMMARY: Notice is given of three new tasks assigned to and accepted by
the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). This notice informs
the public of the activities of ARAC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Thomas Toula, Assistant Executive Director for Training and
Qualification Issues, Flight Standards Service (AFS-210), FAA, 800
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-5229;
fax: (202) 267-5229.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA has established an Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee
to provide advice and recommendations to the FAA Administrator, through
the Associate Administrator for Regulation and Certification, on the
full range of the FAA's rulemaking activities with
[[Page 3731]]
respect to aviation-related issues. This includes obtaining advice and
recommendations on the FAA's commitment to harmonize its Federal
Aviation Regulations and practices with its trading partners in Europe
and Canada.
One area ARAC deals with is training and qualification issues.
These issues involve training and qualification of air carrier
crewmembers and other air transport employees.
As part of the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996, the
Administrator was directed to appoint a task force consisting of
appropriate representatives of the aviation industry to conduct certain
studies. The Act directed that the FAA conduct: (1) A two-part study
directed at (a) identifying standards and criteria for pre-employment
testing for air carrier pilot applicants and (b) standards and criteria
for pilot training facilities that would incorporate this pre-
employment screening; (2) a study to determine if the practice of some
employers requiring individuals to pay for training is in the public
interest; and (3) a study to determine whether current minimum flight
time requirements applicable to an individual seeking employment as an
air carrier pilot is sufficient to ensure public safety.
The Tasks
This notice is to inform the public that the FAA has asked ARAC to
conduct the following studies:
1. Identify standards and criteria for pre-employment screening of
air carrier pilot applicants that would measure the psychomotor
coordination, general intellectual capacity, instrument and mechanical
comprehension, and overall physical and mental fitness of pilots
applying for employment with air carriers. The second half of this
study would be directed toward addressing training facilities that
could be licensed by the Administrator to ensure the incorporation of
pre-employment screening standards and criteria;
2. Determine if the practice of some air carriers to require
employees or prospective employees to pay for their own training or
obtain experience is in the public interest; and
3. Determine whether current minimum flight time requirements
applicable to an individual seeking employment as a pilot with an air
carrier are sufficient to ensure public safety.
The FAA has asked that ARAC provide the findings of the studies,
including background, economic analysis, other related guidance
material, and collateral documents. In addition, the reports should be
submitted in a format suitable for presentation to Congress. The final
report on the findings of the task numbered 1 is due to the FAA by
January 1999. The final reports on the findings of the tasks numbered 2
and 3 are due to the FAA by August 1997.
ARAC Acceptance of Tasks
ARAC has accepted the tasks and has chosen to establish three
working groups: The Air Carrier Pilot Pre-Employment Screening
Standards and Criteria Working Group, the Air Carrier Pilot Pay for
Training Working Group, and the Air Carrier Minimum Flight Time
Requirement Working Group. The Air Carrier Pilot Pre-Employment
Screening Standards and Criteria Working Group has been assigned task
number 1, the Air Carrier Minimum Flight Time Requirement Working Group
has been assigned task number 2, and the Air Carrier Pilot Pre-
Employment Screening Standards and Criteria Working Group has been
assigned task number 3.
The working groups will serve as staff to ARAC to assist ARAC in
the analysis of the assigned tasks. Working group recommendations and
reports must be reviewed and approved by ARAC. If ARAC accepts the
working groups' recommendations and reports, it forwards them to the
FAA as ARAC recommendations.
Working Group Activity
The working groups are expected to comply with the procedures
adopted by ARAC. As part of the procedures, the working groups are
expected to:
1. Recommend a work plan for completion of the tasks, including the
rationale supporting such a plan, for consideration at the Training and
Qualifications issues meeting held following publication of this
notice.
2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed studies,
prior to proceeding with the work stated in item 3 below.
3. Draft appropriate documents with supporting economic and other
required analyses, and/or any other related guidance material or
collateral documents the working group determines to be appropriate.
4. Provide a status report at each Training and Qualifications
issues meeting.
Participation in the Working Groups
The aforementioned working groups will be comprised of individuals
having an interest and expertise in the assigned task areas. Working
group members will be selected by the ARAC assistant chair, ARAC
assistant executive director, and working group chair(s).
The Secretary of Transportation has determined that the formation
and use of ARAC are necessary and in the public interest in connection
with the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law.
Meetings of ARAC will be open to the public. Meetings of the
working groups will not be open to the public, except to the extent
that individuals with an interest and expertise are selected to
participate. No public announcement of working group meetings will be
made.
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 10, 1997.
Thomas Toula,
Assistant Executive Director for Training and Qualifications Issues,
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 97-1767 Filed 1-23-97; 8:45 am]
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