ROLE OF THE FAA

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is empowered

by the U.S. Congress to promote aviation safety

by prescribing safety standards for civil aviation. This

is accomplished through the Code of Federal

Regulations (CFRs) formerly referred to as Federal

Aviation Regulations (FARs).

Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)

part 61 pertains to the certification of pilots, flight

instructors, and ground instructors. 14 CFR part 61 prescribes

the eligibility, aeronautical knowledge, flight

proficiency, and training and testing requirements for

each type of pilot certificate issued.

14 CFR part 67 prescribes the medical standards and

certification procedures for issuing medical certificates

for airmen and for remaining eligible for a medical

certificate.

14 CFR part 91 contains general operating and flight

rules. The section is broad in scope and provides

general guidance in the areas of general flight rules,

visual flight rules (VFR), instrument flight rules

(IFR), aircraft maintenance, and preventive maintenance

and alterations.

 Within the FAA, the Flight Standards Service sets the

aviation standards for airmen and aircraft operations in

the United States and for American airmen and aircraft

around the world. The FAAFlight Standards Service is

headquartered in Washington, D.C., and is broadly

organized into divisions based on work function (Air

Transportation, Aircraft Maintenance, Technical

Programs, a Regulatory Support Division based in

Oklahoma City, OK, and a General Aviation and

Commercial Division). Regional Flight Standards division

managers, one at each of the FAA's nine regional

offices, coordinate Flight Standards activities within

their respective regions.

The interface between the FAA Flight Standards

Service and the aviation community/general public

is the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).

[Figure 1-1] The approximately 90 FSDOs are

strategically located across the United States, each

office having jurisdiction over a specific geographic

area. The individual FSDO is responsible for all air

activity occurring within its geographic boundaries.

In addition to accident investigation and the

enforcement of aviation regulations, the individual

FSDO is responsible for the certification and surveillance

of air carriers, air operators, flight

schools/training centers, and airmen including pilots

and flight instructors.

Each FSDO is staffed by aviation safety inspectors

whose specialties include operations, maintenance,

and avionics. General aviation operations inspectors

are highly qualified and experienced aviators.

Once accepted for the position, an inspector must

satisfactorily complete a course of indoctrination

training conducted at the FAA Academy, which

includes airman evaluation and pilot testing techniques

and procedures. Thereafter, the inspector must

complete recurrent training on a regular basis. Among

other duties, the FSDO inspector is responsible for

administering FAA practical tests for pilot and flight

instructor certificates and associated ratings. All questions

concerning pilot certification (and/or requests for

other aviation information or services) should be directed

to the FSDO having jurisdiction in the particular geographic

area. FSDO telephone numbers are listed in the

blue pages of the telephone directory under United States

Government offices, Department of Transportation,

Federal Aviation Administration.