NEW!  

A008 Special Emphasis Inspections Announced

August 30, 2007

The FAA has published a notice formally announcing a special emphasis inspection program for operational control.  The notice indicates that all part 135 certificate holders will be subject to this inspection that will be conducted by their assigned FAA inspectors. 

Although the FAA has informally indicated that an inspection for compliance with the operational control requirements of OpSPec A008 would occur, Notice 8000.16 is the first official notification of these special emphasis inspections.

Inspections will be accomplished during either the fourth quarter of FY2007 or the first quarter of FY2008 (July 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007).

All operators are encouraged to review Notice and prepare accordingly. 

Download Notice 8900.16, "Special Emphasis Inspection: Operational Control."

Operators are also reminded that NATA has made available tools to aid compliance.  These tools are available to NATA members by clicking here.

FAA Issues Additional A008 Guidance

May 30, 2007

In a new notice to inspectors, Notice 8900.4, "Guidance for Operations Specifications A002 and A008: Operational Control” the FAA has clarified several areas of lingering concern surrounding Operations Specification (OpSpec) A008 for operational control.

All Part 135 certificate holders are urged to obtain and immediately review the new guidance, which supplements guidance issued earlier this year when the revised OpSpec was first published.

The FAA clearly states that ALL Part 135 certificate holders must be issued the revised OpSpec A008 by June 30, 2007. After that date any certificate holder with a previous version of A008 will have that OpSpec rescinded and will no longer be authorized to conduct Part 135 operations.

Key Areas Addressed By New Guidance:

• Pilot payments
• Fuel and insurance arrangements/payments
• Use of non-employees/agents for maintenance and training
• Further clarification of the "Two-Tiered Operational Control Concept "
• Review of leases/agreements by FAA
• Advertising by brokers and indirect air carriers
• Lists of those authorized to exercise operational control

 

Download Notice 8900.4, “Guidance for Operations Specifications A002 and A008: Operational Control.”

NATA Offers Operational Control Compliance Tools To Members

May 24, 2007

NATA is providing two tools to assist members in complying with revised Operations Specification (OpSpec) A008, regarding operational control of aircraft used in Part 135 charter operations.

OpSpec A008 will be issued to all Part 135 certificate holders with very few exceptions. By this time, all operators impacted by the new OpSpec should have received notification from their inspector.

Members can review NATA's Regulatory Report that explains the documents and includes links to download the compliance tools.

Aircraft Lender’s Notification Now Available

NATA member Jet Solutions, LLC has supplied a template document that operators may provide to the lending institutions that financed an owner's purchase of an aircraft that will be used by a Part 135 air carrier.

Operations specification A008 stipulates that an aircraft owner must be free of restrictions that prohibit placing the aircraft into air carrier operations and relinquishing operational control of the aircraft to that air carrier.

The "lender's acknowledgement" is a simple document that an air carrier may provide to financial institutions in lieu of or in addition to a review of the actual financing agreements. This document as been reviewed by the Federal Aviation Administration at the headquarters level and was deemed acceptable. However, because this is a template, operators are cautioned that the exact wording may not apply to all situations or agreements and consultation with appropriate legal counsel may be necessary prior to using this document.

Click here to download the "lender's acknowledgement" document.

NATA Writes to FAA Over Concerns With Operational Control Guidance

January 5, 2007

In a letter to FAA Director of Flight Standards, Jim Ballough, NATA raised two significant concerns over information contained in the new operational control guidance.

The association asked the FAA to remove or revise statements within Notice 8000.347 pertaining to the payment of pilots and the frequency with which so-called "owner’s pilots" are used by an air carrier.

Download NATA's letter to Mr. Ballough.

In a separate letter to Mr. Hooper Harris, Manager of the FAA's Commuter, On-demand and Training branch, NATA highlighted several additional concerns that the association would like to see addressed.

Download NATA's letter to Mr. Harris.

FAA Releases New Operational Control Guidance

December 29 , 2006

The Federal Aviation Administration has released Notice 8000.347, Operational Control: Revised Operations Specifications A008 and A002.

Download a copy of N 8000.347.

N 8000.347 and Operational Control Guidance Explained

December 30, 2006

NATA has published an explanation of FAA Notice 8000.347, which contains Operations Specification A008 for operational control.  The recent changes to Operations Specification (OpSpec) A008 result from one basic need of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): the agency must know who is responsible and who should be accountable for the safety of any flight. Keep this fundamental premise in mind as you read this or any discussion of OpSpec A008 and its related guidance.

OpSpec A008 is broken in to several sections. Each will is discussed, and each should be addressed in your General Operations Manual (GOM) and referenced in your A008.

Review NATA's explanation of Notice 8000.347.

 

NATA Operational Control Workshops Now Available

NATA's Operational Control Workshops will present Part 135 certificate holders with the information necessary to ensure compliance with the FAA's new Operations Specification (OpSpec A008) for operational control.

Learn more and register to attend a workshop.

Operational Control Do's and Don'ts

How does all this talk of “operational control” apply to you as an air carrier? Would your operation’s procedures draw unwanted attention from the FAA?  NATA has compiled the following do and don’t lists based upon materials presented at the FAA’s Operational Control Briefing Sessions.

Review NATA's Do's and Don'ts.

Background Information on FAA's Operational Control Activities

View background information, including FAA enforcement actions and discussion of NATA/FAA operational control meetings, here.

Staff Contacts:

Jacqueline E. Rosser
Director, Regulatory Affairs