Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) Guidelines

FOQA Implementation and Data Collection

AC 120-82 – Provides guidance on implementing FOQA programs for air carriers. It outlines the benefits of proactive flight data monitoring and describes how FOQA enhances operational efficiency while reducing risks.

8000.81 CHG 1 – Establishes requirements for FAA oversight and enforcement of FOQA programs. It highlights compliance expectations, data protection measures, and how FOQA data should be used to enhance safety without punitive actions against pilots.

FOQA and Maintenance Safety Integration

AC 43-218 – Focuses on how FOQA data can be integrated with aircraft maintenance programs. This circular provides insights into using flight data to predict maintenance issues, reduce mechanical failures, and ensure regulatory compliance.

FOQA in Risk Management and Flight Safety

AC 120-79A CHG 1 – Details best practices for flight risk management using FOQA data. It provides techniques for trend analysis, pilot training improvements, and addressing safety concerns proactively.

AC 120-90 – Establishes FAA expectations for voluntary safety reporting programs, including FOQA, Aviation Safety Action Programs (ASAP), and Safety Management Systems (SMS). It encourages a non-punitive reporting culture that fosters operational improvements.