Pilots Perch

Aviation safety and regulatory compliance are fundamental to maintaining efficient and secure flight operations. Pilots rely on FAA Advisory Circulars (ACs) for guidance on essential topics like weather interpretation, crew resource management, and fatigue mitigation. For example, AC 00-65A provides insights into aviation weather services, helping pilots make informed decisions during flight planning, while AC 117-1 CHG 1 and AC 120-109A CHG 1 outline fatigue risk management techniques crucial for long-haul and high-intensity operations. Understanding these regulations ensures pilots maintain situational awareness and optimal performance, reducing risks associated with poor decision-making in complex environments.

Risk management plays a significant role in preventing flight incidents and improving operational safety. AC 120-70C emphasizes the importance of Safety Management Systems (SMS), which provide structured risk assessment tools to help pilots navigate challenges like wake turbulence (AC 91-55A), midair collision avoidance (AC 90-48E), and runway safety (AC 90-67B). Compliance with these guidelines helps pilots enhance flight planning, manage in-flight hazards, and operate aircraft within safe margins. Additionally, AC 90-108 CHG 1 and AC 90-114C highlight modern navigation techniques, including performance-based navigation (PBN) and ADS-B technology, which improve airspace efficiency and situational awareness.

Continuous training and proficiency checks ensure that pilots stay up to date with evolving aviation technology, regulations, and operational best practices. Advisory circulars like AC 141-1B and AC 142-1 establish FAA-approved pilot training programs, ensuring competency in flight simulators, instrument flight procedures, and real-world operational scenarios. By prioritizing ongoing education, regulatory adherence, and proactive risk management, pilots contribute to a safer, more efficient aviation industry. Staying informed on FAA guidelines allows them to adapt to industry advancements, mitigate risks, and uphold the highest safety standards in flight operations.

Comprehensive Advisory Circular (AC) List for Pilots

Flight Operations and Safety

AC 00-34B – This circular provides an overview of aviation weather services and how pilots should interpret and apply meteorological data for safe flight planning. It emphasizes the importance of understanding real-time weather conditions and forecasts to enhance situational awareness and decision-making.

AC 00-65A Ed Update – This advisory circular provides guidance on aviation weather reporting and forecasting services available to pilots. It details how flight crews can access and interpret weather data to enhance flight safety and operational decision-making.

AC 117-1 CHG 1 – This advisory circular covers the regulations surrounding flight crew rest and fatigue management under Part 117. It provides strategies for pilots and operators to comply with duty limitations and avoid fatigue-related risks that could impact flight safety.

AC 117-3 – This AC further clarifies compliance measures for pilots operating under Part 117 flight time limitations. It discusses the impact of duty scheduling and environmental factors on pilot alertness and performance.

AC 120-109A CHG 1 – This document highlights fatigue risk management techniques and operational best practices for flight crews. It stresses the importance of mitigating fatigue through proper scheduling, rest, and alertness monitoring.

AC 120-12A – This circular provides regulatory guidance on aircraft leasing arrangements and interchange agreements. It explains the responsibilities of pilots and operators in ensuring continued compliance with safety and operational standards under different leasing structures.

AC 120-76E – This AC addresses the use of electronic flight bags (EFBs) in place of traditional paper-based cockpit materials. It sets guidelines for approval, usage, and data security to ensure operational reliability and compliance.

AC 121-35 – This advisory circular outlines the responsibilities of aircraft dispatchers and their integration into flight crew operations. It highlights the communication protocols between pilots and dispatchers to ensure operational efficiency and safety.

AC 120-70C – This AC establishes safety management system (SMS) requirements for aircraft operators. It provides best practices for hazard identification, risk assessment, and mitigation to improve safety performance across aviation operations.

AC 90-23G – This document provides pilots with best practices for avoiding wake turbulence encounters. It explains the physics of wake turbulence and recommends operational techniques for mitigating associated hazards.

AC 120-111 CHG 1 – This advisory circular discusses Crew Resource Management (CRM) training for flight crews. It emphasizes the importance of teamwork, communication, and situational awareness to enhance safety in flight operations.

AC 120-29A – This AC provides guidance on criteria for instrument approach procedures and landing minima. It helps pilots understand regulatory requirements for Category I, II, and III approaches.

AC 120-40B – This circular outlines flight simulator training device standards. It provides guidelines for simulation fidelity and training requirements for pilots.

AC 120-74B – This advisory circular focuses on flight deck procedures and sterile cockpit compliance. It provides best practices for effective cockpit discipline to minimize distractions during critical flight phases.

AC 120-88A CHG 1 – This AC provides guidelines on aircraft security and access control. It ensures that pilots follow safety measures for cockpit security and risk mitigation.

AC 120-90 – This document outlines strategies for pilots to enhance operational efficiency. It covers fuel conservation techniques and flight planning optimization.

AC 120-43 – This advisory circular provides guidance on training and certification for flight dispatchers. It highlights their role in flight planning, monitoring, and coordination with pilots to ensure operational safety.

AC 120-44A – This circular discusses flight crew training programs and competency requirements. It helps pilots understand recurrent training expectations and best practices for maintaining operational efficiency.

AC 120-47 – This document provides best practices for pilot decision-making under high-stress conditions. It outlines techniques for managing workload, handling emergencies, and maintaining situational awareness.

AC 120-50A – This advisory circular covers crew training standards for Part 121 and Part 135 operators. It emphasizes standard operating procedures and risk management techniques.

AC 120-62 – This AC outlines the responsibilities of flight crews in ensuring safe passenger operations. It provides recommendations on briefing passengers and handling emergency situations effectively.

AC 120-63 – This document provides guidelines on in-flight operational security and risk mitigation. It helps pilots and crew members maintain control in potential security threats.

AC 120-68J – This circular focuses on operational risk assessment for flight crews. It highlights safety management system (SMS) practices to improve flight operations.

AC 91-55A – This advisory circular provides guidance on reducing the risk of wake turbulence encounters. It discusses proper separation distances and recommended procedures for pilots operating in busy airspace and near large aircraft.

AC 91-63C – This AC focuses on cockpit management and the importance of maintaining situational awareness. It provides strategies for effective crew coordination, workload distribution, and minimizing distractions during flight.

AC 91-66 – This circular covers operations over hazardous terrain and water. It provides guidance on emergency preparedness, equipment requirements, and best practices for mitigating risks associated with these environments.

Flight Safety and Risk Management

AC 90-48E – This advisory circular addresses midair collision avoidance. It outlines strategies for pilots to improve visual scanning techniques and increase situational awareness.

AC 90-67B – This AC provides operational guidelines for taxiing and runway safety. It discusses methods to prevent runway incursions and surface movement errors.

AC 90-80C CHG 1 – This advisory circular focuses on loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) prevention. It provides training recommendations to help pilots recover from unusual flight attitudes and stalls.

AC 90-95 – This AC discusses runway excursion prevention strategies. It outlines risk factors associated with takeoff and landing performance.

Aircraft Operations, Navigation, and Equipment

AC 120-51E – This AC provides guidelines for Crew Resource Management (CRM) and human factors training. It highlights the importance of teamwork and communication in reducing human error.

AC 120-64 – This advisory circular discusses the implementation of line operational safety audits (LOSA). It provides a proactive approach for improving flight safety through pilot monitoring and reporting.

AC 120-71B – This AC outlines best practices for flight crew operating procedures. It discusses standardization in cockpit operations to improve consistency and efficiency.

AC 90-106B – This circular provides guidelines on the use of GPS for flight navigation. It ensures pilots follow FAA-approved procedures when using satellite-based navigation.

AC 90-109A – This AC discusses enhanced vision systems (EVS) and their application in low-visibility flight operations. It helps pilots understand the benefits and limitations of EVS technology.

AC 90-110C – This advisory circular outlines requirements for NextGen airspace navigation. It provides procedures for performance-based navigation (PBN) and required navigation performance (RNP) operations.

AC 90-113C – This document focuses on upset recovery training for pilots. It provides guidance on recognizing and responding to aircraft upsets to prevent loss of control.

AC 90-120 – This circular provides guidelines for integrating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into controlled airspace. It discusses operational safety and coordination with manned aircraft.

AC 20-173 – This AC discusses the impact of aircraft icing and de-icing procedures. It outlines regulatory requirements for preventing ice accumulation and maintaining aircraft performance.

AC 20-67B – This advisory circular provides guidelines on fuel system safety and management. It includes strategies for preventing fuel contamination and mismanagement.

AC 20-68B – This document discusses lightning protection for aircraft systems. It provides best practices for aircraft design, inspection, and maintenance to mitigate lightning strikes.

AC 20-97B CHG 1 – This AC provides maintenance and inspection procedures for aircraft fire detection and suppression systems. It ensures compliance with fire safety regulations.

AC 90-107 – This document outlines operational procedures for pilots using performance-based navigation (PBN) systems. It discusses the advantages and limitations of GPS-based flight navigation.

AC 90-108 CHG 1 – This advisory circular provides updated requirements for required navigation performance (RNP) and area navigation (RNAV) operations. It highlights regulatory approvals and compliance expectations.

AC 90-114C – This AC discusses Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) operations. It provides guidance on integrating ADS-B technology into air traffic management and flight operations.

AC 20-106 – This AC provides airworthiness standards for aircraft pressurization systems. It outlines inspection and maintenance requirements to ensure system integrity.

AC 20-109B – This advisory circular discusses corrosion prevention in aircraft structures. It provides maintenance and inspection procedures for preventing structural degradation.

AC 20-124 – This circular covers lightning protection for aircraft systems. It ensures that pilots and maintenance personnel understand the risks and mitigation strategies for lightning strikes.

AC 20-164A – This document discusses electromagnetic interference (EMI) in aircraft. It provides guidelines for preventing interference with avionics and electronic systems.

AC 25.1302-1 – This advisory circular focuses on flight deck human factors and avionics interface design. It ensures that aircraft automation is user-friendly and reduces pilot workload.

AC 91-78A – This AC outlines the use of electronic flight bags (EFBs) and portable cockpit technologies. It provides regulatory compliance guidelines and best practices for integrating these tools into flight operations.

AC 91-79B – This circular focuses on runway overrun prevention strategies. It provides pilots with best practices for calculating landing distances, understanding braking performance, and managing approach speeds.

AC 91-92 – This advisory circular provides guidance on flight risk assessment programs (FRAP). It explains how pilots can evaluate operational hazards and make informed decisions to enhance overall flight safety.

Pilot Certification, Training, and Compliance

AC 61-65J – This circular provides guidance on obtaining pilot certificates, ratings, and endorsements. It outlines the required qualifications, procedures, and documentation necessary for pilot certification under FAA regulations.

AC 61-98E – This AC emphasizes the importance of maintaining pilot proficiency and currency. It provides recommendations for recurrent training and skill enhancement to ensure pilots remain competent and up to date with industry standards.

AC 61-134 – This circular provides insights into continuing education for pilots. It discusses training methodologies and skill development to enhance a pilot’s decision-making and operational effectiveness.

AC 61-136B – This AC provides guidance on pilot training for modern cockpit environments. It emphasizes training in automation and manual flying skills to ensure pilot competency.

AC 61-140A – This circular addresses training standards for commercial pilot applicants. It outlines the knowledge and skill areas required for certification.

AC 141-1B – This advisory circular covers Part 141 pilot school certification and operational requirements. It establishes guidelines for flight training programs and their curriculum development.

AC 142-1 – This AC provides standards for flight training centers and simulators. It ensures compliance with FAA-approved training programs.

AC 121-36 – This advisory circular outlines the training and qualification requirements for airline transport pilots. It provides information on proficiency checks and regulatory compliance.

AC 60-11C – This AC provides pilot education on aeromedical factors affecting flight performance. It discusses how fatigue, stress, and medications can impact pilot decision-making.

AC 60-22 – This document covers aeronautical decision-making (ADM) training for pilots. It teaches risk assessment and judgment skills to improve flight safety.

AC 61-67C CHG 2 – This advisory circular provides updated training standards for instrument flight procedures. It discusses approach techniques and operational considerations in low-visibility conditions.

AC 91-73B Ed Update – This advisory circular provides updated guidance on runway incursion prevention. It outlines best practices for taxi operations, communication with air traffic control, and situational awareness during airport ground movements.

AC 91-74B – This document discusses training requirements for pilots to improve their understanding of in-flight weather phenomena. It provides recommendations on meteorological resources and flight planning for adverse weather conditions.

AC 91-76A – This advisory circular provides guidance on landing performance assessments and operational considerations for contaminated runways. It helps pilots understand how runway conditions affect stopping distances and overall aircraft performance.

Regulatory Compliance

AC 91.21-1D – This advisory circular addresses the use of portable electronic devices on aircraft. It explains FAA regulations regarding electronic interference and passenger device usage.

AC 91-32B – This document provides guidance on aviation fuel management. It helps pilots ensure proper fuel planning, monitoring, and conservation techniques.

AC 91-50 – This AC discusses airworthiness directives (ADs) and regulatory compliance for aircraft maintenance. It ensures operators meet FAA safety requirements.

AC 91-58A – This document provides guidance on pilot responsibilities for managing hazardous materials. It covers compliance with FAA rules for dangerous goods transportation.

Legal Interpretations Relevant to Pilots

Coleal-Bombardier Learjet 2009 – This legal interpretation clarifies pilot responsibilities under FAA regulations concerning aircraft operation and lease agreements. It helps pilots and operators understand the legal implications of aircraft usage and operational control.

Frick 2011 – This interpretation discusses regulatory oversight in pilot training programs. It provides insights into compliance requirements for training institutions and their impact on pilot certification.

Landis-Mayo Aviation 2014 – This document examines legal interpretations regarding aircraft modifications and their effect on airworthiness. It outlines how changes to aircraft design or operation can impact regulatory compliance.

McCreary 2018 – This legal interpretation addresses FAA enforcement actions against pilots. It explains regulatory expectations and the potential consequences of non-compliance with aviation safety rules.