InFO 15014: Aircraft Type Rating Requirement for Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 121 Second-In-Command (SIC) Pilots

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info An InFO contains valuable information for operators that should help them meet certain administrative, regulatory, or operational requirements with relatively low urgency or impact on safety.

Subject: Aircraft Type Rating Requirement for Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 121 Second-In-Command (SIC) Pilots

Purpose: This InFO serves to remind part 121 air carriers, per part 121 § 121.436, all SICs of part 121 flights must hold an aircraft type rating in the airplane in which they serve by January 1, 2016.

Background: The Pilot Certification and Qualification Requirements for Air Carrier Operations final rule (78 FR 42324) was issued on July 15, 2013. Effective August 1, 2013, § 121.436 required all SICs to hold an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate with an aircraft type rating for the airplane flown in part 121 operations. It should be noted that the SIC type rating obtained under § 61.55 does not satisfy the requirement of § 121.436(b). As permitted by § 121.436(d), pilots employed as SICs in part 121 operations as of July 31, 2013, were given additional time to comply with the aircraft type rating requirement.

Those pilots are required to have the aircraft type rating by January 1, 2016, to continue flying in part 121 operations.

Discussion: Part 121 air carriers that employ SICs who do not currently hold the appropriate aircraft type rating must, per § 121.436(d), take appropriate action to ensure all SICs obtain the aircraft type rating prior to January 1, 2016. An SIC without the appropriate aircraft type rating on January 1, 2016, must be removed from part 121 flying.

Part 121 air carriers may need to amend their SIC recurrent training curriculum or Continuing Qualification curriculum for Advanced Qualification Programs (AQP) to accommodate the additional training and evaluation requirements. Air carriers may continue to use their approved training curricula for SICs who already hold the appropriate aircraft type rating. Flight Standards previously issued Notice 8900.212, which provides information on considerations for amending training curricula to accommodate the additional training and evaluation necessary for aircraft type rating certification. Notice 8900.212 is available at http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Notice/N_8900.212.pdf.

In addition, Notice 8900.310 is available for those pilots who will also need the SIC type rating limitation removed at http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Notice/N_8900_310.pdf.

Recommended Action: Part 121 Directors of Operations, Chief Pilots, and Training Managers should consider implementing policies to ensure that all SICs hold an appropriate aircraft type rating by January 1, 2016. Provisions should also be made to remove those SICs without the aircraft type rating from service after December 31, 2015.

Contact: Questions or comments regarding this InFO should be directed to the Air Carrier Training Systems and Voluntary Safety Programs Branch, AFS-280, at (202) 267-8166.

InFOInformation for Operators

U.S. Department

of Transportation

Federal Aviation

Administration

InFO 15014

DATE: 10/20/15

Flight Standards Service

Washington, DC

Distributed by: AFS-200 OPR: AFS-280