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and risk-based), and appropriately communicated to applicants.
= Expand the use and promotion of Peer Support Programs.
= Develop mental health literacy, education and awareness campaigns.
= Increase mental health training and improve quality assurance for Aviation Medical Examiners (A M E s).
= Modernize the FAA’s Management Information System/Aviation Medical Certification Subsystem.
Larsen also noted the report and its recommendations were adopted unanimously by ARC members. “This shows a deep understanding and broad desire from the aviation community to reduce the barriers that keep pilots, air traffic controllers and others from seeking mental health care,” he said.
“We applaud the FAA, and specifically the Office of Aerospace Medicine, for convening the ARC to bring industry and government together to address this important safety issue,” Larsen added.
The FAA said it is assessing the report and “will determine next steps after reviewing the recommendations.”
FAA Releases SMS Final Rule
The FAA recently released a final rule expanding FAR Part 5 requirements which calls for certain certificate holders to develop and implement a safety management system (SMS). The new rule requires all Part 135 operators, certain Part 21 certificate holders and §91.147 air tour operators to implement an SMS, as well as adding some new mandates to Part 5.
The rule explains, “a safety management system (SMS) provides an organization-wide approach to identifying safety hazards, assessing and managing safety risk, and assuring the effectiveness of safety risk controls. An SMS provides a set of decision-making processes and procedures that can improve safety by assisting an organization in planning, organizing, directing and controlling its aviation-related business activities.”
According to the National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA), in response to specific input given from their organization, the rule ensures scalability for the smallest operators, eschews unduly burdensome Part 5 mandates for single-pilot operations and provides a more reasonable timeline for implementation of SMS requirements, from 24 to 36 months.
The FAA is publishing this rule in part to address a Congressional mandate as well as recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board. KA
16 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
MAY 2024