Regulatory Aviation Glossary
FAA, EASA, ICAO frameworks. Certificates, postholders, SMS, audits, compliance.
Regulatory glossary terms span the certification frameworks every flight school, ATO, AOC, and CAMO operates under. Includes the major FAR Parts (Part 61 / 91 / 121 / 135 / 141 / 142 / 145), EASA Parts (Part-FCL / Part-M / Part-CAMO / Part-145), the medical certificate classes (1/2/3, BasicMed, AME), the postholder structure (Accountable Manager, Head of Training, Compliance Monitoring Manager), the four ICAO Annex 19 SMS pillars (Policy, Risk, Assurance, Promotion), and the audit and corrective-action machinery that ties them together.
A
Accountable Manager
The Accountable Manager (AM) is the single individual, approved by the National Aviation Authority, who holds ultimate corporate authority and personal regulatory accountability for ensuring that an EASA-approved organization's activities are financed and carried out in accordance with applicable requirements.
Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic
An Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic is an FAA-certificated aviation maintenance technician holding both the Airframe and Powerplant ratings under 14 CFR Part 65 Subpart D (§§65.71–65.95).
Airman Certification Standards (ACS)
The Airman Certification Standards (ACS) are FAA documents that define the knowledge, risk management, and skill standards an applicant must demonstrate to earn each pilot certificate or rating.
Airworthiness Directive (AD)
An Airworthiness Directive (AD) is a legally binding order issued by an aviation authority requiring operators to inspect, modify, or repair an aircraft, engine, or component to correct an unsafe condition.
Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC)
An Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) is the EASA document — issued under Part-M M.A.901 (Form 15a/15b) — that confirms an aircraft remains airworthy following a structured review of its records, physical condition, and continuing-airworthiness status.
AOC (Air Operator Certificate)
An AOC is an Air Operator Certificate — an authorisation issued by a national aviation authority that permits an operator to conduct commercial air transport operations.
Approved Maintenance Programme (AMP)
An Approved Maintenance Programme (AMP) is the per-aircraft, regulator-approved document — required under EASA Part-M M.A.302 and FAA §121.367 / §135.411 — that defines all the scheduled and condition-monitored maintenance tasks the aircraft will undergo throughout its operational life.
Approved Training Organization (ATO)
An Approved Training Organization (ATO) is a flight training provider certified by a national aviation authority under EASA or ICAO standards to deliver approved pilot training courses.
ASAP and ASRS (Aviation Safety Action Program / Aviation Safety Reporting System)
ASAP is the FAA voluntary safety reporting program — codified in FAA AC 120-66B — operated by individual airlines under tripartite Memoranda of Understanding (operator + pilot/dispatcher/maintenance union + FAA).
Aviation Medical Examiner (AME)
An Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) is a physician designated by the FAA under 14 CFR Part 183 §183.21 to examine applicants for FAA medical certificates and to issue First, Second, and Third-Class medical certificates on behalf of the FAA.
C
Class 1 Medical Certificate
A Class 1 medical certificate is the highest medical standard in both the FAA (14 CFR Part 67 Subpart B) and EASA (Part-MED) systems, required to exercise the privileges of an Airline Transport Pilot Licence and a Commercial Pilot Licence in many jurisdictions.
Class 2 Medical Certificate
A Class 2 medical certificate is the standard required for private pilot privileges in the EASA system (Part-MED) and for commercial pilot privileges in the FAA system (14 CFR Part 67 Subpart C, Second-Class), with validity periods and examination requirements less stringent than Class 1.
Class 3 / Third-Class Medical Certificate
A Third-Class medical certificate (FAA) is the minimum standard for exercising private pilot privileges under 14 CFR Part 67 Subpart D — and is the medical regime BasicMed was designed to relieve qualifying pilots from.
Compliance Monitoring Manager (CMM)
The Compliance Monitoring Manager (CMM) is the EASA-nominated postholder responsible for operating the Compliance Monitoring Function (CMF) within an organization's Management System, as required by Part-ORO ORO.GEN.200(a)(6) for AOC holders, Part-ORA ORA.GEN.200 for ATOs, and Part-CAMO CAMO.A.200 for CAMOs.
Continuing Airworthiness
Continuing airworthiness is the regulatory discipline — defined under EASA Part-M and ICAO Annex 6 — of ensuring an aircraft remains in compliance with its type certificate, applicable airworthiness directives, and approved maintenance program throughout its operational life. It is a process, distinct from the CAMO organization that delivers it.
Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO)
A CAMO (Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization) is an EASA-approved organization responsible for managing the continuing airworthiness of aircraft, ensuring they remain safe to fly through proper maintenance planning, record-keeping, and regulatory compliance.
Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP)
A Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP) is an FAA-approved scheduled maintenance framework required for Part 121 air carriers under 14 CFR §121.367 and for Part 135 operators of large or multiengine turbine-powered aircraft under §135.411(a)(2), replacing the standard annual/100-hour inspection cycle with a comprehensive, operator-specific program approved by the FAA.
Corrective Action Plan (CAP)
A Corrective Action Plan (CAP) is the structured written response an EASA-approved organization must submit to its Competent Authority — or to its own Compliance Monitoring Manager — when a finding is raised under AMC1 to ORO.GEN.150, ORA.GEN.150, or CAMO.A.150.
Crew Duty Time
Crew duty time is the total period from when a crew member reports for duty to when they are released, subject to regulatory maximum limits that vary by operation type and jurisdiction.
D
Declared Training Organization (DTO)
A Declared Training Organization (DTO) is a lighter-weight EASA flight training provider that operates by declaration rather than full certification, authorized to offer PPL and LAPL training courses.
Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR) and Designated Engineering Representative (DER)
A Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR) and a Designated Engineering Representative (DER) are FAA designees authorized under 14 CFR Part 183 to perform specific aircraft certification and engineering approval functions on behalf of the FAA Administrator.
E
EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency)
EASA is the EU aviation safety agency established by Regulation (EC) 1592/2002 and now governed by Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, responsible for setting airworthiness, licensing, operations, and UAS standards across 31 European Member States.
EASA Flight Time Limitations (FTL)
EASA FTL is the European flight time, duty time, and rest requirement regime — codified in Subpart FTL of Annex III to Regulation (EU) 965/2012 (Part-ORO) and supported by AMC1 ORO.FTL.205-235 — applicable to commercial air transport operators within EASA member states, broadly equivalent in purpose to FAA Part 117 but structurally different.
EASA Form 1 and FAA 8130-3 (Authorized Release Certificates)
The EASA Form 1 (issued under Part-145 145.A.50 and Part-21 Subparts F and G) and the FAA Form 8130-3 Authorized Release Certificate / Airworthiness Approval Tag (issued under 14 CFR §21.137 and FAA Part 145) are the bilateral equivalents certifying that a part, component, or assembly released from an approved production or maintenance organization conforms to approved design data and is in a serviceable condition.
F
FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)
The FAA is the U.S. federal agency responsible for regulating all civil aviation under 49 USC §§40101–44732, encompassing airman and aircraft certification, air traffic control, and safety rulemaking through 14 CFR Parts 1–199.
FAA Form 337 — Major Repair and Alteration
FAA Form 337 (Major Repair and Alteration: Airframe, Powerplant, Propeller, or Appliance) is the FAA's required documentation form for any major repair or major alteration performed on a U.S.-registered civil aircraft, mandated by 14 CFR §43.9(d) and Part 43 Appendix B.
FAR Part 117 — Flight and Duty Limitations and Rest Requirements
FAR Part 117 is the FAA regulation — effective January 4, 2014 — defining flight time, duty time, and rest requirements for flight crew of US scheduled passenger airlines (Part 121 operators), introduced after the 2009 Colgan 3407 accident as part of P.L. 111-216 (the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act).
FAR Part 119 — Certification: Air Carriers and Commercial Operators
14 CFR Part 119 is the FAA's umbrella certification framework that determines who must hold an air carrier or commercial operator certificate, which operating rule set (Part 121, 125, or 135) applies to their specific operations, and the minimum management personnel structure required.
FAR Part 121 — Scheduled Airline Operations
14 CFR Part 121 is the FAA regulation governing U.S. scheduled passenger and all-cargo air carrier operations, including domestic, flag, and supplemental operators such as American, Delta, United, FedEx, and UPS. It prescribes operating certificates, crewmember training programs (§121.401), flight/duty time limits (§§121.470–121.471), and mandatory Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Programs (§121.367).
FAR Part 125 — Large Airplane Operations
14 CFR Part 125 governs U.S.-registered airplanes with 20 or more passenger seats or 6,000 lb or more maximum payload capacity when operated for compensation or hire outside of Part 121 scheduled air carrier service and Part 135 commuter or on-demand operations.
FAR Part 135 — Commuter and On-Demand Operations
14 CFR Part 135 is the FAA regulation governing U.S. commuter and on-demand air carrier operations — including air taxis, fractional ownership programs (NetJets, Wheels Up), helicopter EMS (HEMS), and regional commuters operating aircraft with 9 or fewer passenger seats.
FAR Part 137 — Agricultural Aircraft Operations
14 CFR Part 137 governs agricultural aircraft operations in the United States — aerial application of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and seed dispersal — establishing certificate requirements, pilot qualifications, operating limitations, and recordkeeping for both private and commercial ag operators.
FAR Part 139 — Airport Certification
14 CFR Part 139 requires airports serving air carrier aircraft designed for more than 9 passenger seats to hold an FAA Airport Operating Certificate, with four certification classes and mandatory standards covering ARFF, pavement, wildlife hazards, and emergency planning.
FAR Part 142 — Training Centers
14 CFR Part 142 is the FAA regulation governing certificated training centers — organizations such as FlightSafety International, CAE Simuflite, Boeing Training & Professional Services, and Airbus Training that deliver type rating, recurrent, and Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) training primarily in full-flight simulators (FFS) and flight training devices (FTDs).
FAR Part 147 — Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools
14 CFR Part 147 governs the certification and operation of FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools (AMTS), which train students for the A&P mechanic certificate under Part 65, specifying facility requirements, curriculum standards, faculty credentials, and graduation performance expectations.
FAR Part 39 — Airworthiness Directives
14 CFR Part 39 is the FAA regulatory framework under which the agency issues Airworthiness Directives (ADs) — legally binding orders mandating corrective action on civil aircraft, engines, propellers, or appliances found to have an unsafe condition after type certification.
FAR Part 43 — Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration
14 CFR Part 43 governs who may perform maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration on U.S.-registered civil aircraft, what methods must be used, and how every maintenance event must be documented in the aircraft's records.
FAR Part 65 — Certification: Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers
14 CFR Part 65 governs FAA certification of non-pilot aviation professionals, including aircraft mechanics (A&P), repairmen, aircraft dispatchers, air traffic control tower operators, and parachute riggers — each with distinct eligibility standards, testing requirements, and operating privileges.
FAR Part 67 — Medical Standards and Certification
14 CFR Part 67 establishes the FAA's medical standards for pilot certification, defining three classes of medical certificate — First, Second, and Third — with progressively less stringent standards, and the certification procedures governing issuance, denial, and Special Issuance.
FAR Part 91 — General Operating and Flight Rules
14 CFR Part 91 is the foundational FAA regulation governing all civil aircraft operations in U.S. airspace that are not otherwise regulated under Parts 121, 125, 129, or 135.
Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS)
A Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) is the data-driven, science-based, operator-specific alternative to prescriptive flight-time limits — codified in ICAO Annex 6 + Doc 9966 (Fatigue Management Guide), 14 CFR §117.7 (FAA), and Part-ORO ORO.FTL.110(c) (EASA) — allowing operators to demonstrate equivalent or superior fatigue management through systematic monitoring rather than rule-by-rule compliance.
FIR (Flight Information Region)
A Flight Information Region (FIR) is a defined volume of airspace, designated under ICAO Annex 11 §2.1 and ICAO Doc 4444, within which a single air traffic services authority provides Flight Information Service (FIS) and Alerting Service (ALRS) — the foundational unit of global airspace organization.
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO)
A Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) is a local FAA field office responsible for certificating and overseeing pilots, flight schools, maintenance facilities, and air operators within its geographic district.
Flight Training Organisation (FTO)
A Flight Training Organization (FTO) is an ICAO and legacy EASA term for an approved organization that provides flight crew training under a structured and regulated curriculum.
FOQA and FDM (Flight Operational Quality Assurance / Flight Data Monitoring)
FOQA (Flight Operational Quality Assurance — FAA term) and FDM (Flight Data Monitoring — EASA / ICAO term) are the systematic programs — codified in FAA AC 120-82, EASA AMC1 ORO.AOC.130, and ICAO Annex 6 — for collecting, analyzing, and using digital flight data from line operations to identify safety hazards and improve operational performance.
FTSP (Flight Training Security Program)
The FTSP is the TSA's Flight Training Security Program, which requires flight schools in the United States to vet non-US citizens before providing flight training.
H
Hazard Identification (HazID)
Hazard Identification (HazID) is the systematic process of finding conditions or events that could cause harm to people, aircraft, or operations.
Head of Training (HoT)
The Head of Training (HoT) is the EASA-nominated postholder at an Approved Training Organization who carries personal regulatory accountability for the standardization, conduct, and quality of all training delivered.
I
IACRA (Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application)
IACRA is the FAA's web-based system for submitting, tracking, and processing airman certification and rating applications, replacing the traditional paper-based FAA Form 8710-1.
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)
ICAO is the United Nations specialized agency established by the Chicago Convention of 1944, with 193 contracting States, responsible for adopting international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) across 19 Annexes governing global civil aviation.
Inspection Authorization (IA)
An Inspection Authorization (IA) is an additional FAA authorization, issued under 14 CFR §65.91, that allows a qualified A&P mechanic to perform annual inspections (§91.409(a)), conduct and return aircraft to service after progressive inspections, and approve major repairs and major alterations by signing FAA Form 337.
Internal Audit (Compliance Monitoring Audit)
An internal audit (or compliance monitoring audit) is an independent, systematic, documented process for obtaining evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which an EASA-approved organization continues to meet applicable requirements, its own approved procedures, and relevant AMC/GM.
L
Letter of Authorization (LOA)
A Letter of Authorization (LOA) is an FAA-issued document authorizing a specific Part 91 operator to conduct an operation otherwise restricted by regulation — the Part 91 equivalent of Operations Specifications, covering RVSM, RNP-AR, Cat II/III, polar routes, and other special authorizations.
Licence Conversion
Licence conversion is the regulatory process by which a pilot certificate or rating issued by one civil aviation authority is recognized, validated, or re-issued by another authority — for example, converting an FAA PPL to an EASA Part-FCL PPL.
Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA)
Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) is an FAA aircraft category defined in 14 CFR §1.1, limited to aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 1,320 lb (1,430 lb for seaplanes), a maximum stall speed of 45 knots CAS, a maximum cruise speed of 120 knots CAS, and no more than two seats — the category that Sport Pilot Certificate holders are authorized to fly.
LOSA (Line Operations Safety Audit)
LOSA is a structured, non-punitive cockpit-observation methodology — codified in ICAO Doc 9803 — in which trained observers ride as jumpsuit passengers on normal revenue flights to record threats, crew errors, and undesired aircraft states, producing de-identified fleet-level safety data.
M
Mandatory Occurrence Report (MOR)
A Mandatory Occurrence Report (MOR) is a formal notification that aviation organizations and individuals are legally required to submit to their competent authority when a defined safety-relevant event occurs.
MEDA (Maintenance Error Decision Aid)
MEDA is a structured maintenance-error investigation methodology developed by Boeing (1994–1995) that systematically identifies the contributing factors behind maintenance errors using the Reason Swiss cheese model, replacing technician-blame attribution with systemic root-cause analysis.
MOA (Military Operations Area) and Special Use Airspace
A Military Operations Area (MOA) is a type of Special Use Airspace (SUA) established under 14 CFR Part 73 and FAA Order JO 7400.10 to separate or segregate certain nonhazardous military training activities from IFR traffic, while permitting VFR flight with caution.
N
NCC (Non-Commercial Complex)
NCC stands for Non-Commercial operations with Complex motor-powered aircraft under EASA regulations, covering private flights operated with complex aircraft such as turbine-powered aeroplanes or multi-engine helicopters.
NCO (Non-Commercial Operations)
NCO stands for Non-Commercial Operations under EASA regulations, governing private flying with non-complex aircraft — the framework that covers most private pilots and flying clubs in Europe.
NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board)
The NTSB is an independent U.S. federal agency established by the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 (49 USC Chapter 11) that investigates civil aviation accidents and issues safety recommendations to reduce future risk, with no regulatory or enforcement authority of its own.
O
Operations Manual
An Operations Manual is the regulator-required, controlled document that describes how an air operator or training organization actually conducts its operations, including procedures, responsibilities, and limitations.
Operations Specifications (OpsSpecs)
Operations Specifications are FAA-issued documents that define the specific authorizations, limitations, and procedures under which a Part 119, Part 125, or Part 145 certificate holder may conduct operations — covering everything from authorized routes and aircraft types to maintenance program approvals and special area authorizations.
P
Part 141
Part 141 refers to FAA-certificated flight schools that operate under 14 CFR Part 141, following an FAA-approved curriculum with structured syllabi, stage checks, and periodic oversight.
Part 145 (EASA Maintenance Organisation)
Part 145 is the EASA regulation that establishes the requirements for organizations approved to perform maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) on aircraft, engines, and components.
Part 61
Part 61 refers to flight training conducted under 14 CFR Part 61, where instructors set the curriculum and training pace without a formal FAA-approved syllabus.
Part M (EASA Continuing Airworthiness)
Part M is the EASA regulation that establishes the requirements for the continuing airworthiness of aircraft, including maintenance planning, airworthiness reviews, and the responsibilities of aircraft owners and CAMO organizations.
Part-FCL
Part-FCL (Flight Crew Licensing) is the EASA regulation that establishes the requirements for the issue, revalidation, and renewal of flight crew licenses and ratings in European aviation.
Progressive Inspection (FAA Alternative to Annual)
A Progressive Inspection is an FAA-authorized alternative to the standard annual inspection under 14 CFR §91.409(d), in which an aircraft's airworthiness is maintained through a continuous cycle of segmented inspections spread across the operating year rather than a single annual inspection event.
S
Safety Assurance (SMS Pillar 3)
Safety Assurance is the third SMS pillar defined in ICAO Annex 19 (Second Edition, Amendment 1, 2018) and ICAO Doc 9859 (Fourth Edition, 2018): the continuous monitoring of safety performance against targets, verification that risk controls are working, and the systematic process of improving the SMS over time.
Safety Management Policy (SMS Pillar 1)
The Safety Management Policy is the foundational documented commitment of an aviation organization's Accountable Manager to managing safety — the first of the four SMS components defined in ICAO Annex 19 (Second Edition, Amendment 1, 2018) and ICAO Doc 9859 (Safety Management Manual, Fourth Edition, 2018).
Safety Management System (SMS)
A Safety Management System (SMS) is a systematic, organization-wide approach to managing safety risks in aviation, encompassing policy, risk assessment, assurance, and promotion activities.
Safety Performance Indicator (SPI)
A Safety Performance Indicator (SPI) is a measurable parameter — defined under ICAO Annex 19 and codified in EASA SMS rules and FAA SMS guidance — that an organization uses to monitor and assess its safety performance against agreed Safety Performance Targets (SPTs).
Safety Promotion (SMS Pillar 4)
Safety Promotion is the fourth SMS pillar under ICAO Annex 19 (Second Edition, Amendment 1, 2018) and ICAO Doc 9859 (Fourth Edition, 2018): the training, communication, and organizational culture activities that make the SMS operational throughout the workforce.
Safety Risk Assessment (SRA)
A Safety Risk Assessment (SRA) is the formal documented process within SMS Pillar 2 (Safety Risk Management) that takes each identified hazard through severity and likelihood analysis, assigns a composite risk index against an organization-defined acceptability matrix, selects risk controls, and documents residual risk — mandated by ICAO Annex 19 Appendix 2, ICAO Doc 9859 (Fourth Edition), EASA Part-ORO ORO.GEN.200(a)(3), and FAA 14 CFR Part 5 §§5.51–5.53.
Service Difficulty Report (SDR)
A Service Difficulty Report (SDR) is the mandatory safety report required under 14 CFR §21.3 when type certificate holders, design approval holders, FAA Part 145 repair stations, and Part 121/135/125 air carriers discover certain failures, malfunctions, or defects in aviation products in service.
SPO (Specialised Operations)
SPO stands for Specialised Operations under EASA regulations, covering commercial aviation activities other than air transport — including aerial work, HEMS, and other mission-specific flying.
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC)
A Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) is an FAA approval document under 14 CFR §21.113 for a major change to an aircraft type design not proposed by the original type certificate holder.
T
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR)
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is a regulatory notice under 14 CFR Part 91 that prohibits or restricts flight operations within a defined volume of airspace for a limited time, published via NOTAM and enforceable by FAA certificate action or federal prosecution.
Training Course Outline (TCO)
A Training Course Outline (TCO) is a detailed, FAA-approved document that defines the curriculum, lesson sequence, training hours, and completion standards for each course offered by a Part 141 flight school.
TSA Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP)
The TSA Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP) is a US Transportation Security Administration program that requires non-US citizens and non-resident aliens to undergo security vetting before beginning flight training at US flight schools.
TSA Security Awareness Training
TSA Security Awareness Training is the recurrent training required under 49 CFR 1552.23 for flight school employees who have direct contact with flight students, ensuring they can identify and report behavior or activity that may indicate a security threat — distinct from, but layered with, the FTSP/AFSP vetting requirements.
Type Certificate
A Type Certificate is an official document issued by an aviation authority certifying that a specific aircraft, engine, or propeller design meets all applicable airworthiness standards.