Useful regulatory websites
It’s very important and can be somewhat challenging to maintain full regulatory compliance. It’s not always that an operator doesn’t want to comply, it’s that they don’t know where to begin to look for information to know what they must comply with. Operating safely goes far beyond maintaining regulatory compliance. One way of looking at regulations would be to compare the regulations to a minimum speed sign on the highway. There are some places that will state minimum speed and also the maximum speed. Regulations by themselves are equivalent to the minimum speed. They are the least you need to comply with to operate at a reasonably safe level. To go above and beyond, there are other guidance materials available to you to help guide and design ways of operating to the highest level of safety permissible.
Do not misunderstand regulations being the minimum level of safety. You can operate to the minimum requirements, which should be to comply with all regulatory requirements and still be reasonably safe. Operators have the opportunity to go above and beyond the minimum regulatory compliance and reference guidance to learn methods and practices for maintaining and/or exceeding regulatory requirements.
On this page, you will find the top-level website of various aviation regulations and guidance, as well as many other useful webpages.
14 CFR – Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (Aeronautics and Space)
49 CFR – Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (Transportation)
ACOB – Air Carrier Operations Bulletin
AC – Advisory Circulars (Cabin Safety) Advisory Circulars (Main via RGL) Advisory Circulars (All)
CAMI – Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
FAA – AM – FAA Office of Aviation Medicine Reports
FAA Registry – N-Number Inquiry
FAR – Federal Aviation Regulations & Regulation Exemption Search & Regulation Exemptions on RGL
FSIMS – Flight Standards Information Management System
INFO – Information For Operators
MMEL – Master Minimum Equipment List
MMEL Policy Letters FSIMS MMEL Policy Letters
RGL – Regulatory Guidance Library and Regulatory Guidance Library (CFR Final Rules)
SAFO – Safety Alerts For Operators
SSI – Sensitive Security Information (Protection of – Part 15) (Protection of – Part 1520)
STC – Supplemental Type Certificate or Supplemental Type Certificate on RGL
TCDS – Type Certificate Data Sheets
TSO – Technical Standard Order or TSO’s on faa.gov or Cabin Safety Technical Standard Orders
USC – United States Code (Titles)
System Safety – FAA System Safety Handbook
DOT Industry Letters – Guidance Regarding Aviation Rules and Statute
FAA Resources
Airline Certificate Information
Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP)
Aviation Safety & Health Program (ASHP)
Equivalent Levels of Safety Findings
Fire and Cabin Safety Research
Hazardous Materials – Airline Operations
Hazardous Materials – Passengers and Crew
Hazardous Materials – Regulations and Policies
Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL)
Master Minimum Equipment (MMEL) Policy Letters
Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
NPRM – Proposed and Final Rules
Recently Published Rulemaking Documents
Safety Management Systems – Policy and Requirements
Safety Management System – Training
Other Federal Agencies
Aviation Safety Reporting System (NASA)
CDC – Infection Control Guidelines for Cabin Crew Members on Commercial Aircraft
Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Guide
NTSB Safety Study: Emergency Evacuation of Commercial Airplanes
PHMSA – Hazardous Materials Safety
PHMSA – Hazmat Training Program Guide