Notes on class status and FAA data: approved vs accepted

Class status and scheduling

  • Verify class today and next Wednesday/Thursday.

Task: FAA definitions of approved data vs accepted data

  • Primary task: Google "approved data" and "accepted data" FAA definitions.
  • Provide an example of each.
  • Be prepared for follow-up questions.
What is approved data (FAA perspective)
  • Definition: Formally approved by the FAA for regulatory use in flight operations, procedures, or performance.
  • Characteristic features: Officially vetted, authorized for regulatory compliance, part of FAA publications or approved manuals.
  • Examples: Official IFR approach procedures, FAA-approved performance charts in Flight Manuals/POH, ARINC 424 compliant navigation data.
What is accepted data (FAA perspective)
  • Definition: Data the FAA accepts for use in a given context, not formally "approved"; acceptance can be conditional or program-specific.
  • Characteristic features: From third-party or internal sources, reviewed and accepted for particular operations under specific conditions or programs.
  • Examples: Third-party vendor data accepted for an operator’s certification, internal operator performance data accepted for specific flight planning, data accepted for training materials.
How to find and verify these definitions
  • Search terms: "FAA approved data definition", "FAA accepted data definition", "FAA approved data vs accepted data", "+site:faa.gov".
  • Sources: FAA Advisory Circulars (ACs), FAA Orders and Procedures (e.g., Order 8400 series), Manufacturer Flight Manuals.
Why this distinction matters
  • Safety & Compliance: Ensures regulatory adherence and safe operations.
  • Regulatory risk: Prevents compliance issues from using unapproved data.
  • Academic relevance: Crucial for exams and real-world aviation.
Examples recap (for quick reference)
  • Approved data: FAA-approved approach charts, official flight manual performance data.
  • Accepted data: Third-party performance data reviewed and accepted by FAA for a specific program/operation.

Additional notes and next steps

  • Remainder of content covered next week. Review definitions for class.

Quick reminders

  • Confirm class status. Have exact FAA definitions and examples with citations.