Glossary

LOA

Letter of Authorization: FAA authorization for a Part 91 operator to conduct a specific operation (e.g., RVSM B046, data link A056).

OpSpecs

Operations Specifications: the authorizations, limitations and procedures issued to a Part 135/121/125 certificate holder.

MSpecs

Management Specifications: the Part 91K equivalent of OpSpecs, issued to fractional ownership program managers.

MEL

Minimum Equipment List: operator-specific list, derived from the MMEL, of equipment that may be inoperative for dispatch.

MMEL

Master Minimum Equipment List: the FAA-approved list for an aircraft type, from which an MEL is built.

DCT

Data Collection Tool: the Safety Assurance System question sets FAA inspectors use to evaluate an operator's submissions.

SAS

Safety Assurance System: the FAA's oversight system for certificate holders, built around DCTs.

FSDO

Flight Standards District Office: the local FAA office that receives most operator submissions.

ASOC / TSOC / PSOC

Aircraft / Training / Procedures Statements of Compliance used in the streamlined Part 91 LOA process.

Truth-in-leasing (14 CFR 91.23)

Requirements for leases of large U.S.-registered aircraft, including the Registry copy and FSDO notice.

HAA

Helicopter Air Ambulance operations under Part 135 subpart L.

Part 133

Rotorcraft external-load operations.

Part 137

Agricultural aircraft operations.

RVSM

Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum: 1,000-ft separation FL290-FL410; requires aircraft approval and operator authorization (B046 LOA for Part 91).

AC

Advisory Circular: FAA guidance describing an acceptable (not the only) means of compliance.

8900.1

FAA Order 8900.1, the Flight Standards Information Management System: inspector guidance.

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