Avionics News May 2013 - 16

F R O M
R I C
P E R I
A EA V I C E P R ES I D E N T O F G OV E R N M E N T & I N D U ST RY A F FA I RS

The Aircraft Electronics Association’s international membership continues to grow. Currently, the AEA represents
avionics businesses in more than 40 countries throughout the world. To better serve the needs of the AEA’s
international membership, the “International News and Regulatory Updates” section of Avionics News offers a
greater focus on international regulatory activity, international industry news and an international “Frequently
Asked Questions” column to help promote standardization. If you have comments about this section, send
emails to avionicsnews@aea.net.

UNITED STATES

News & Regulatory Updates
FAA Amends Order 8900.1
To answer customer questions regarding aviation
weather products, this Federal Aviation Administration
order is a good source for easily read information.
On March 12, 2013, the FAA amended FAA Order
8900.1 with change 253 that affects Volume 3, Chapter
26 on aviation weather regulatory requirements.
Section 2 addresses regulatory sources of aviation
weather information and aviation weather information
systems for Parts 91K, 121 and 135 operations. This
section focuses on the aviation weather sources that
are either specified by regulation or subject to approval
by the administrator. The information in this section
is applicable to all Title 14 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) Parts 91 subpart K (Part 91K),
121 and 135 operations, except where otherwise noted.
Paragraph 3-2074 of this section discusses the sources
for aviation weather forecasts by regulatory part.
For the purpose of this order, a primary weather
product is one that meets the pertinent 14 CFR regulatory requirements for aviation weather. These
products may be used to control flight movements
(operations). Certificate holders and program man16

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agers must use primary weather products for all
operational decision-making. Examples of primary
weather products include, but are not limited to:
• Weather reports and forecasts prepared by
the National Weather Service or a source
approved by the NWS.
• Weather reports and forecasts prepared by
FAA-approved adverse weather phenomena
reporting and forecast system.
• Weather reports and forecasts issued by an
FAA-approved enhanced weather information system.
• And weather reports and forecasts approved
for use by the administrator, in accordance
with Part 91, § 91.1039(a)(1); Part 121,
§§ 121.101(b)(2) and 121.119(a); and Part
135, § 135.213(a), as applicable.
Note: Certificate holders and program managers are
allowed by regulation to use primary weather products
provided by the NWS or a source approved by the NWS.
Certificate holders/program managers may only use primary weather products produced by an EWINS, adverse
weather phenomena reporting and forecast system, or by
any other source subject to approval by the administrator,
when specifically authorized in operations specification
(OpSpec) or management specification (MSpec) A010,
aviation weather information.
For the purpose of this order, a supplementary weather

Avionics News May 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News May 2013