Documenting the Authorization and Surveillance of a Simulator Component Inoperative Guide Program

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION N 8900.769

NOTICE

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Effective Date: 2/23/26 National Policy Cancellation Date: 2/23/27 SUBJ: Documenting the Authorization and Surveillance of a Simulator Component Inoperative Guide Program 1. Purpose of This Notice. This notice provides guidance and instruction to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Operations inspectors on documenting the authorization and surveillance of a Simulator Component Inoperative Guide (SCIG) program. This notice contains guidance that is pertinent to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) § 142.59(d).

2. Associated Guidance. FAA Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 54, Section 8, Title 14 CFR Part 142 Training Centers: Evaluate a Request for the Authorization to Operate FSTDs With a Simulator Component Inoperative Guide, is being published at the same time as this notice.

3. Audience. The primary audience for this notice is Operations inspectors responsible for the authorization and surveillance of an SCIG program, Training Center Program Managers (TCPM), and Fleet Training Program Managers (FTPM). The secondary audience includes personnel in all Flight Standards (FS) divisions and offices.

4. Where You Can Find This Notice. You can find this notice on the MyFAA employee website at https://employees.faa.gov/tools_resources/orders_notices and the Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS) at https://drs.faa.gov . Operators and the public can find this notice on the FAA’s website at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_notices and DRS.

5. Background. Regulations define the standards for qualification, approval, and the continued use of flight simulation training devices (FSTD). Title 14 CFR part 142, published in 1996, addresses operational requirements of FSTDs. In 2006, the publication of 14 CFR part 60 created a baseline qualification standard and several common operational requirements but did not replace operational requirements found in 14 CFR part 142 and other parts. FSTDs must adhere to their respective operational parts and 14 CFR part 60. For training centers, adherence to both 14 CFR parts 60 and 142 is necessary. Previous guidance available to TCPMs did not detail the process and procedures for the authorization and surveillance of an SCIG program. The FAA is publishing Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 54, Section 8 simultaneously with this notice to resolve this issue.

6. Discussion. The authorization of an SCIG provides a means for a 14 CFR part 142 training center to utilize an FSTD with missing, malfunctioning, or inoperative (MMI) components (“discrepancies”) in accordance with regulatory requirements. Although Order 8900.1, Distribution: Electronic Only Initiated By: AFS-200

2/23/26 N 8900.769 Volume 3, Chapter 54, Section 8 has been published at the same time as this notice, Data Collection Tool (DCT) questions associated with that guidance will not be published until after March 31, 2026. Until the DCTs become available, the TCPM should follow the guidance contained in this notice.

7. Action. TCPMs should review all 14 CFR part 142 training centers’ programs to determine if they already have an SCIG program or similar program in place.

a. Safety Assurance System (SAS) Activity Recording (AR). The TCPM should open one of the following SAS AR records: • Activity Code 1372, Technical/Admin/Agency/MEL-Simulator Component Inoperative Guide Initial Approval, for authorization; • Activity Code 1373, Technical/Admin/Agency/MEL-Simulator Component Inoperative Guide Revision Approval, for revision; or • Activity Code 1654, Surveillance/Agency/Simulator-FTD Document, for surveillance.

b. Job Aid. The TCPM should obtain a copy of the Authorization and Surveillance of a Simulator Component Inoperative Guide (SCIG) Job Aid on the Training and Simulation Group’s (AFS-280) Part 142 Training Centers web page at https://www.faa.gov/pilots/training/p art_142 . Before closing the SAS AR record, a copy of the completed job aid should be uploaded as an attachment. SAS AR records should no longer be used after March 31, 2026, the date which the DCT questions will be published.

c. Evaluation. TCPMs must evaluate a training center’s SCIG program utilizing the guidance found in Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 54, Section 8 and associated regulations. If the TCPM determines that the SCIG program is acceptable, the TCPM shall issue Training Specification (TSpec) D096, Simulator Component Inoperative Guide Authorization.

d. Updates Required. If the training center’s program does not meet applicable regulatory requirements, the TCPM must populate the “NATIONAL” field with “SCIG” (without the quotations) in activity code 1372 and keep the SAS AR record open until the training center’s program has met all requirements. The TCPM may provide the training center up to 12 months from the date the TCPM notifies the training center of the need for updates to make the necessary changes and receive approval. If a training center is unable to make updates within the initial 12 months, the training center may request an extension of up to 12 months from the TCPM. The TCPM must request and receive Air Transportation Division (AFS-200) concurrence before granting an extension. All extension requests should be sent to AFS-200 at 9-AFS-200-Correspondence@faa.gov.

2/23/26 N 8900.769 8. Disposition. We will incorporate the information in this notice into Order 8900.1 before this notice expires. Direct questions or comments concerning the information in this notice to AFS-200 at 202-267-8166 or 9-AFS-200-Correspondence@faa.gov.

Robert Reckert for Hugh Thomas Acting Executive Director, Flight Standards Service