The FAA has issued draft Advisory Circular AC 120-FPM to provide guidance and recommended practices for operational procedures and training to assure the intended guidance and control of aircraft trajectory and energy. Known as flightpath management (FPM), this includes manual flight operations, managing automated systems, pilot monitoring, and energy management in flight or on the ground.
Although this AC is directed towards meeting the regulatory requirements of Part 121 and 135 certificate holders, as well as Part 142 training centers, the FAA “encourages all training providers and operators to consider this guidance as applicable to the type of airplane, operational environment, and pilot demographics in which training or operations are conducted. This guidance may also be helpful for avionics and aircraft manufacturers designing equipment and systems used by pilots to manage the aircraft flightpath.”
Information in this AC stems from the FAA’s air carrier training aviation rulemaking committee, established in 2014 to provide a forum for the aviation community to discuss, prioritize, and provide recommendations to the agency concerning operations conducted under parts 121, 135, and 142. Over the ensuing period, some 65 recommendations have been made.
A feedback form on the last page of this AC requests readers to comment on any deficiencies found, clarifications needed, or suggested improvements.