NTSB Issues Recitation A-12-031 to FAA Regarding Flight Test Pilot Assistance

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued recitation DCA12SS005, designated as A-12-031, addressed directly to the Federal Aviation Administration. This formal recommendation urges the agency to revise Federal Aviation Administration Order 8130.2G and any related guidance or regulations. The primary objective is to clarify the specific circumstances under which a second qualified pilot may be authorized to assist in the performance of flight tests. This authorization would apply when such assistance is explicitly specified in the flight test plan and falls within Phase I operating limitations. The recitation aims to provide clearer regulatory boundaries for these operational scenarios.