According to AOPA, the current government shutdown affects the following FAA services:

• The FAA Registry remains open.
• Airman medical certification is shut down for the issuance of new medical certificates, but “aviation medical examiners may still issue certificates to qualified pilots at the time of a regular FAA physical exam.”
• The FAA Aeronautical Central Counsel office, responsible for issuing legal interpretations and opinions, is closed.
• The FAA Academy in Oklahoma City (ATC training) is closed.
• All FSDOs (Flight Standards District Offices) are closed.
• FAA practical tests which do not require prior approval may take place if provided by designees.
• FAA Knowledge Tests will be problematic as the third-party testing centers (which are open) will be unable to connect with FAA data systems (which are closed.)
• CBP (Customs and Border Protection) overtime hours are limited, which means pilots wishing to utilize these services after hours may be affected.

For more, visit AOPA.

(News release from FSANA)

News – Airman Practical Testing May Continue during Government Shutdown when conducted by Designees

12-24-2018 – FSANA is sending this notification out on the Eve of Christmas in response to reports from multiple locations around the country that Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) have indicated either confusion about current policy or have been told that they may not continue conducting FAA Airman Practical Tests during the current U.S. Government shutdown.

In contact that FSANA leadership has had with senior FAA staff it has been indicated that the FAA “in no way desires to stop the conduct of airman practical tests by DPEs during the government shutdown” and that DPEs may continue to conduct practical tests if they are normally authorized to do so in absence of prior approval required by their managing office.

This may seem slightly confusing, but in some cases, for specialty tests, when DPEs are due for yearly recurrency oversight, or for DPEs who are newly designated or on probationary status, explicit approval and/or oversight is required for them to conduct a practical test. For DPEs who normally are able to act no stoppage of their activities is required. It should be noted that there is a difference between the notification of activity requirement that DPEs must provide their managing office prior to acting and requirement of approval prior to action.

We all hope that this government shutdown is able to be remedied quickly, but in the interim, FSANA felt it critical to convey this important information so that any question about the continued provision of airman practical tests by DPEs is clearly stated. Airman practical tests are allowed to continue as normally provided during the government shutdown. 

Wrong surface landings are serious events that occur at an alarming rate of roughly one every other day. FAA data shows that 85% of wrong surface landings involved General Aviation aircraft, and 89% of those events occurred during daytime hours – and VFR weather.

Our friend Russ Roslewski, who is a subject matter expert in instrument procedure design and analysis, shares this news:

“In the near future you will not be seeing any more VOR/DME or LOC/DME or anything /DME procedures in the U.S. In fact, it’s already started, but beginning with the 5/24/18 chart cycle, even more changes will take place. These changes could all be grouped under the heading “Equipment Requirements Notes”.

http://cfiruss.blogspot.com/2018/05/goodbye-dme-hello-equipment.html

An example. Old style:

New style:

For further details, head over to cfiruss.blogspot.com.