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The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have finalised an agreement on new Simulator Implementation Procedures (SIP) for the evaluation and acceptance of each other’s systems and standards for Full Flight Simulators (FFS).

The new procedure repeals and replaces an earlier version agreed in October 2005 and updates the terms and conditions under which the CAA and FAA can accept each other’s evaluations of FFS for findings of compliance with FAA Simulator Standards and CAA Simulator Standards, reducing the regulatory burden on businesses without compromising on aviation safety.

In practice in the UK, the CAA can now provide recommendations to the FAA on its behalf for qualification, renewal, and amendment of the qualification for Full Flight Simulators located in the UK, as well as performing surveillance and providing reports on the continued compliance of SIPs.

Editor’s notes:

  • A copy of the Simulator Implementation Procedures can be viewed on our CAA International Cooperation
  • The SIP’s foundational purpose, to permit the FAA and the CAA to accept each other's evaluations of Full Flight Simulators for findings of compliance, remains unchanged.