Federal Aviation Administration Order 7110.65

Federal Aviation Administration Order 7110.65
Name	Federal Aviation Administration Order 7110.65
Jurisdiction	United States
Agency	Federal Aviation Administration
Formed	1960s

Federal Aviation Administration Order 7110.65 is the primary internal directive issued by the Federal Aviation Administration that prescribes air traffic control procedures and phraseology used within the National Airspace System. It guides controllers working in towers, terminal radar approach control facilities, and en route centers, aligning operational practice with statutory mandates and international standards. The Order interfaces with rulemaking by the Transportation Security Administration and legislative oversight from the United States Congress, while coordinating with international organizations.

Overview

The Order serves as the authoritative manual for air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration, connecting operational detail to broader frameworks such as the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United States Department of Transportation, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Federal Communications Commission. It establishes standard phraseology similar to guidance from the Eurocontrol and the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom), and it harmonizes procedures that affect facilities like the John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Denver International Airport, and Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The Order is referenced in manuals used by the Air Traffic Control Association and training curricula at institutions such as the Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University and the United States Air Force Academy.

History and Revisions

The Order evolved from earlier Federal Aviation Administration directives originating after the establishment of the Federal Aviation Administration in 1958 and subsequent reorganizations under presidents including Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson. Revisions have been influenced by major events and investigations such as the 1977 Tenerife disaster, the 1986 Cerritos midair collision investigation, and reports by the National Transportation Safety Board, as well as technological milestones like the implementation of En Route Automation Modernization and NextGen (FAA) initiatives. Legislative actions including the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act and the Airline Deregulation Act shaped operational needs, while incidents such as the 2009 Hudson River landing informed procedural refinement. Periodic amendments reflect input from unions like the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and advisory committees including the RTCA, Inc..

Structure and Content

The Order is organized into chapters, paragraphs, and subparagraphs that mirror regulatory formats used by the Code of Federal Regulations, the Federal Register, and guidance from the International Civil Aviation Organization. Content covers phraseology, separation standards, flight following, coordination, traffic advisories, and emergency procedures that apply in environments such as Terminal Radar Approach Control facilities and Air Route Traffic Control Centers including those serving New York Air Route Traffic Control Center, Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center, and Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center. The manual cross-references technical publications like the Aeronautical Information Manual, the Airman Certification Standards, and equipment specifications from manufacturers including Boeing, Airbus, and avionics firms such as Honeywell Aerospace.

Operational Procedures and Phraseology

Operational directives prescribe phraseology used on frequencies assigned by the Federal Communications Commission and interoperability requirements relevant to air carriers such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. Procedures govern separation minima derived from radar standards used in facilities coordinating with approaches at airports like San Francisco International Airport and Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, and include emergency protocols comparable to those practiced during incidents such as the September 11 attacks response and the Miracle on the Hudson. The Order defines coordination steps for pilot deviations, lost communications, and special use airspace managed alongside entities like the Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards Service and the National Guard.

Implementation and Compliance

Implementation relies on training programs at centers like the FAA Academy and oversight mechanisms involving the Office of Inspector General (United States Department of Transportation), the National Transportation Safety Board, and congressional committees such as the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Compliance is monitored through facility evaluations, quality assurance teams, and technology audits tied to projects such as Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast and Controller–Pilot Data Link Communications. Labor agreements with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and policies influenced by federal labor statutes affect rollout timelines at terminals including Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Criticisms and Incidents

Criticism of the Order has arisen in contexts including controller workload disputes brought before the National Labor Relations Board, high-profile delays at hubs like LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, and accident investigations such as those conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board into midair collisions and runway incursions. Incidents involving air traffic control phraseology or procedure have provoked congressional hearings before lawmakers such as members of the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and revisions informed by advocacy groups including Families of Pan Am Flight 103 survivors and safety NGOs like Flight Safety Foundation.

Related Documents and Guidance

Associated publications include the Aeronautical Information Manual, the Code of Federal Regulations Title 14, advisory circulars from the Federal Aviation Administration such as guidance on unmanned aircraft systems affecting entities like DJI, interoperability standards from RTCA, Inc., and international standards from the International Civil Aviation Organization and Eurocontrol. The Order interfaces with military directives, including those from the United States Air Force and the United States Navy, and with airport operations manuals from authorities like the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Category:United States aviation law Category:Federal Aviation Administration