AviationManuals, which provides aircraft manual development services and safety management system (SMS) software for business aviation, has released a free guide to help operators understand requirements for FAA Letter of Authorization (LOA) applications. The guide includes an easy-to-read chart that outlines which LOAs are required or recommended based on flight parameters and geographic areas of flight.

Further, it provides approximate LOA application turnaround times at the FAA, as well as key elements to remember when submitting an application. The FAA issues LOAs to allow an operator to engage in a specific flight activity that requires authorization. While the agency requires only a few LOAs for domestic operations, several other countries require a broader list of authorizations to conduct certain operations in their airspace.

“Knowing which LOAs are required and successfully applying for them can be daunting for pilots and operators. Miscalculating approval times, or not having the right LOAs, can have negative operational consequences and can be costly,” said AviationManuals CEO Mark Baier. “We wanted to create a free resource that outlines requirements and the application process so operators can more easily ensure they have the LOAs they need.”