FAA Tweaks Designee Software Policies: Aviation Bureaucracy Gets a Digital Facelift
Published Date: 11/24/2025
Notice
Summary
The FAA is updating how it manages individual designees by switching from an old registration system to a new, smarter Designee Management System (DMS). This change makes tracking training, digital signatures, and oversight easier and more automated for those involved. If you work with or manage designees, check out the draft and send your comments by January 23, 2026—no big costs, just smoother processes ahead!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Automatic suspension for incomplete training
Draft Change 1 would establish automatic suspension and reinstatement procedures tied to training compliance in DMS and would require designees to submit training certificates through DMS. The draft also establishes suspension protocols for incomplete training.
Changes to oversight interval algorithm
Draft Change 1 would change the algorithm for determining the frequency of direct observation oversight intervals required of Flight Standards managing specialists and would revise how those intervals are determined across several designee policy volumes.
Moves designee records into DMS
The FAA would move from the Designee Registration System to the Designee Management System (DMS), requiring designees to use DMS for registering, enrolling, and submitting training certificates and for tracking and recording training completions. The change is stated to align Order 8000.95 with DMS workflows and affect all individual designee types.
Digital signatures and early preapprovals
The draft would establish digital signature provisions and provide for early preapprovals to improve process efficiency, aligning Order 8000.95 with DMS tool features.
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