FAA Rolls Out Mandatory Ethics Training for Aviation Teams
Published Date: 3/4/2026
Notice
Summary
The FAA is rolling out new ethics training for all Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) holders and their team members. Everyone must complete this training within 60 days of joining and then every year to keep things honest and fair. This change comes from a 2024 law and means ODA groups need to set up and run these training programs soon—no extra fees mentioned, just a fresh focus on doing the right thing!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 5 costs, 0 mixed.
Miss training and you lose ODA privileges
If an ODA unit member does not complete the required ethics training within 60 business days after the OMT approves the ODA's revised Procedures Manual incorporating the ethics training, that unit member may not exercise the delegated functions and responsibilities under the ODA until they complete the training.
Mandatory ethics training for ODA staff
If your organization is an ODA holder, you must have a recurrent ethics training program reviewed by the FAA. All ODA unit members and administrators must complete ethics training within 60 days of appointment and then complete ethics training annually (i.e., within the previous 12 months) to continue exercising delegated functions.
No FAA standardized or transferable training
The FAA will not provide one standard ethics course for all ODA holders, and ethics training completed for one ODA holder will not satisfy the requirement for another ODA holder. Each ODA holder must provide training that covers that holder's own procedures.
Training frequency increased to annual
The notice changes certain ethics training that was previously required once every two years to an annual requirement. FAA Order 8100.15B and Notice N 8100.19 required some items biennially; Notice N 8100.20 requires those items be completed annually (within the previous 12 months).
Specific content and reporting requirements
ODA holders' ethics training must promote understanding of Safety Management Systems and address the third edition of the ICAO Safety Management Manual (Doc 9859) or successor editions. The Notice also references the applicable reporting requirements in 14 CFR 183.63 and 14 CFR 183.65 for training on reporting safety concerns.
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