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A.C. R. A.A.C. R. A.Airman Certification and/or Airman Certification and/or

Rating ApplicationRating ApplicationUpdateUpdate

January 29, 2003January 29, 2003

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ACRA TRAININGACRA TRAINING

Provided By:Provided By:

Dave FosdickDave Fosdick, FAA, FAAProgram ManagerProgram ManagerWashington, Washington, DC DC

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What is ACRA?What is ACRA? AAirman irman CCertification and/or ertification and/or RRating ating

AApplicationpplication Computer software written specifically to Computer software written specifically to

process applications for airman certificates.process applications for airman certificates. Program provides integrity checks to ensure Program provides integrity checks to ensure

regulatory and policy requirements are met regulatory and policy requirements are met before generating certification documents.before generating certification documents.

Prints error-free certification documents: Prints error-free certification documents: Temporary Airman Certificate (FAA Form 8060-4), Notice of Temporary Airman Certificate (FAA Form 8060-4), Notice of Disapproval of Application, Letter of Discontinuance, 8710-1, Disapproval of Application, Letter of Discontinuance, 8710-1, 8610, etc.8610, etc.

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Whose Using ACRA?Whose Using ACRA?

Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI)Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI) Aircrew Program Managers (APM)Aircrew Program Managers (APM) Training Center Program Managers (TCPM)Training Center Program Managers (TCPM) Aviation Safety Technicians (AST)Aviation Safety Technicians (AST) Designated Examiners (DPE, DME, Etc.)Designated Examiners (DPE, DME, Etc.) Airman Certification Representatives (ACR)Airman Certification Representatives (ACR)

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What Certificates Can What Certificates Can ACRA Issue?ACRA Issue?

Airline Transport Pilot Airline Transport Pilot

Commercial PilotCommercial Pilot Private Pilot Private Pilot Recreational PilotRecreational Pilot Certified Flight Certified Flight

InstructorInstructor Student PilotStudent Pilot Instrument RatingInstrument Rating Certificate ReissueCertificate Reissue

Type RatingsType Ratings Ground InstructorGround Instructor Flight EngineerFlight Engineer Aircraft DispatcherAircraft Dispatcher Flight NavigatorFlight Navigator Medical Flight Test*Medical Flight Test* Emergency Field Emergency Field

IssuanceIssuance Change of AddressChange of Address

Operations

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What Certificates Can What Certificates Can ACRA Issue?ACRA Issue?

Airworthiness Mechanic Mechanic Inspection Authorization*Inspection Authorization* Parachute RiggerParachute Rigger Repairman*Repairman*

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Hardware RequirementsHardware Requirements

MS Windows 98, NT 4.0 (svc pack 6), or XP MS Windows 98, NT 4.0 (svc pack 6), or XP 32 MB of RAM32 MB of RAM Internet Explorer 4.0Internet Explorer 4.0 20 MB hard drive space20 MB hard drive space Modem & Internet ConnectivityModem & Internet Connectivity Pentium Processor 166 Mhz or higherPentium Processor 166 Mhz or higher CD ROM DriveCD ROM Drive Color Monitor with 800x600 ResolutionColor Monitor with 800x600 Resolution Ink Jet or Laser PrinterInk Jet or Laser Printer MDAC (Version 2.6 or higher)MDAC (Version 2.6 or higher)

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How Do I Get Started?How Do I Get Started?

Obtain The ACRA Program On CD ROM.Obtain The ACRA Program On CD ROM. Obtain & Complete Registration Form.Obtain & Complete Registration Form. Register With ACRA Help Desk.Register With ACRA Help Desk. Obtain User Access Combination.Obtain User Access Combination. Complete Certifying Officer Info Under. Complete Certifying Officer Info Under.

SETUP in ACRA.SETUP in ACRA. Select Training Mode Under SETUP.Select Training Mode Under SETUP. PRACTICE Making & Printing Some PRACTICE Making & Printing Some

Certification Files Until Comfortable.Certification Files Until Comfortable.

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ACRA OverviewACRA Overview

ACRA is designed to improve the ACRA is designed to improve the airman certification process through airman certification process through the use of software validation checks the use of software validation checks resulting in automatic generation of resulting in automatic generation of the appropriate documents and the appropriate documents and associated Program Tracking/Reporting associated Program Tracking/Reporting System (PTRS) records.System (PTRS) records.

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ACRA SOFTWAREACRA SOFTWARE

Latest approved version (v2.04)Latest approved version (v2.04)No longer supports modem uploads to No longer supports modem uploads to

OKC.OKC.

Development and Testing Team: Development and Testing Team: – Flight Standards ServiceFlight Standards Service– Office of Information TechnologyOffice of Information Technology– Office of Information ServicesOffice of Information Services– Various FSDOs, & Flight SchoolsVarious FSDOs, & Flight Schools

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What can ACRA do for What can ACRA do for you?you?

Checks regulatory/policy requirements.Checks regulatory/policy requirements. Prints all required certification documents.Prints all required certification documents. Prints PTRS records.Prints PTRS records. Stores duplicate certification records.Stores duplicate certification records. Reduces number of rejected applications.Reduces number of rejected applications. Reduces review process and turnaround Reduces review process and turnaround

time.time. Allows Designated Examiners to send Allows Designated Examiners to send

applications directly to the Registry.applications directly to the Registry.

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ACRA in the future?ACRA in the future?

Digital signatureDigital signature

Paperless process - Internet AccessPaperless process - Internet Access– Planned Implementation - Sepetember 2003Planned Implementation - Sepetember 2003

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Where to send Where to send Certification File?Certification File?

PTRS Records must be mailed to FSDO.PTRS Records must be mailed to FSDO. Certification documents mailed to OKC.Certification documents mailed to OKC.

– Exception: Initial CFI documents must be sent to Exception: Initial CFI documents must be sent to FSDO.FSDO.

Completed files must be mailed to OKC within Completed files must be mailed to OKC within 5 working days of completion of examination. 5 working days of completion of examination.

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Back up Certification FilesBack up Certification Files

To ensure that computerized records To ensure that computerized records are maintained, always backup your are maintained, always backup your files - weekly.files - weekly.

Use the Archive Tool under UTILITY on Use the Archive Tool under UTILITY on the ACRA tool bar to save files to an the ACRA tool bar to save files to an alternate storage medium.alternate storage medium.

Always backup your records prior to Always backup your records prior to installing a new version, update, patch, installing a new version, update, patch, or reinstalling the program.or reinstalling the program.

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Will I Have Problems?Will I Have Problems?

ACRA software is good but it’s not yet ACRA software is good but it’s not yet fully perfected. fully perfected.

The more examiners who use it and The more examiners who use it and report errors the quicker it will become report errors the quicker it will become extremely reliable.extremely reliable.

What should I do when I have a problem?What should I do when I have a problem?

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Investigating an ErrorInvestigating an Error

Call Support Hotline - (800) 842-8736, Call Support Hotline - (800) 842-8736, Extensions 77724 or 79991.Extensions 77724 or 79991. Internet Email: Internet Email: 9-AWA-AFS-9-AWA-AFS-ACRAPROB@faa.gov.ACRAPROB@faa.gov. Check the Help Menu.Check the Help Menu. Check ACRA website http://acra.faa.gov Check ACRA website http://acra.faa.gov for a patch or upgrade.for a patch or upgrade.

– Patches/bug fixes should be released over Patches/bug fixes should be released over ACRA web site beginning February 2003.ACRA web site beginning February 2003.

The Problem Must Be Duplicated To Reach AThe Problem Must Be Duplicated To Reach A Solution!Solution!

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Report an Error Report an Error (Information Required)(Information Required) Description of the problem.Description of the problem. Actual error message displayed by ACRA.Actual error message displayed by ACRA. The path taken during the application:The path taken during the application:

– Certificate type sought (ATP, commercial, etc.)Certificate type sought (ATP, commercial, etc.)– Rating(s) soughtRating(s) sought– Type of Application (Restricted/Unrestricted)Type of Application (Restricted/Unrestricted)– Basis of Application (Course/Test Completion)Basis of Application (Course/Test Completion)– Type of Issuance (Original/Additional)Type of Issuance (Original/Additional)– Current certificate information heldCurrent certificate information held

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ACRA PrintingACRA Printing

Water-marked paper is available for Water-marked paper is available for laser/ink-jet printers.laser/ink-jet printers.

– Available from FSDO or ACRA Help Desk.Available from FSDO or ACRA Help Desk. Most printers are recognized by ACRA. Most printers are recognized by ACRA.

– MDAC – Windows 98 (MS Printer Utility included MDAC – Windows 98 (MS Printer Utility included on ACRA Disk) may solve some printer on ACRA Disk) may solve some printer problems.problems.

Report Problems To The ACRA Support Hotline.Report Problems To The ACRA Support Hotline.

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ACRA HelpACRA Help Most screens contain a Help ButtonMost screens contain a Help Button

– Pulls up Help for the current screenPulls up Help for the current screen

Access Help on the ACRA tool bar then Access Help on the ACRA tool bar then select CONTENTS.select CONTENTS.

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ACRA Web SiteACRA Web Site Internet Address: Internet Address:

– http://acra.faa.govhttp://acra.faa.gov Contains:Contains:

– History of ACRAHistory of ACRA– ACRA User’s ManualACRA User’s Manual– Contact InformationContact Information– FAQsFAQs– Release NotesRelease Notes– Patches / Bug Fixes - February 2003Patches / Bug Fixes - February 2003

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Function KeysFunction Keys Keyboard Function Keys used to make Keyboard Function Keys used to make lengthier tasks shorter and easier.lengthier tasks shorter and easier. Function key F5 displays list of keys.Function key F5 displays list of keys. Only available when doing an ACRA Only available when doing an ACRA application.application.

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Frequently Asked Frequently Asked QuestionsQuestions

Collection of past inquiries.Collection of past inquiries. ACRA Program - located under Help, ACRA Program - located under Help, Search For Help On, type FAQ.Search For Help On, type FAQ. Available on the ACRA web site.Available on the ACRA web site. Contact ACRA Support Hotline with new Contact ACRA Support Hotline with new questions.questions.

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The EndThe End