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Allentown FSDO DPE Meeting

Airman Certification and/or Rating Application (ACRA)

Training

January 24, 2001

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ACRA TRAINING

INSTRUCTOR:

John Wensel Manager

Certification Branch, AFS-840

Washington, DC (202) 267-7771

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TRAINING MATERIALS

• Training Packet– ACRA User’s Manual– ACRA Training Course

Material – Lab Materials

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AGENDA

• Introduction and Course Overview• ACRA Fundamentals• Setup the ACRA environment• Create certificate

applications• Electronically transmit

application• Processing an ACRA

Certification File• Review of ACRA Training• Course Wrap-up

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What is ACRA?

• Airman Certification and/or Rating Application• Microcomputer program that processes

applications for airman certification and ratings• Checks to ensure regulatory and policy

requirements are met by the applicants• Automatically generates PTRS records• Produces certification documents such as the

Temporary Airman Certificate (FAA Form 8060-4), Notice of Disapproval of Application, Letter of Discontinuance, 8710-1, 8610, etc.

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Who are ACRA Users?

• Principal Inspectors (POI, PMI, PAI)• Aircrew Program Managers (APM)• Training Center Program Managers (TCPM)• Designated Examiners (DPE, DME, TCE,

APD)• Aviation Safety Technicians (AST)• Airman Certification Representatives (ACR)

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What Certificates/Ratings Are Issued?

• Airline Transport Pilot

• Commercial Pilot• Private Pilot • Recreational Pilot• Certified Flight Instructor• Student Pilot• Instrument Rating• Certificate Reissue

• Type Ratings• Ground Instructor• Flight Engineer• Aircraft Dispatcher• Flight Navigator• Medical Flight Test• Emergency Field Issuance• Change of Address

Operations

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What Certificates are Issued?

Airworthiness• Mechanic • Inspection Authorization• Parachute Rigger• Repairman

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Minimum System Requirements

• Microsoft Windows 98 or NT 4.0• 32 MB of RAM• Windows Explorer 4.0• 20 MB hard drive space• Modem or FAA LAN/WAN Connectivity• Pentium Processor 166 Mhz or higher• CDROM Drive• Color Monitor with 800x600 Resolution• Ink Jet or Laser Printer

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Course Objectives

• Create a certificate application• Electronically transmit a completed

application (overview only)• What to send to the Registry?

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ACRA Overview

•ACRA is designed to improve the certification process through the use of validation checks and automatic generation of certification documents and PTRS records.

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ACRA TRAINING

Latest approved version (ver 2.02)

Developing and Testing

Developed by: – Flight Standards Service (AFS)– Office of Information Technology (AIT)– Office of Information Services (AMI)– Various FSDOs, Flight Schools

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Course Materials Overview

• ACRA User’s Manual– Available on

• ACRA Web Site

• CDROM

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Course Materials Overview

• ACRA Training Course Material– Training Agenda– Sample Forms

• Laser 8710-1• Temporary Certificate• Transmittal Log

– Registration Form

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What can ACRA do for you?

• Reduces work load– Checks regulatory/policy requirements

– Generates certification documents

– Automatically generates PTRS records

– Stores and retrieves certification applications

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What can ACRA do for you?

• Other benefits– Electronic Signature

– Electronic data transmission to DLS

– Reduces number of rejected applications

– Reduces review process and turnaround time

– Allows Designated Examiners to send applications

directly to the Registry

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Lesson 1

Questions?

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Lesson 2 ACRA Fundamentals

Purpose• To introduce ACRA features and functions

Objectives• At the end of this lesson the student will be

able to navigate through ACRA menus

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ACRA FundamentalsMain Menu

• The ACRA Main Menu consists of menus and toolbars• Choose commands by:

– Clicking a toolbar button with the mouse

– Choosing a command from the menu

– Using a keyboard shortcut key

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ACRA FundamentalsRadio Buttons

• Radio Buttons are flat circular buttons used on screens where there are two or more mutually exclusive choices.

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ACRA FundamentalsGroup Box

• A group box is a combination of Radio Buttons and Check Boxes. Only one radio button can be selected in addition to the check box.

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ACRA FundamentalsCalendar Control

• The Calendar Control is a feature used throughout ACRA to enter dates. Click on the down arrow at the far right side of the input field to view the calendar.

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ACRA FundamentalsDrop-Down List Boxes

• A Drop-Down list box will have an arrow at the far end of the input field. A list of available choices appear when arrow is selected.

Drop-Down box closed

Drop-Down box opened

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ACRA FundamentalsLookup Table List Boxes

• A Lookup Table List Box will be displayed when there is more than one option to be selected. Multiple selections are allowed by clicking on each item.

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ACRA FundamentalsAlert Boxes

• Alert Boxes are used to warn the user of a potential problem.

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Lesson 2

Demonstration

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Lesson 2

Questions?

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Lesson 3 Introduction

Purpose• To introduce the user environment and

parameters required before ACRA can be used

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Lesson 3 Objectives

At the end of this lesson the student will be able to:

• Select mode of operating (Training or Production)

• Auto-fill school information• Setup Communications parameters• Setup Certifying Officers• Setup Recommending Instructors

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Lesson 3

Demonstration

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Lesson 3

STUDENT LAB # 1

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Lesson 3

Questions?

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Lesson 4 Introduction

Purpose•To learn how to complete an Airman Certification Application using ACRA

Objectives•At the end of this lesson the student will understand features of ACRA that are designed to improve the certification process

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Lesson 4

DemonstrationAirline Transport Pilot Certificate

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Lesson 4

STUDENT LAB # 2

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Lesson 4

DemonstrationAirline Transport Pilot

Type Rating

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Lesson 4

STUDENT LAB # 3

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Lesson 4

Questions?

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Lesson 5 Introduction

Purpose•To learn how to transmit an ACRA application to the Data Library Server (DLS)

Objectives•At the end of this lesson the student will be able to access the ACRA Communications screen and transmit an ACRA application via modem or LAN.

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Lesson 5

Demonstration

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Lesson 5

Questions?

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Lesson 6 Introduction

Purpose•To cover processing Airman Certification Files.

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Lesson 6 Objectives

•At the end of this lesson the student will have reviewed:

– What documents are in the certification file.

– Reviewing the certification file.

– Where to send the certification file.

– When to send the certification file.

– Creating Back-up certification files .

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Airman Certification File

• Inspector/Examiners Attachments superceded pilot certificate temporary airman certificate written test results

• Final Results DocumentsACRA FAA Form 8710-1

additional address informationACRA FAA Form 8060-4

• FAA Form 8710-1original signatures for applicant/RI

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Reviewing Certification File

• Review File for correct Forms/Attachments

• Review ACRA Forms for completeness

• Add any missing text to ACRA Forms

• Do Not delete information from ACRA Forms.

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Where to send Certification File

• ACRA certification files can be sent directly to AFS-760 with approval of POI.

• Certification Files must be uploaded to DLS to automatically send PTRS record.

• FAA Policy requiring files to be mailed within 5 working days is still applicable. It also applies to uploading ACRA file to DLS.

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AFS-760 Airman Records

• Mailing Address:

– Federal Aviation Administration– Airman Certification Branch– AFS-760– PO Box 25082– Oklahoma City, OK 73159

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Back up Certification Files

• To ensure that computerized records are maintained, back up files should be created.

• Using the Archive Tool save files to a backup directory.

• Always backup prior to installing new version or reinstalling current program.

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Lesson 7 Introduction

Purpose•To cover / review important points in learning how to use the ACRA program

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Lesson 7 Objectives

•At the end of this lesson the student will have reviewed:

– How to report an error– Printing problems with the laser report feature– On-line help– How to use the function keys– Manipulate Applications– How to get extra ACRA User’s manuals & software – How to access Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)– Registration Form

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Report an Error

The problem must be replicable to be considered a problem• Call Support Hotline - (202) 267-7724• cc:mail to: 9-AWA-AFS-OPSPROB• Internet Mail:

9-AWA-AFS-OPSSPROB@faa.gov• Look in the ACRA dialog box for information• Look on page 1-3 of the Introduction Section of the ACRA User’s Manual

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Report an Error (Information Required)

•Description of the problem•Actual error message displayed by ACRA•The path taken during the application:

– Certificate type sought (ATP, commercial, etc.)– Rating(s) sought– Type of Application (Restricted/Unrestricted)– Basis of Application (Course/Test Completion)– Type of Issuance (Original/Additional)– Current certificate information held(NOTE: This information is contained in ACRA User’s Manual under

“How to Report an Error”, page 1-3 of Introduction)

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Laser Report Printing Problems

• Report problems to the ACRA Support Hotline•Forms currently available on Laser Reports are Temporary Airman Certificate and FAA Form 8710-1.

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On-line Help

•Most screens contain a Help Button– Pulls up Help for the current screen– Reiterates information found in the User’s

Manual

•Access Help from the Main Menu by clicking on CONTENTS to start on-line help

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ACRA Web Site

•URL is: – http://www.mmac.jccbi.gov/acra

•Contains– History of ACRA– ACRA User’s Manual– Digital Signature Process– Contact Information– FAQs– Release Notes

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Function Keys

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

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Lesson 7

Demonstration

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Manipulate Applications

• Retrieve an Application

• Delete an Application

• Archive/Export Applications

• Unarchive/Import Applications

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Lesson 7

Demonstration

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Frequently Asked Questions

•Collection of past inquiries•Located under Help Screen Selection on Menu (also available through the ACRA web site)•Contact ACRA Support Hotline with new questions

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Lesson 7

Demonstration

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ACRA Registration Form

•Complete the form in the ACRA Training Course Materials and return to instructor.

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ACRA Training

Congratulations!!!