U.S. General Services Administration
Aviation regulations and guidance
GSA publishes regulatory policy to set the foundation for safe and efficient Federal aviation programs. Aviation regulations provide clear guidelines for the aviation community to manage federal assets, operate aircraft and safeguard lives.
GSA’s regulatory policy helps federal aviation program managers:
- Manage government aircraft
- Public aircraft operations
- Report government aircraft data
Manage government aircraft
GSA requires all agencies to effectively and properly manage their aircraft. GSA’s Management of Government Aircraft details the regulatory policy Federal agencies must follow.
This document sets the groundwork for aviation managers to safely, efficiently and effectively conduct their aviation missions, and includes policy on how to:
Public aircraft operations
In cases such as firefighting, law enforcement, aeronautical research, or managing natural resources, Federal aviation managers can use Government aircraft to transport commercial goods and civilian employees. GSA publishes regulatory policy to clarify the terms of the “public” use of Government aircraft, or as a Government aircraft engaged in carrying people or material for a commercial purpose.
Definition of a Public Aircraft: In some special circumstances, Federal agencies may fly their aircraft as “public aircraft.” These conditions are outlined in Section 702 of the Aviation and Investment Reform Act (Public Law 106-181).
Federal Aviation Administration Compliance: In addition, the FAA’s Advisory Circular on Public Aircraft [PDF - 560 KB] explains how to bring public aircraft into compliance with FAA safety regulations.
Federal Aviation Interactive Reporting System
FAIRS is a management information system operated by GSA to collect, maintain, analyze, and report information on Federal aircraft inventories and cost and usage of Federal aircraft and CAS aircraft (and related aviation services). Users access FAIRS through a highly-secure Web site. Executive agencies of the United States Government must report to FAIRS if they own, bail, borrow, loan, lease, rent, charter, contract for, or obtain by ISSA Government aircraft.
Note: The U.S. Armed Forces, to include the U.S. Coast Guard, and agencies included in the Intelligence community are exempt from the requirement to report information to GSA via FAIRS.
What type of information is reported to FAIRS?
- Inventory data on Federal aircraft, including Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- Cost and utilization data on Federal aircraft, including Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- Cost and utilization data on Commercial Aviation Services aircraft and related aviation services
- Accident and incident data (see § 102-33.445)
- The results of standard competition studies in compliance with OMB Circular A–76 that justify purchasing, leasing, modernizing replacing, or otherwise acquiring aircraft and related aviation services.
When should data be submitted to FAIRS?
- Agencies must report any changes in their Federal aircraft inventory within 14 calendar days of those changes.
- Agencies must also report cost and utilization data to FAIRS at the end of every quarter of the fiscal year (December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30). However, agencies may also submit their information to FAIRS on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.