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 procedures for designation of special airports; therefore, the FAA's guidance might not always be useful to air carriers operating in and out of special airports. The Board also concluded that the requirements for special airport pilot qualifications might not be sufficient to ensure that qualified pilots have been exposed to the runways and/or approaches that make those airports "special."

As a result of its findings, the Safety Board issued Safety Recommendations A-97-92 through -94 on August 25, 1997. Safety Recommendations A-97-92 through -94 asked the FAA to


 * Expedite the development and publication of specific criteria and conditions for the classification of special airports; the resultant publication should include specific remarks detailing the reason(s) an airport is determined to be a special airport and procedures for adding and removing airports from special airport classification.(A-97-92)


 * Develop criteria for special runways and/or special approaches, giving consideration to the circumstances of this accident and any unique characteristics and special conditions at airports...and include detailed pilot qualification requirements for designated special runways or approaches.(A-97-93)


 * Once criteria for designating special airports and special runways and/or special approaches have been developed, as recommended in Safety Recommendations A-97-92 and -93, evaluate all airports against that criteria and update special airport publications accordingly. (A-97-94)

On November 13, 1997, the FAA stated that it was developing a flight standards handbook bulletin and revising AC 121.445. "Pilot-In-Command Qualifications for Special Area/Routes and Airports, Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Section 121.445." The FAA indicated that the bulletin and AC would address the issues discussed in the recommendations. The FAA anticipated that these documents would be issued in April 1998. On August 17, 1998, the Safety Board stated that, pending the FAA's completion of these documents, Safety Recommendations A-97-92 through -94 were classified "Open--Acceptable Response."

On September 21, 1999, the FAA stated that AC 121.445 was undergoing internal coordination and should be published in the Federal Register by November 1999. The FAA indicated that it would proceed with issuing the flight standards handbook bulletin as soon as the AC was completed. According to the FAA, both documents were expected to be issued by February 2000.