PWS - Pilot Induced Oscillation (PIO) 6.25.2025.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

AIRCRAFT PILOT COUPLING-PILOT INDUCED OSCILLATION (PIO) TRAINING

June 25, 2025

A. PROJECT/TITLE

Aircraft Pilot Coupling-Pilot Induced Oscillation (PIO) Training (FAA29385) for Aircraft Certification Flight Test Pilots (FTP) and Flight Test Engineers (FTE) employed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

B. BACKGROUND

Under Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.), the FAA is authorized to acquire and expend funds for the acquisition, operation, and maintenance of aircraft as necessary in the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of the Administrator. The interests of the public, the safety of the workforce, and the credibility of the organization are best served by having qualified, proficient, and current certifiers conducting aircraft evaluating, testing, and checking functions.

C. SCOPE

The contractor is to provide Ground School and In-Flight Training to FAA Flight Test Pilots and Flight Test Engineers for Aircraft Pilot Coupling-Pilot Induced Oscillation (PIO). Student quotas for these courses will be assigned by the Aircraft Certification Service Enterprise Operations Division, AIR-900.

D. QUALITY ASSURANCE

The FAA requests that a current copy of the course student materials, be provided to the FAA annually, for the purposes of validating training content against identified training requirements. If the course objectives change, or significant content updates are made, an updated copy of the course will need to be provided, with a summary of the changes.

The FAA will sign NDAs as required and will not use the materials for any other purposes beyond validating requirements. This is required to ensure the FAA remains in compliance with congressional requirements set forth in the FAA authorization to operate. More specifically, Public Law (current Consolidated Appropriations Act) requires that all technical training meet the requirements of the Current Consolidated Appropriations Act. None of the funds made available in this Act may be obligated or expended for any employee training that:

a. Does not meet identified needs for knowledge, skills, and abilities bearing directly upon the performance of official duties.

b. Contains elements likely to induce high levels of emotional response or psychological stress in some learners.

c. Does not require prior learner notification of the content and methods to be used in the training and written end-of-course evaluation.

d. Contains any methods or content associated with religious or quasi-religious belief systems or ‘‘new age’’ belief systems as defined in Equal

Employment Opportunity Commission Notice N–915.022, dated September 2, 1988.

e. Is offensive to, or designed to change, learners’ personal values or lifestyle outside the workplace.

E. DEFINITIONS

The following definitions are used to define the terminology contained herein and are applicable as required by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) (Federal Aviation Regulations):

1. Flight Time: Time from the moment the aircraft first moves under its own power for the purpose of flight until the moment the aircraft comes to rest at the next point of landing (block-to-block time).

2. Training Program: The contractor may provide documentation of a training program by submitting the course syllabus. The syllabus is to include, at a minimum, the following:

Ground Instruction minimum of 17 hours:

Introduction Program Summary Program objectives Discussion of factors affecting PIO susceptibility Factors in the aircraft dynamics + FCS that can induce PIO Environmental factors Task/Maneuver factors Process of pilot evaluations for handling qualities Recommended mechanisms for evaluation Civil certification considerations (including 14 CFR Part 23, 25, and 29 aircraft) Tools of pilot-in-the-loop assessment Evaluation Tasks/Civil Certification Maneuvers Potential civil certification flight test techniques How to deal with failure states Issues of Pilot Situational Awareness Analytic metrics vs. ground simulation vs. in-flight simulation Risk/Exposure issues relative to civil certification decisions (including risk management and mitigation techniques) Secondary but related issues with current aircraft designs Display issues Workload assessment (single pilot, and 2 crew aircraft) Flight Instruction minimum 2.0 hours:

Two (2) approximate one (1) hour flights for each Flight Test Pilot (FTP) with at least one Flight Test Engineer (FTE) in an observer seat (maximum of two) on a space-permitting basis. Actual in-aircraft time, in a turbine-powered aircraft with variable stability capability, is required as the basis for this course. Simulator flight time or use of other aircraft that are not turbine-powered or capable of variable stability is acceptable in addition to the basic aircraft requirement, but not in place at that time.

The purpose of the flight is to sensitize the FTP to the many different flight control or aircraft characteristics that can yield PIOs. The significance of the tasks/maneuvers in exposure to PIO will also be addressed. In addition, emphasis will be placed on flight test techniques for exposure to PIOs. Techniques will include real mission-oriented tasks as well as synthetic tasks to force the pilot into high-gain circumstances. An adjunct objective will be exercising handling quality rating scales.

3. Class: A class will consist of four (4) FAA Flight Test Pilots (FTPs) and up to eight (8) Flight Test Engineers (FTEs). FTEs will participate in ground and flight activities. When possible, on a space-available basis, the FTEs should observe the FAA FTP’s flights and/or have individual flight activity experience(s).

F. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1. GENERAL

(a) The contractor must train the FAA FTPs/FTEs using their training program, which meets specifications in section D – Definitions 2. – Training Program of this Performance Work Statement (PWS). Additional training shall cover systems and procedures or be otherwise directly related to the successful completion of the PIO course. The contractor is requested, within the limits of their program, to delete company-specific training such as employee/customer relations, filling out company forms, evacuation training, company communications, or other items not directly related to the completion of the training and substitute training directly related to the successful completion of the PIO course.

(b) It is expected that additional supplementary training may be required for some FTPs/FTEs. Supplementary training must be approved in advance, on a case-by-case basis, by the Contracting Officer.

(c) Training of FAA FTPs/FTEs is not to be conducted between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m., including flight/simulator pre- and post-briefings. A maximum of four (4) hours of flight instruction per day, or eight (8) hours of ground school per day, per FTP/FTE class is permitted. If ground and flight instruction are combined in a single day then a maximum of ten (10) hours of training per day is permitted. To maintain continuity between flight training sessions, the contractor is requested to minimize the switching of flight instructors between sessions.

(d) FAA personnel are usually performing other job functions prior to assignment to training and normally do not have time to devote to pre-course study. Additionally, due to circumstances beyond the control of the FAA or the FTP/FTE, the student may be assigned to training with short notice. If the contractor's training program requires a pre-course study prior to the trainee's arrival at the contractor's training facility, the contractor is required to supplement their course to allow for the required pre-course study to be accomplished at the contractor's facility after the FTP/FTE arrival. Such ground instruction must either be classroom or computer-based training.

2. QUALIFICATIONS

(a) PIO PILOT TRAINING:

The contractor shall provide the aircraft (and simulator, if applicable) and training necessary to enable the FAA FTP/FTE to pass the PIO course, as defined in section D.

– DEFINITIONS 2. - Training Program, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the resulting contract/task order.

3. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

(a) All instructions must comply with the contractor's submitted training program, which meets specifications.

(b) Flight simulation training device (FSTD) training, if applicable, shall begin within one working day after satisfactory completion of ground school. Flight training shall begin within one working day after completion of ground school or FSTD training, if applicable. Flight and FSTD training may be integrated with ground school training if it is a part of the contractor's program.

(c) Ground school instruction shall be presented by a qualified instructor in a classroom environment. If Computer-Based Instruction (CBI) is used to accomplish ground school training then the following requirements shall be met:

(1) FTP/FTE shall receive a thorough briefing on the operation and use of the CBI equipment.

(2) At least one instructor shall be present or readily accessible by electronic means to resolve any problems or questions that the FTP/FTE may have regarding the material presented in the CBI program.

(3) All material presented by CBI shall be reviewed and reinforced by a qualified instructor in classroom discussions or one-on-one with the FTP/FTE.

(d) Upon scheduling an FAA FTP/FTE for training the contractor shall make the aircraft and appropriate personnel available for the purpose of administering the course syllabus.

(e) In the event the FAA FTP/FTE fails to report for training as scheduled, or should become ill, injured or incapacitated during the training period the contractor shall promptly notify the COR and the FTP/FTE emergency contact if known.

(f) If the FTP/FTE has not passed the applicable pilot training syllabus after completion of the training outlined in Schedule B and in accordance with the specifications herein, the contractor shall withhold further training and promptly notify the COR who will arrange the authorization of additional training.

(g) The contractor shall notify the COR of the FTP/FTE completion status upon the conclusion of the course.

(h) Upon completion of all training, the contractor shall issue a Certificate of Completion to the student and one copy to the COR. The COR must receive a certificate of completion prior to payment of the invoice.

(i) The contractor shall furnish all training aids and facilities which meet the following minimum requirements:

(1) Sufficient chalk, dry-erase, or electronic boards for effective teaching shall be provided.

(2) All training aids, including any audio-visuals, mockups, charts, or aircraft components listed in the submitted training program must be accurate and appropriate to the course for which they are used.

(3) The classroom shall be well-lighted.

(4) FTP/FTE shall be seated at suitable tables that provide sufficient space for writing and accomplishing assigned tasks.

(5) The classroom shall be kept clean.

(6) Sanitary restroom facilities shall be available within convenient distance of the classroom.

(7) The classroom facilities shall be adequately ventilated, heated in winter, and cooled in summer.

(8) Ambient noise shall be below the distraction point. The instructor's voice level shall be easily heard from any position in the classroom.

(9) The contractor shall comply with safety standards specified by the National Electrical Code, the National Fire Code, and the United States of America Standards Institute in conducting contract training.

(10) Local environmental distractions adversely affecting student learning shall be eliminated.

(11) A copy of the syllabus, training schedule, and description of all maneuvers and procedures to be conducted in the training course shall be provided to each FTP/FTE on the first training day of each training course.

(12) Sufficient aircraft inventory for use in the training course to ensure the availability of backup aircraft when maintenance is necessary. All aircraft shall be airworthy and certificated in the normal category by the FAA.

(13) The contractor shall use only instructors authorized under their training program to instruct under this contract. All instructors used in flight training under this contract shall be authorized by the contractor to conduct all maneuvers and procedures required.

(j) The contractor's personnel, alone, shall be in command of the aircraft utilized in contract performance. At no time shall an FAA pilot be permitted to assume such command.

(k) The contractor shall provide all fuel, oil, landing fees, storage, and tie-down service. The contractor shall pay for all of these items and for any other costs related to the operation and utilization of each aircraft provided by the contractor for training, reimbursement for which shall be deemed included in the contract price.

(l) Each aircraft provided by the contractor shall be operated and maintained in accordance with applicable FAA regulations.