FAA FIELD OFFICES FACING MONTHSLONG BACKLOG OF WORK ORDERS
April 1, 2026
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Due to prolonged lapses of federal funding and significant staffing shortages, the Federal Aviation Administration’s International Field Offices (“IFOs”) are facing significant delays when acting on foreign air carrier requests. Several IFOs are currently advising that processing could take 60-90 days for requests being submitted now, creating added pressure on already time sensitive requests (e.g., approving new aircraft for use in U.S. airspace). The ongoing backlog of approvals and inspections could contribute to extended operational bottlenecks at the FAA, so foreign air carriers are strongly encouraged to submit Operation Specifications (“OpSpecs”) requests to IFOs as soon as possible. Under normal circumstances, foreign air carriers are required to submit requests for OpsSpecs amendments at least 90-days in advance for changes related to acquisitions/mergers, types of operations, and resumption of operations following a suspension of operations, and at least 30-days in advance for all other changes (see 14 C.F.R. 129.11(d)). To avoid unnecessary delays and streamline approvals, foreign air carriers should submit complete and accurate documentation to the FAA the first time to minimize back-and-forth with inspectors. While the FAA works to clear the backlog of existing work orders, carriers should prioritize high-impact requests (such as the addition of new aircraft or long-term ACMI agreements) and clearly communicate operational urgency to FAA inspectors as needed, even though the FAA is already warning carriers that they are aware the current backlog may cause operational delays. Doing so will account for realistic lead times (i.e., 60-90 days) and limit the need for last-minute submissions. If foreign air carriers need assistance with specific OpsSpecs amendments (e.g., adding aircraft, new routes, or changing maintenance programs), please do contact us directly to ensure close coordination with applicable IFOs and responsiveness to FAA inquiries.
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