DOD Commercial Air Carrier Evaluator's Credentials: Admission to pilots compartment: Forward observer's seat

This regulation governs access for Department of Defense evaluators who assess commercial air carriers under contract with the DOD. When a DOD evaluator presents their official credential (Form 110B) to the pilot in command, the certificate holder must grant them free access to the cockpit during their evaluation duties. The pilot in command retains ultimate authority to exclude anyone from the cockpit if safety requires it.

The operator must also provide the evaluator with a suitable seat—either a forward observer seat on the flight deck or a forward passenger seat—equipped with a headset or speaker for monitoring communications during flight evaluations. The FAA determines whether the seat location and equipment are adequate for evaluation purposes.

This matters primarily for Part 135 operators with DOD contracts, as they must accommodate these evaluators and provide appropriate facilities for their oversight work.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*