Skip to main content
PlaneConnection provides a structured compliance tracking system aligned with the requirements of FAA 14 CFR Part 5. The compliance module helps you monitor your readiness for the Declaration of Compliance and maintain ongoing compliance after submission.

​
Prerequisites

  • You must have the safety_manager or admin role to manage compliance evidence.
  • Familiarity with the four pillars of SMS (Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, Safety Promotion).

​
Compliance dashboard overview

Navigate to Compliance in the Safety module sidebar. The compliance dashboard shows:
  • Overall compliance percentage across all Part 5 subparts
  • Per-subpart compliance status (A through F)
  • Number of elements with evidence vs. gaps
  • Trend indicators showing compliance progress over time

​
Steps

1
Review compliance elements
2
Click Elements on the compliance page to see every requirement from 14 CFR Part 5 broken down into actionable elements. Each element shows:
3
  • The regulatory section reference (e.g., 5.21, 5.53, 5.71)
  • A description of the requirement
  • Current compliance status (compliant, partial, non-compliant, not started)
  • The evidence attached to demonstrate compliance
    • 4
    Identify compliance gaps
    5
    Click Gaps to see a filtered view of elements that are not yet fully compliant. This view helps you prioritize your compliance efforts by showing:
    6
  • Elements with no evidence uploaded
  • Elements with partial compliance
  • Elements requiring additional documentation
    • 7
    Focus on the highest-impact gaps first. Subpart B (Safety Policy) and Subpart C (Safety Risk Management) are foundational — other subparts depend on them being in place.
    8
    Upload compliance evidence
    9
    For each compliance element:
    10
  • Click on the element to open its detail view.
  • Click Upload Evidence.
  • Select the file(s) that demonstrate compliance with this requirement.
  • Add a description explaining how the evidence satisfies the requirement.
    • 11
    Evidence can include:
    12
  • Policy documents
  • Training records
  • Meeting minutes
  • Audit reports
  • SRM outputs
  • Screenshots of system configurations
    • 13
    Evidence files are stored securely in your workspace’s encrypted R2 storage. They are accessible only to authorized users within your workspace.
    14
    Update element status
    15
    After uploading evidence, update the element’s compliance status:
    16
  • Compliant: All requirements for this element are met with sufficient evidence.
  • Partial: Some aspects are addressed but gaps remain.
  • Non-compliant: The requirement is not yet addressed.
    • 17
    Generate the Part 5 compliance report
    18
    Navigate to Compliance > Part 5 Report to generate a comprehensive compliance report. This report:
    19
  • Summarizes your compliance status across all subparts
  • Lists all elements with their current status
  • References attached evidence
  • Identifies remaining gaps
    • 20
    This report can be used internally for management review or as supporting documentation for your Declaration of Compliance submission to the FAA.
    21
    Export compliance evidence
    22
    Navigate to Compliance > Evidence Export to create a downloadable package of all uploaded compliance evidence. This is useful for:
    23
  • FAA audit preparation
  • Internal audit documentation
  • Management review presentations
  • Backup and archival purposes

    • ​
    Implementation Element Plan (IEP)

    The IEP tab under Compliance provides a structured implementation plan that maps your compliance journey. Use this to:
    • Track milestones toward your May 28, 2027 Declaration of Compliance deadline
    • Assign responsibility for each compliance area
    • Monitor progress against your implementation timeline

    ​
    Document generation

    The Doc Generate tool under Compliance can help you create template SMS documents required for compliance, such as:
    • Safety Policy Statement
    • SMS Manual sections
    • Emergency Response Plan templates
    • Training program outlines
    Generated documents are templates that must be customized to your organization’s specific operations. Do not submit generic templates as compliance evidence.

    ​
    Ongoing compliance

    After submitting your Declaration of Compliance, you must maintain your SMS for as long as you hold your certificate. Use the compliance dashboard to:
    • Monitor for any degradation in compliance status
    • Track evidence expiration (e.g., annual training records)
    • Prepare for routine FAA surveillance activities