AIM ¶ 7-7-5 — SAFO and InFO Bulletins
AIM 7-7-5 explains FAA Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFO) and Information for Operators (InFO) — what they are, who they target, and how to subscribe.
In Plain English
SAFOs (Safety Alerts For Operators) and InFOs (Information For Operators) are FAA-issued bulletins used to rapidly push important information out to the aviation community. Neither is regulatory — they contain recommended actions, not mandates.
- SAFO: Contains time-critical safety information and may recommend non-regulatory actions. The intended audience varies by subject and can include air carrier and air operator certificate holders, general aviation operators, directors of safety, operations, or maintenance, fractional ownership program managers, training center managers, and accountable managers at repair stations.
- InFO: Similar in format to a SAFO but covers information of lower urgency or safety impact. InFOs typically help operators meet administrative or regulatory requirements.
Why it matters: As a pilot, monitoring SAFOs and InFOs keeps you current on emerging hazards (icing trends, equipment issues, procedural pitfalls) before they become accidents. Both are posted on the FAA website, and you can sign up for a free electronic subscription on the "ALL SAFOs" or "ALL InFOs" pages.
AIM Source Text
FAA AIM ¶ 7-7-57-7-5. 7-7-5. Safety Alerts For Operators (SAFO) and Information For Operators (InFO)
SAFOs contain important safety information that is often time-critical. A SAFO may contain information and/or recommended (non-regulatory) action to be taken by the respective operators or parties identified in the SAFO. The audience for SAFOs varies with each subject and may include: Air carrier certificate holders, air operator certificate holders, general aviation operators, directors of safety, directors of operations, directors of maintenance, fractional ownership program managers, training center managers, accountable managers at repair stations, and other parties as applicable. InFOs are similar to SAFOs, but contain valuable information for operators that should help them meet administrative requirements or certain regulatory requirements with relatively low urgency or impact in safety. The SAFO and InFO system provides a means to rapidly distribute this information to operators and can be found at the following website: http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo and http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info or search keyword FAA SAFO or FAA INFO. Free electronic subscription is available on the “ALL SAFOs” or “ALL InFOs” page of the website. Previous | Top | Next AIM | ATPUBS | FAA | Send your comments regarding this website.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What is the difference between a SAFO and an InFO?
Per AIM 7-7-5, a SAFO (Safety Alert For Operators) contains important, often time-critical safety information and may recommend non-regulatory actions. An InFO (Information For Operators) is similar in format but contains valuable information of relatively low urgency or safety impact, typically helping operators meet administrative or regulatory requirements.
Q2Are SAFOs regulatory? Must an operator comply with their recommendations?
No. Per AIM 7-7-5, SAFOs contain recommended, non-regulatory actions. They convey important safety information but do not, by themselves, impose mandatory compliance requirements on operators.
Q3Where can a pilot find SAFOs and InFOs, and how can they stay current on new releases?
Per AIM 7-7-5, both are published on the FAA website (faa.gov, under airline safety) and can be located by searching the keywords FAA SAFO or FAA INFO. Pilots can also obtain a free electronic subscription via the 'ALL SAFOs' or 'ALL InFOs' pages to receive new bulletins automatically.
Related Paragraphs in AIM Chapter 7