FAA's New LOA Issuance Portal - SAS
- christy1605
- Aug 7
- 2 min read
FAA Implements New Software In: Safety Assurance System (SAS)
In late July, the FAA accelerated its transition to SAS from its legacy system, WebOPSS. The implementation has been “bumpy” due to the accelerated rollout. This is impacting both FAA and aviation industry personnel.
System Downtime and Data Migration Challenges
The FAA has notified users to expect downtime due to ongoing data migration efforts. This means the system is intermittently unavailable. Jet RVSM has seen delays in LOA issuance as a result.
Many users across Part 121, 135, and 145 operations have reported service disruptions, including:
Inability to access or load operator profiles
Missing or incomplete aircraft data
Errors when trying to retrieve essential documentation
These issues are expected to persist in the short term as the FAA works through technical bugs and stabilizes the system.
What to Expect: Access Requirements and Next Steps
Once the system is fully functional, we anticipate that the FAA will require the Part 91 operator's LOA Responsible Person (the individual authorized to sign Letters of Authorization) to first create a profile at Login.gov and then use that to request SAS access. While the setup process to create a SAS user profile can be a bit cumbersome, the FAA has released Quick Reference Cards and a website (linked below) to help guide users through it.
Jet RVSM is actively monitoring developments and will publish a comprehensive User Guide and FAQ as soon as the system reaches a stable operating state.
Using SAS to Manage LOAs
A Part 91 operator's LOA Responsible Person with SAS access will be able to review and sign LOAs within the system using a Docusign plugin. These documents can also be downloaded in PDF format for storage on your local device.
It is critical that LOAs are closely reviewed for FAA errors and omissions prior to e-signing. Should any discrepancies be found, the Responsible Person will need to coordinate directly with the FAA for amendments. There may be in-system messaging capabilities available in SAS for this purpose, though this functionality has not yet been confirmed. Jet RVSM offers verification of LOA accuracy and correction requests as part of its FAA post-submission follow-up services.
Support for App Subscribers
If you're a Jet RVSM digital access subscriber, we can upload your LOAs as an attachment to your digital International Operations Manual (IOM) and MEL documentation. This ensures all critical documents are centrally stored and accessible both online and offline — a great feature for fast access on the flight deck or during ramp inspections.
We're Here to Help
We understand that this transition is causing disruption and uncertainty. If you have any questions or need support during this process, please contact us. Our team is here to facilitate both compliance and safety.