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Using the FAA’s Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS)

A guide to aid navigating the DRS efficiently.

Searching

The Search function allows for targeted queries.  To perform a search:

  1. Enter Keywords: Type relevant terms (e.g. "Part 135 maintenance requirements").
  2. Use Filters:Select document types, publication dates, or relevance settings.
  3. Review Results: Click on a document title to view its details.
  4. Download or Print: Use the provided options to save important documents.

Advanced Search Tips

Type of Search Description Example Outcome

Single term

The results must contain the term anywhere in the document content.

 lighting  Finds that term anywhere it appears in the document.
Multiple terms The results must contain all the terms anywhere in the document context (the search operator AND is assumed).  emergency lighting 
OR
emergency AND lighting 		 Finds documents that contain both terms in the document.
Any of these terms The result must contain at least one of these terms. emergency OR lighting  Find all documents that include either word.
Phrase search The results must contain all terms inside the double quotes in the exact order anywhere in the document content. "emergency lighting"  Finds these terms appearing together in this specific order.
Wildcard (?)

The results must contain terms that match the wildcard pattern. This pattern is for a one-character match.  

wel? 

 

 Finds documents that contain "weld", "well", or "welt".
Wildcard (*) The results must contain terms that match the wildcard pattern. This pattern is for a multiple-character match. emerg*  Finds documents that contain "emergency", "emergencies", "emerge", "emerging", etc.

Basic search quick reference guide

You will find a link for helpful search tips in the Basic and Advanced search windows. When you select the Search Tips link, the pop-up window contains an additional link for more detailed information.

The search tips documents that are accessible from the Search Tips links provide additional information about Basic Search and Advanced Search, as applicable. You should refer to these documents when composing searches.

Note: By default, Basic Search will search only documents that have a Current status. You must use Advanced Search to search for documents that have a Historical or Pending status.

Conducting a basic search

Play the video for a description of conducting a basic search.

Filter basic search results

Play the video for a description of filtering the results from a basic search.

Filter by calendar & date option

Play the video for a description of filtering document results by date using the calendar.

Advanced searching

The three entry fields for your search terms are :

  • Any of these words: The result must contain at least one of these terms anywhere in the document content.
  • All of these words: The result must contain all terms in any order anywhere in the document content
  • None of these words: The result must not contain this term anywhere in the document content.

The three search filters for your search are :

  • Search In: Directs where the search terms identified in all input windows are applied within the specified document fields (e.g., title, text, document number, regulation). All search criteria will be applied against only the field(s) selected in the Search In filter. No selection indicates that all document content (including all metadata fields) will be searched.
  • Document Type: A multi-selection filter that allows the query to be narrowed to selected document types. A lack of selection indicates that all types will be searched.
  • Document Status: Another multi-selection filter that allows the query to be narrowed by document status. By default, Current status is selected. If no status is selected, all statuses will be searched.

There are several other reasons why you would use Advanced Search instead of Basic Search.

By using Advanced Search, you can search in a specific part of the document – for example, you can look for a document number or for documents relevant to a certain 14 CFR part.

  • By using Advanced Search, you can limit your search to certain document types, such as FAA Orders and Advisory Circulars (ACs)
  • You can search for documents that have a Historical or Pending status
  • Like using the Basic Search tool, using Advanced Search might net results that cannot be found by browsing in one type of document

Fielded searches

A fielded search is a search within one specific field (A component of a document (also called metadata or document information) in the DRS database.) of a database. A default search in DRS automatically searches all fields of a document. However, DRS allows you to also use fielded searches to direct your search within a specific field (document title, document text, document number, 14 CFR part, 14 CFR sub-part, or 14 CFR section)

Fielded searches allow you to identify where exactly you want your search terms to be found. They work like a Search In selector but allow finer control.

Type of Search Description Example
Document title, subject, or subject heading The results must contain the term or terms anywhere in the document's title, subject, or subject heading. A search for title, weather or title: weather minimums finds those terms when they appear in the document's title, subject, or subject heading.
Document text The results must contain the term or terms in the document text. A search for text: emergency lighting finds documents that contain either of the text of the document.
Document number The results must contain the term anywhere in the document number field.

A search for docnum_text: 145 finds documents with "145" in the document number field.

A search for docnum_text:"AC 00-1" finds that document number.
14 CFR Part The results must contain the specific part number in the 14 CFR Part field. A search for cfrPartNumber:25 finds results with "part 25" in the 14 CFR Part field.

Recall that fielded searches work like the Search In selector. Where the Search In selector is available, you would not use a fielded search.

For example, if you are searching for the phrase “emergency lighting” in an Advanced Search, you could type the fielded search term text:"emergency lighting" in the All of these words search window. Or you could type "emergency lighting" and select Document Text from the Search In drop-down menu. You would not do both.

For best results, refer to the current “Advanced Search Tips for the Dynamic Regulatory System” document in DRS when constructing an Advanced Search.

Fielded Search Example

It is possible to combine a phrase search with a fielded search for CFR part number. For example, to locate documents related to facilities requirements for part 135 operators, you could enter either:"facilities requirements" cfrPartNumber:135cfrPartNumber:135 "facilities requirements"

Using a phrase search with double quotes around the entire phrase, “Part 135 facilities requirements,” specifies that all the words must appear together in that exact order somewhere within the document. This may not produce the results that you want.

It is also possible to conduct the search without double quotes around Part 135 facilities requirements. Your results would include all documents that contain these words together or individually, and not necessarily in the order specified.