It is the great catch-all of the Federal Aviation Regulations and the succinct string of words—authorized by the administrator—that sets in motion what is probably the most intimate contact an operator will ever have with the FAA: the dreaded, so-called tabletop examination.

Operational Specifications, or OpSpecs, are those special activities authorized by the FAA administrator that define commercial operations.

Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft, or SAFA checks, comprise those infamous ramp inspections business aviation operators often encounter in other countries, particularly in Europe.