4400 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 19 / Tuesday, January 30, 2007 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 65 

[Docket No.: FAA–2007–27108; 

Amendment No. 65–50] 

RIN 2120–AI83 

Inspection Authorization 2-Year 

Renewal 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) is amending the 

regulations for the Inspection 

Authorization (IA) renewal period. The 

current IA regulation has a 1-year 

renewal period. This rulemaking 

changes the renewal period to once 

every two years. By changing the 

renewal period, the FAA reduces the 

renewal administrative costs by 50%. 

Both the FAA and the mechanic holding 

the IA will realize this cost reduction. 

Aviation safety will not be affected 

because this rulemaking does not 

change the requirements of the prior 

rule for annual activity (work 

performed, training, or oral 

examination). 

DATES: Effective March 1, 2007. 

Comments for inclusion in the Rules 

Docket must be received on or before 

March 1, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 

identified by Docket Number FAA– 

2007–27108 using any of the following 

methods: 

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to http:// 

dms.dot.gov and follow the instructions 

for sending your comments 

electronically. 

• Government-wide rulemaking Web 

site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov 

and follow the instructions for sending 

your comments electronically. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590– 

001. 

• Fax: 1–202–493–2251. 

• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

For more information on the 

rulemaking process, see the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 

this document. 

Privacy: We will post all comments 

we receive, without change, to http:// 

dms.dot.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. For more 

information, see the Privacy Act 

discussion in the SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION section of this document. 

Docket: To read background 

documents or comments received, go to 

http://dms.dot.gov at any time or to 

Room PL–401 on the plaza level of the 

Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, 

SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim 

Barnette, AFS–350, 800 Independence 

Ave, SW., Washington, DC 20591. 

Telephone number: 202–493–4922; email: kim.barnette@faa.gov; Fax is 202– 

267–5115. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

rulemaking responds to ongoing 

discussions between the FAA and 

industry groups concerning ways to 

reduce the administrative burden 

associated with the renewal of 

inspection authorizations under § 65.93, 

Inspection authorization: Renewal, of 

Title 14 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations (14 CFR). Historically, 

inspection authorizations have been 

renewed every year during the month of 

March. Discussions between the FAA 

and industry representatives, including 

the Professional Aviation Maintenance 

Association (PAMA), concluded that 

changing the renewal period to once 

every two years, while maintaining 

requirements for activity (work 

performed, training, or oral 

examination) on an annual basis would 

reduce the administrative burden 

without affecting safety. The FAA 

therefore decided to promulgate this 

rulemaking as a direct final rule because 

these non-controversial administrative 

changes will result in appreciable 

benefits and will not have any adverse 

impact on safety. 

The rule amends § 65.92(a) and 

§ 65.93(a) and (b), and adds a new 

paragraph (c) to § 65.93. The 

amendment to § 65.92(a) changes the 

expiration date of an inspection 

authorization from ‘‘March 31 of each 

year’’ to ‘‘March 31 of each oddnumbered year.’’ The amendment to 

§ 65.93(a) changes the renewal period 

for inspection authorizations from every 

year to once every two years, reflecting 

the expiration date change to oddnumbered years. The rule retains an 

annual activity requirement for each 

year of the 2-year IA period. Consistent 

with the annual aspects of the current 

rule, an IA holder must perform one of 

the five activities listed in § 65.93(a) (1)– 

(5) during the first year (April 1 to the 

following March 31) of the 2-year IA 

period. As provided in new paragraph 

(c) to § 65.93, if the IA holder does not 

complete one of those activities by 

March 31 of the first-year, the holder 

may not exercise the inspection 

authorization privileges after that date. 

However, the holder may resume 

exercising IA privileges during the 

second year after he or she passes an 

oral test given by an FAA inspector to 

determine if the holder’s knowledge of 

applicable regulations and standards is 

current. When the holder passes the oral 

test, the FAA will deem the first-year 

requirement completed. Each IA holder 

also must perform one of the five 

activities listed in § 65.93(a) (1)–(5) 

during the second year of the inspection 

authorization period to be eligible for 

renewal. 

The amendment for § 65.93(b) 

addresses the case of a holder of an 

inspection authorization that has been 

in effect for less than 90 days before 

March 31 of an even-numbered year. 

That IA holder need not comply with 

the activity requirements of § 65.93(a) 

(1) through (5) for the first year of the 

2-year inspection authorization period. 

This rulemaking has both FAA and 

industry support because it provides for 

a 2-year inspection authorization 

renewal instead of an annual 

requirement. Extending the inspection 

authorization period to two years 

reduces the paperwork requirements, 

therefore reducing costs for both IA 

holders and the FAA by 50%. 

As noted before, § 65.92(a) sets March 

31 as the date when each inspection 

authorization expires. The FAA selected 

March 1, 2007, as the effective date so 

that the new rule will be in effect when 

current IAs expire. During March 2007, 

when mechanics apply to their local 

Flight Standards District Office/ 

International Field Office (FSDO/IFO) 

for renewal of their IAs, the FAA 

Inspector will sign FAA Form 8310–5, 

Inspection Authorization, for a 2-year 

period if the mechanics meet the 

requirements for renewal. The FAA 

recognizes that during this transition to 

a 2-year renewal period, the FAA will 

be looking only at a 1-year period (April 

1, 2006 to March 31, 2007) with respect 

to meeting the requirements of 

§ 65.93(a) (1)–(5). 

Inspection Authorization: Duration 

The FAA is changing § 65.92(a) to 

state that each inspection authorization 

expires on March 31 of each oddnumbered year. This action ensures that 

§§ 65.92 and 65.93 consistently address 

the 2-year renewal period. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 19 / Tuesday, January 30, 2007 / Rules and Regulations 4401 

Inspection Authorization: Renewal 

The FAA is changing § 65.93 to 

provide that: 

• The renewal period for an 

inspection authorization is changed to 

every two years, from April 1 of each 

odd-numbered year to March 31 of the 

next odd-numbered year. 

• The IA period is made up of two 

periods of one year duration, each with 

an activity (work performed, training, or 

oral examination) requirement. 

• During March of every oddnumbered year, an applicant for renewal 

must present evidence to the FAA of 

meeting the inspection authorization 

renewal requirements of § 65.93(a). 

• To maintain currency and ensure a 

consistent level of safety, IA holders 

must fulfill one of the activities of 

§ 65.93(a) (1) through (5) during the first 

year of the 2-year IA period. 

• If an IA holder does not complete 

the activity requirement by March 31 of 

the first year of the 2-year IA period, the 

IA holder may not exercise the 

privileges of the authorization after that 

date. The IA holder may resume 

exercising inspection authorization 

privileges during the second year of the 

2-year IA period after the IA holder 

passes an oral test. That test is 

administered by an FAA inspector to 

determine that the IA holder’s 

knowledge of applicable regulations and 

standards is current. Upon passing the 

oral test, the IA holder will be deemed 

in compliance with the first year 

activity (work performed, training, or 

oral examination) requirement. 

Alternatively, the IA holder may 

surrender the inspection authorization 

and retake the IA examination without 

a waiting period before re-examination. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

The FAA’s authority to issue rules on 

aviation safety is found in Title 49 of the 

United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 

106 describes the authority of the FAA 

Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation 

Programs, describes in more detail the 

scope of the agency’s authority. 

The FAA is issuing this rulemaking 

under the authority set forth in 49 

U.S.C. 44701(a)(2)(A). This regulation is 

within the scope of that authority 

because the Administrator is charged 

with promoting safe flight of civil 

aircraft by, among other things, 

prescribing regulations that the 

Administrator finds necessary 

inspecting, servicing, and overhauling 

aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and 

appliances. 

The Direct Final Rule Procedure 

The FAA anticipates that this 

regulation will not result in adverse or 

negative comment and therefore is 

issuing it as a direct final rule as a result 

of the strong support from the 

mechanics who hold inspection 

authorizations. Unless a written adverse 

or negative comment, or a written notice 

of intent to submit an adverse or 

negative comment, is received within 

the comment period, the regulation will 

become effective on the date specified 

above. 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites interested persons to 

participate in this rulemaking by 

submitting written comments, data, or 

views. We also invite comments relating 

to the economic, environmental, energy, 

or federalism impacts that might result 

from adopting the requirements in this 

document. The most helpful comments 

reference a specific portion of the rule, 

explain the reason for any 

recommended change, and include 

supporting data. We ask that you send 

us two copies of written comments. 

We will file in the docket all 

comments we receive, as well as a 

report summarizing each substantive 

public contact with FAA personnel 

concerning this proposed rulemaking. 

The docket is available for public 

inspection before and after the comment 

closing date. If you wish to review the 

docket in person, go to the address in 

the ADDRESSES section of this preamble 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

You may also review the docket using 

the Internet at the Web address in the 

ADDRESSES section. 

Privacy Act: Using the search function 

of our docket Web site, anyone can find 

and read the comments received into 

any of our dockets, including the name 

of the individual sending the comment 

(or signing the comment on behalf of an 

association, business, labor union, etc.). 

You may review DOT’s complete 

Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 

Register published on April 11, 2000 

(65 FR 19477–78) or you may visit 

http://dms.dot.gov. 

If you want the FAA to acknowledge 

receipt of your comments on this direct 

final rule, include with your comments 

a pre-addressed, stamped postcard on 

which the docket number appears. We 

will stamp the date on the postcard and 

mail it to you. 

Availability of Rulemaking Documents 

You can get an electronic copy using 

the Internet by: 

(1) Searching the Department of 

Transportation’s electronic Docket 

Management System (DMS) Web page 

(http://dms.dot.gov/search); 

(2) Visiting the FAA’s Regulations and 

Policy Web page at http://www.faa.gov/ 

regulations_policies/; or 

(3) Accessing the Government 

Printing Office’s Web page at http:// 

www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. 

You can also get a copy by sending a 

request to the Federal Aviation 

Administration, Office of Rulemaking, 

ARM–1, 800 Independence Avenue 

SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by 

calling (202) 267–9680. Make sure to 

identify the docket number, notice 

number, or amendment number of this 

rulemaking. 

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 

Fairness Act 

The Small Business Regulatory 

Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) of 

1996 requires FAA to comply with 

small entity requests for information or 

advice about compliance with statutes 

and regulations within its jurisdiction. 

Therefore, any small entity that has a 

question regarding this document may 

contact their local FAA official, or the 

person listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT. You can find out 

more about SBRFA on the Internet at 

our site, http://www.faa.gov/ 

regulations_policies/rulemaking/ 

sbre_act/. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

As required by the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 

3507(d)), the FAA has submitted a copy 

of these sections to the Office of 

Management and Budget for its review. 

The collection of information was 

approved and assigned OMB Control 

Number 2120–0022. An agency may not 

conduct or sponsor and a person is not 

required to respond to a collection of 

information unless it displays a 

currently valid Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB) control number. This 

final rule extends the renewal period for 

Inspection Authorizations from one year 

to two years. With this change, the FAA 

reduces the renewal administrative 

costs and the paperwork by 50 percent. 

Both the FAA and the mechanic holding 

the IA will realize this cost reduction. 

The rule is expected to result in cost 

savings over ten years of approximately 

$795,000 ($545,863 discounted) to 

industry and $430,000 ($295,856 

discounted) to the FAA. 

Individuals and organizations may 

submit comments on the information 

collection requirement by March 1, 

2007, and should direct them to the 

address listed in the ADDRESSES section 

of this document. 


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4402 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 19 / Tuesday, January 30, 2007 / Rules and Regulations 

1The annual salary of an A&P maintenance 

technician is estimated at $57,614 in 2002 as 

discussed on pg. 7–10 in ‘‘Economic Values for 

FAA Investment and Regulatory Decisions, A 

Guide, Contract No. DTFA 01–02–C00200, Draft 

final Report, December 31, 2004. To convert to 2005 

dollars the FAA used the Budget of the United 

States Government, Fiscal Year 2006, Table 10.1—

Gross Domestic Product and Deflators Used in the 

Historical Tables: 1940–2011. To convert 2002 

dollars to 2005 dollars the FAA multiplied by 

1.072949 to obtain $61,817. The FAA applied a 

fringe benefit factor of 23.45% as discussed in 

‘‘Economic Analysis of Investment and Regulatory 

Decisions—Revised Guide’’, FAA–APO–98–4, 

January 1998. The FAA multiplied $61,817 by 

1.2345 to obtain an annual cost of $76,313 for the 

mechanic’s time and divided by 2080 to obtain an 

hourly cost of $36.69 for a mechanic. 

2The cost to complete and mail each form is 

derived by multiplying the mechanics hourly rate 

of $36.69 by 20/60, because the mechanic needs 20 

minutes to fill out each form, to obtain $12.23 and 

adding $0.39 because the mechanic must mail the 

form to the FSDO. 

3The hourly basic wage rate from the 2005 

General Schedule Salary Table 2004–DCB (for the 

locality pay area of Rest of the United States), GS–

11, Step 5 is $27.45. The FAA applied a fringe 

benefit factor of 32.45% as discussed in ‘‘Economic 

Analysis of Investment and Regulatory Decisions—

Revised Guide’’, FAA–APO–98–4, January 1998. 

The FAA multiplied $27.45 by 1.3245 to obtain an 

hourly wage rate of $36.36 for a GS11 employee 

processing the application. 

4This cost was derived by multiplying the hourly 

rate of $36.36 by (10/60) because the FAA needs 10 

minutes per application to obtain $6.06 and adding 

the cost of postage for 2 mailings ($0.78) to obtain 

$6.83. 

International Compatibility 

The FAA has reviewed corresponding 

International Civil Aviation 

Organization International Standards 

and Recommended practices and has 

identified no differences in these 

proposed amendments and the foreign 

regulations. 

Regulatory Evaluation, Regulatory 

Flexibility Determination, International 

Trade Impact Assessment, and 

Unfunded Mandates Assessment 

Changes to Federal regulations must 

undergo several economic analyses. 

First, Executive Order 12866 directs that 

each Federal agency shall propose or 

adopt a regulation only upon a reasoned 

determination that the benefits of the 

intended regulation justify its costs. 

Second, the Regulatory Flexibility Act 

of 1980 (Pub. L. 96–354) requires 

agencies to analyze the economic 

impact of regulatory changes on small 

entities. Third, the Trade Agreements 

Act (Pub. L. 96–39) prohibits agencies 

from setting standards that create 

unnecessary obstacles to the foreign 

commerce of the United States. In 

developing U.S. standards, the Trade 

Act requires agencies to consider 

international standards and, where 

appropriate, that they be the basis of 

U.S. standards. Fourth, the Unfunded 

Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 

104–4) requires agencies to prepare a 

written assessment of the costs, benefits, 

and other effects of proposed or final 

rules that include a Federal mandate 

likely to result in the expenditure by 

State, local, or tribal governments, in the 

aggregate, or by the private sector, of 

$100 million or more annually (adjusted 

for inflation with base year of 1995). 

This portion of the preamble 

summarizes the FAA’s analysis of the 

economic impacts of this direct final 

rule. 

Department of Transportation Order 

DOT 2100.5 prescribes policies and 

procedures for simplification, analysis, 

and review of regulations. If the 

expected cost impact is so minimal that 

a proposed or final rule does not 

warrant a full evaluation, this order 

permits that a statement to that effect 

and the basis for it be included in the 

preamble if a full regulatory evaluation 

of the cost and benefits is not prepared. 

Such a determination has been made for 

this direct final rule. The reasoning for 

this determination follows. 

Since this direct final rule extends the 

time between the renewal of the 

inspection authorization from one to 

two years, the expected outcome will be 

a cost savings. This is because the 

frequency with which mechanics will 

have to complete and submit renewal 

applications and FSDOs will have to 

review these applications will be cut in 

half. The rule is expected to result in 

cost savings over ten years of 

approximately $795,000 ($545,863 

discounted) to industry and $430,000 

($295,856 discounted) to the FAA. 

There is no impact on safety because the 

rule does not change the requirements 

for annual activity (work performed, 

training, or oral examination). 

Assumptions 

• Discount rate—7%. 

• Period of analysis—2007 through 

2016. 

• All monetary values are expressed 

in 2005 dollars. 

• In 2007 approximately 15,000 

mechanics will renew their inspection 

authorization. The number of mechanics 

will drop to about 12,000 by 2011. 

• An airframe and powerplant (A&P) 

mechanic’s time is costed out at $36.69 1

an hour including fringe benefits. 

• The A&P will need approximately 

20 minutes to fill out Form 8610–1. 

• The cost for a mechanic to complete 

and mail each form is $12.62 2. 

• The hourly rate for a GS–11 is 

$36.36 3 including fringe benefits. 

• A GS–11 at the FSDO and a GS–11 

at Oklahoma City will each need 

approximately 5 minutes to process the 

application. 

• The cost to the FAA to process each 

application including postage is $6.84 4. 

The following steps take place during 

the process of renewing an inspection 

authorization. The A&P mechanic fills 

out Form 8610–1 and mails it to the 

local FSDO where a staff member 

reviews the application to make sure it 

meets the requirements, confirms the 

signature, signs the card and mails it 

back to the mechanic and mails the 

application to Oklahoma City. At 

Oklahoma City, a staff member files the 

application and transfers the name. 

The following tables detail the cost 

savings to industry and to the United 

States Government. 

INDUSTRY COST SAVINGS

Year 

Number renewing without rule 

Cost per application 

Total cost 

without the 

rule 

Number renewing with 

rule 

Total Cost 

with the rule 

Net cost 

savings of 

the rule 

Discount 

Rate 

Net present 

value of 

cost savings 

2007 ................................. 15,000 12.62 189,300 15,000 189,300 0 0.9346 0 

2008 ................................. 14,250 12.62 179,835 0 0 179,835 0.8734 157,075 

2009 ................................. 13,500 12.62 170,370 13,500 170,370 0 0.8163 0 

2010 ................................. 12,750 12.62 160,905 0 0 160,905 0.7629 122,754 

2011 ................................. 12,000 12.62 151,440 12,000 151,440 0 0.7130 0 

2012 ................................. 12,000 12.62 151,440 0 0 151,440 0.6663 100,911 

2013 ................................. 12,000 12.62 151,440 12,000 151,440 0 0.6227 0 

2014 ................................. 12,000 12.62 151,440 0 0 151,440 0.5820 88,139 

2015 ................................. 12,000 12.62 151,440 12,000 151,440 0 0.5439 0 


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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 19 / Tuesday, January 30, 2007 / Rules and Regulations 4403 

INDUSTRY COST SAVINGS—Continued 

Year 

Number renewing without rule 

Cost per application 

Total cost 

without the 

rule 

Number renewing with 

rule 

Total Cost 

with the rule 

Net cost 

savings of 

the rule 

Discount 

Rate 

Net present 

value of 

cost savings 

2016 ................................. 12,000 12.62 151,440 0 0 151,440 0.5083 76,984 

Total .......................... .................... .................... 1,609,050 .................... 813,990 795,060 .................... 545,863 

GOVERNMENT COST SAVINGS

Year 

Number renewing without rule 

Cost per application 

Total cost 

without the 

rule 

Number renewing with 

rule 

Total Cost 

with the rule 

Net cost 

savings of 

the rule 

Discount 

Rate 

Net present 

value of 

cost savings 

2007 ................................. 15,000 $6.84 $102,600 $15,000 $102,600 $0 $0.9346 $0 

2008 ................................. 14,250 6.84 97,470 0 0 97,470 0.8734 85,134 

2009 ................................. 13,500 6.84 92,340 13,500 92,340 0 0.8163 0 

2010 ................................. 12,750 6.84 87,210 0 0 87,210 0.7629 66,532 

2011 ................................. 12,000 6.84 82,080 12,000 82,080 0 0.7130 0 

2012 ................................. 12,000 6.84 82,080 0 0 82,080 0.6663 54,693 

2013 ................................. 12,000 6.84 82,080 12,000 82,080 0 0.6227 0 

2014 ................................. 12,000 6.84 82,080 0 0 82,080 0.5820 47,771 

2015 ................................. 12,000 6.84 82,080 12,000 82,080 0 0.5439 0 

2016 ................................. 12,000 6.84 82,080 0 0 82,080 0.5083 41,725 

Total .......................... .................... .................... 872,100 .................... 441,180 430,920 .................... 295,856 

Based on the projected cost savings, 

the FAA has determined that this direct 

final rule is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ as defined in section 3(f) of 

Executive Order 12866, and is not 

‘‘significant’’ as defined in DOT’s 

Regulatory Policies and Procedures. 

Regulatory Flexibility Determination 

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) 

of 1980 (Public Law 96–354) establishes 

‘‘as a principle of regulatory issuance 

that agencies shall endeavor, consistent 

with the objectives of the rule and of 

applicable statutes, to fit regulatory and 

informational requirements to the scale 

of the businesses, organizations, and 

governmental jurisdictions subject to 

regulation. To achieve this principle, 

agencies are required to solicit and 

consider flexible regulatory proposals 

and to explain the rationale for their 

actions to assure that such proposals are 

given serious consideration.’’ The RFA 

covers a wide-range of small entities, 

including small businesses, not-forprofit organizations, and small 

governmental jurisdictions. 

Agencies must perform a review to 

determine whether a rule will have a 

significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities. If 

the agency determines that it will, the 

agency must prepare a regulatory 

flexibility analysis as described in the 

RFA. 

However, if an agency determines that 

a rule is not expected to have a 

significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities, 

section 605(b) of the RFA provides that 

the head of the agency may so certify 

and a regulatory flexibility analysis is 

not required. The certification must 

include a statement providing the 

factual basis for this determination, and 

the reasoning should be clear. This 

direct final rule will result in some 

minor cost savings (about $12 per 

employee every other year) to certain 

individuals and will not impose any 

additional costs. 

Therefore, as the FAA Administrator, 

I certify that this rule will not have a 

significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities. 

International Trade Impact Assessment 

The Trade Agreements Act of 1979 

(Pub. L. 96–39) prohibits Federal 

agencies from establishing any 

standards or engaging in related 

activities that create unnecessary 

obstacles to the foreign commerce of the 

United States. Legitimate domestic 

objectives, such as safety, are not 

considered unnecessary obstacles. The 

statute also requires consideration of 

international standards and, where 

appropriate, that they be the basis for 

U.S. standards. The FAA has assessed 

the potential effect of this direct final 

rule and has determined that it will 

have only a domestic impact and 

therefore no affect on international 

trade. 

Unfunded Mandates Assessment 

Title II of the Unfunded Mandates 

Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4) 

requires each Federal agency to prepare 

a written statement assessing the effects 

of any Federal mandate in a proposed or 

final agency rule that may result in an 

expenditure of $100 million or more 

(adjusted annually for inflation with the 

base year 1995) in any one year by State, 

local, and tribal governments, in the 

aggregate, or by the private sector; such 

a mandate is deemed to be a ‘‘significant 

regulatory action.’’ The FAA currently 

uses an inflation-adjusted value of 

$128.1 million in lieu of $100 million. 

This direct final rule does not contain 

such a mandate. 

Executive Order 13132, Federalism 

The FAA has analyzed this final rule 

under the principles and criteria of 

Executive Order 13132, Federalism. We 

determined that this action will not 

have a substantial direct effect on the 

States, or the relationship between the 

national Government and the States, or 

on the distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. Therefore, we 

determined that this final rule does not 

have federalism implications. 

Plain English 

Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, 

Oct. 4, 1993) requires each agency to 

write regulations that are simple and 

easy to understand. We invite your 

comments on how to make these 

regulations easier to understand, 

including answers to questions such as 

the following: 

• Are the requirements in the 

regulations clearly stated? 


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4404 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 19 / Tuesday, January 30, 2007 / Rules and Regulations 

• Do the regulations contain technical 

language or jargon that interferes with 

their clarity? 

• Would the regulations be easier to 

understand if they were divided into 

more (but shorter) sections? 

• Is the description in the preamble 

helpful in understanding this action? 

Please send your comments to the 

address specified in the ADDRESSES

section. 

Environmental Analysis 

FAA Order 1050.1E identifies FAA 

actions that are categorically excluded 

from preparation of an environmental 

assessment or environmental impact 

statement under the National 

Environmental Policy Act in the 

absence of extraordinary circumstances. 

The FAA has determined this 

rulemaking action qualifies for the 

categorical exclusion identified in 

paragraph 307s and involves no 

extraordinary circumstances. 

Regulations That Significantly Affect 

Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use 

The FAA has analyzed this final rule 

under Executive Order 13211, Actions 

Concerning Regulations that 

Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 

Distribution, or Use (66 FR 28355, May 

18, 2001). We have determined that it is 

not a ‘‘significant energy action’’ under 

the executive order because it is not a 

‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under 

Executive Order 12866, and it is not 

likely to have a significant adverse effect 

on the supply, distribution, or use of 

energy. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 65 

Air traffic controllers, Aircraft, 

Airmen, Airports, Alcohol abuse, 

Aviation safety, Drug abuse, Reporting 

and recordkeeping requirements, 

Security measures. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

■ Accordingly, the Federal Aviation 

Administration amends part 65 of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 

part 65) as follows: 

PART 65—CERTIFICATION: AIRMEN 

OTHER THAN FLIGHT CREWMEMBERS 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 65 is 

revised to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g). 40113, 44701–

44703, 44707, 44709–44711, 45102–45103, 

45301–45302. 

■ 2. Revise § 65.92(a) to read as follows. 

§ 65.92 Inspection authorization: Duration. 

(a) Each inspection authorization 

expires on March 31 of each oddnumbered year. However, the holder 

may exercise the privileges of that 

authorization only while he holds a 

currently effective mechanic certificate 

with both a currently effective airframe 

rating and a currently effective 

powerplant rating. 

* * * * * 

■ 3. Revise § 65.93 to read as follows. 

§ 65.93 Inspection authorization: Renewal. 

(a) To be eligible for renewal of an 

inspection authorization for a 2-year 

period an applicant must present 

evidence during the month of March of 

each odd-numbered year, at an FAA 

Flight Standards District Office or an 

International Field Office, that the 

applicant still meets the requirements of 

§ 65.91(c) (1) through (4). In addition, 

during the time the applicant held the 

inspection authorization, the applicant 

must show completion of one of the 

activities in § 65.93(a) (1) through (5) 

below by March 31 of the first year of 

the 2-year inspection authorization 

period, and completion of one of the 

five activities during the second year of 

the 2-year period: 

(1) Performed at least one annual 

inspection for each 90 days that the 

applicant held the current authority; or 

(2) Performed at least two major 

repairs or major alterations for each 90 

days that the applicant held the current 

authority; or 

(3) Performed or supervised and 

approved at least one progressive 

inspection in accordance with standards 

prescribed by the Administrator; or 

(4) Attended and successfully 

completed a refresher course, acceptable 

to the Administrator, of not less than 8 

hours of instruction; or 

(5) Passed an oral test by an FAA 

inspector to determine that the 

applicant’s knowledge of applicable 

regulations and standards is current. 

(b) The holder of an inspection 

authorization that has been in effect: 

(1) for less than 90 days before the 

expiration date need not comply with 

paragraphs (a)(1) through (5) of this 

section. 

(2) for less than 90 days before March 

31 of an even-numbered year need not 

comply with paragraphs (a)(1) through 

(5) of this section for the first year of the 

2-year inspection authorization period. 

(c) An inspection authorization holder 

who does not complete one of the 

activities set forth in § 65.93(a) (1) 

through (5) of this section by March 31 

of the first year of the 2-year inspection 

authorization period may not exercise 

inspection authorization privileges after 

March 31 of the first year. The 

inspection authorization holder may 

resume exercising inspection 

authorization privileges after passing an 

oral test from an FAA inspector to 

determine that the applicant’s 

knowledge of the applicable regulations 

and standards is current. An inspection 

authorization holder who passes this 

oral test is deemed to have completed 

the requirements of § 65.93(a) (1) 

through (5) by March 31 of the first year. 

Issued in Washington, DC on January 23, 

2007. 

Marion C. Blakey, 

Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 07–412 Filed 1–26–07; 8:48 am] 

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