[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 131 (Thursday, July 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 37211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17591]



Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 / Thursday, July 9, 1998 / 
Notices

[[Page 37211]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Proposed Advisory Circulars: 66-XX, Part 66--The New 
Certification Regulations for Aviation Maintenance Personnel; 66-XX, 
Recurrent Training for Aviation Maintenance Personnel, and 66-XX, 
Approval of Aviation Maintenance Technician (Transport) Training 
Program Providers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed advisory circulars (ACs) and 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests 
comments on the following proposed ACs: 66-XX, Part 66--The New 
Certification Regulations for Aviation Maintenance Personnel; 66-XX, 
Recurrent Training for Aviation Maintenance Personnel, and 66-XX, 
Approval of Aviation Maintenance Technician (Transport) Training 
Program Providers. The FAA recently has issued a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) titled Revision of Certification Requirements: 
Mechanics and Repairmen, published elsewhere in this separate part of 
the Federal Register. That NPRM would propose the addition of part 66 
of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) and make significant 
revisions to the certification and training requirements for aviation 
maintenance personnel. The proposed ACs would explain the changes 
proposed in the NPRM, provide guidance on complying with the recurrent 
training provisions of proposed part 66, and provide information to 
organizations seeking approval as aviation maintenance technician 
(transport) (AMT(T)) training providers.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 6, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed ACs to: Federal Aviation 
Administration, Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Division (AFS-
300), Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591. Comments may be examined 
at the above address between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Leslie K. Vipond, AFS-350, Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance 
Division, Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, telephone (202) 267-
3269.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    A copy of each draft AC may be obtained by contracting the person 
named above under For Further Information Contact. Interested persons 
are invited to comment on the proposed ACs by submitting such written 
data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Commenters should 
identify the AC to which comment is being made and submit comments in 
duplicate to the address specified above. By separate document 
published elsewhere in this separate part of the Federal Register, the 
FAA also is inviting interested persons to comment on the NPRM titled 
Revision of Certification Requirements: Mechanics and Repairmen. The 
FAA will consider comments on this notice and on the NPRM in deciding 
the final action of each. All communications received on or before the 
closing date for comments will be considered by the FAA before issuing 
the final ACs.

Discussion

    Current regulations prescribing the certification and training 
requirements for aviation maintenance personnel do not reflect the 
significant technological advances that have occurred in the aviation 
industry, the extensive differences in maintenance skills required of 
currently certificated personnel, and recent enhancements in training 
and instructional methods. To ensure the regulations governing aviation 
maintenance personnel remain consistent with changes in the aviation 
environment, the FAA has conducted a multiphase review of the 
certification and training requirements that pertain to mechanics and 
repairmen. A complete regulatory review of the certification 
requirements for these airmen has not been accomplished since the 
recodification of the Civil Air Regulations into the Federal Aviation 
Regulations on August 10, 1962.
    Elsewhere in this separate part of the Federal Register, the FAA 
has issued the NPRM titled Revision of Certification Requirements: 
Mechanics and Repairmen. The proposed rule would consolidate and 
clarify all certification, training, and experience requirements for 
aviation maintenance personnel in a newly established 14 CFR part 66. 
The proposed rule would create additional certificates and ratings and 
would modify the privileges and limitations of current certificates to 
respond more closely to the responsibilities of aviation maintenance 
personnel. In addition, the proposal would establish new training 
requirements that would enhance the technical capabilities of an 
increase the level of professionalism among aviation maintenance 
personnel. Further, the proposal would provide the FAA with essential 
demographic information that could be used to disseminate vital 
aviation safety and training information, thereby enhancing aviation 
safety. All of the proposals in the NPRM were extensively researched 
for the FAA by the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) Part 
65 Working Group and based on the ARCA's recommendations.
    To provide the public with additional guidance on complying with 
the proposed requirements, the FAA has drafted three ACs. AC 66-XX, 
Part 66--The New Certification Regulations for Aviation Maintenance 
personnel, discusses the new certification and training requirements in 
a question-and-answer format. AC 66-XX, Recurrent Training for Aviation 
Maintenance Personnel, provides guidance to aviation maintenance 
personnel concerning the fulfillment of recurrent training requirements 
proposed for holders of aviation maintenance technician (AMT) and 
AMT(T) certificates who exercise the privileges of their certificates 
for compensation or hire and do not participate in maintenance and 
preventive maintenance training programs regulated by 14 CFR part 121, 
135, or 145, AC 66-XX, Approval of Aviation Maintenance Technician 
(Transport) Training Program Providers, furnishes guidance to assist 
persons in obtaining FAA approval as AMT(T) training program providers.
    The proposed ACs would become effective only after a final rule 
revising the certification requirements for mechanics and repairmen 
becomes effective.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 26, 1998.
Ava L. Mims,
Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 98-17591 Filed 7-8-98; 8:45 am]
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