37172 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 65, 66, and 147

[Docket No. 27863; Notice No. 98–5]

RIN 2120–AF22

Revision of Certification

Requirements: Mechanics and

Repairmen

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

amend the Federal Aviation Regulations

(FAR) that prescribe the certification

and training requirements for mechanics

and repairmen. Current regulations

prescribing these requirements do not

reflect the extensive differences in the

maintenance skills required of currently

certificated personnel, the significant

technological advances that have

occurred in the aviation industry, and

the enhancements in training and

instructional methods that have affected

all aviation maintenance personnel. The

proposed rule would consolidate and

clarify all certification, training, and

experience requirements for aviation

maintenance personnel in a newly

established part of the Code of Federal

Regulations. 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, and increase

the level of professionalism among,

aviation maintenance personnel.

Further, as current rules do not provide

the FAA with an accurate assessment of

active aviation maintenance personnel,

the proposal also 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

this document have been extensively

researched for the FAA by the Aviation

Rulemaking Advisory Committee

(ARAC) Part 65 Working Group, and all

proposals made in this document are

based on the ARAC’s recommendations.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before November 6, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this proposed

rule should be delivered or mailed, in

triplicate, to: Federal Aviation

Administration, Office of the Chief

Counsel, Attn: Rules Docket (AGC–200),

Docket No. 27863, Room 915G, 800

Independence Avenue SW.,

Washington, DC 20591. Comments

submitted must be marked: ‘‘Docket No.

27863.’’ Comments also may be

submitted electronically to the

following Internet address: 9–NPRM–

CMTS@faa.dot.gov. Comments may be

examined in Room 915G on weekdays,

except Federal holidays, between 8:30

a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

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

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Comments relating to

the environmental, energy, federalism,

or economic impact that might result

from adopting the proposals in this

notice also are invited. Substantive

comments should be accompanied by

cost estimates. Comments should

identify the regulatory docket or notice

number and should be submitted in

triplicate to the Rules Docket address

specified above.

All comments received, as well as a

report summarizing each substantive

public contact with FAA personnel on

this rulemaking, will be filed in the

docket. The docket is available for

public inspection before and after the

comment closing date.

All comments received on or before

the closing date will be considered by

the Administrator before taking action

on this proposed rulemaking. Late-filed

comments will be considered to the

extent practicable. The proposals

contained in this notice may be changed

in light of the comments received.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must include a pre-addressed, stamped

postcard with those comments on which

the following statement is made:

‘‘Comments to Docket No. 27863.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

mailed to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Using a modem and suitable

communications software, an electronic

copy of this document may be

downloaded from the FAA regulations

section of the FedWorld electronic

bulletin board service (telephone: (703)

321–3339), the Government Printing

Office’s electronic bulletin board service

(telephone: (202) 512–1661), or the

FAA’s Aviation Rulemaking Advisory

Committee bulletin board service

(telephone: (800) 322–2722).

Internet users may reach the FAA’s

webpage at http://www.faa.gov/avr/

nprm/nprm.htm or the Government

Printing Office’s webpage at http://

www.access.gpo.gov/nara for access to

recently published rulemaking

documents.

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

Federal Aviation Administration, Office

of Rulemaking, ARM–1, 800

Independence Avenue SW.,

Washington, DC 20591, or by calling

(202) 267–9860. Communications must

identify the notice number of this

NPRM.

Persons interested in being placed on

the mailing list for future NPRMs

should request from the above office a

copy of Advisory Circular (AC) No. 11–

2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Distribution System, which describes

the application procedure.

Background

Statement of the Problem

In keeping with the FAA’s policy of

reviewing and upgrading regulations to

ensure that they are consistent with

changes in the aviation environment,

the FAA has conducted a multiphase

regulatory review to amend subparts D

and E of 14 CFR part 65, which pertain

to mechanics and repairmen. Since the

recodification of the Civil Air

Regulations into the FAR on August 10,

1962, a complete regulatory review of

the certification requirements for these

airmen has not been accomplished, and

few significant revisions to these

subparts have been made. However,

numerous technological advances in the

aviation industry, recent FAA and

international regulatory activities,

concerns over aging aircraft, and

enhancements in training methods have

significantly affected all aspects of

aviation maintenance operations.

Additionally, various and often

conflicting interpretations of the

existing regulations have resulted in

confusion among the airmen for whom

this part was intended. Based on these

factors, the FAA has instituted this

complete regulatory review of part 65,

subparts D and E.
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37173

History

In November 1989, a joint industry/

FAA part 65 review group was formed

to evaluate and review certification

requirements for mechanics and

repairmen. The review group’s objective

was to develop and present a unified

position on recommended changes to

part 65. The group was composed of

representatives from several aviation

associations and was coordinated by the

Professional Aviation Maintenance

Association (PAMA). FAA interests

were represented by the Aircraft

Maintenance Division (AFS–300) of the

FAA.

The review group conducted a series

of panel discussions throughout the

United States and, as a result, drafted

the ‘‘Industry/FAA Part 65 Review

Group Working Paper,’’ which was

completed on January 31, 1991. This

paper presented the issues of general

agreement within the review group and

issues that the group believed would

require further discussion.

In support of this regulatory review,

the FAA also completed a historical

review of part 65, subparts D and E, on

October 22, 1991. This review revealed

that, as of October 1991, there had been

17 amendments (1 of which was

rescinded), 3 petitions for rulemaking,

and 100 exemption actions to these

subparts since recodification in 1962. In

addition, one accident, the Aloha

Airlines Boeing 737 structural failure on

April 28, 1988, generated National

Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

recommendations related to amending

these subparts.

The three petitions for rulemaking

addressed issues associated with

establishing certificates and ratings for

avionics and instrument technicians,

recertifying mechanics, and allowing

applicants for mechanic certificates who

have not graduated from an aviation

maintenance technician school

approved under 14 CFR part 147 to take

the oral and practical tests for a

certificate or rating before completing

the required written tests.

The majority of the requests for

exemption, FAA policy letters, and legal

interpretations regarding mechanics

pertained to issues affecting inspection

authorization renewal or to general

eligibility and experience requirements.

The majority of requests for similar

actions concerning repairmen involved

issues pertaining to certificate privileges

and limitations.

During 1991, the FAA conducted a

survey of FAA regional offices on the

certification of mechanics, holders of

inspection authorizations, and

repairmen. A copy of this survey has

been placed in Docket No. 27863.

The survey questions were derived

from issues that were raised during FAA

participation in listening sessions with

aviation industry associations and the

International Civil Aviation

Organization (ICAO) Aircraft

Maintenance Engineer Licensing Panel

and from issues identified in legal

interpretations, petitions for exemption,

petitions for rulemaking, and

enforcement actions.

Results of this survey showed clear

support for: (1) replacing the term

‘‘mechanic’’ with ‘‘aviation maintenance

technician’’; (2) developing a system for

granting additional privileges and

limitations for mechanics; (3)

encouraging additional FAA

participation with ICAO and other

aviation authorities to standardize

training and certification of

maintenance personnel; (4) using

aviation maintenance instructor

experience to satisfy recent experience

requirements; (5) clarifying § 65.75(b),

regarding written test requirements; (6)

adding the term ‘‘facsimile’’ to § 65.16;

and (7) developing a separate certificate

or rating for balloon repairmen. The

majority of the respondents supported

changes in the English-language

requirements for mechanics and

repairmen, the continued acceptance of

military aircraft maintenance experience

as the basis for airframe and powerplant

mechanic certification, and changes in

the units of time (from months to hours)

used in current § 65.77 to measure

experience requirements for mechanics.

Further impetus for the part 65 review

came with the establishment of the

ARAC. The ARAC charter became

effective on February 5, 1991 (56 FR

2190, January 22, 1991). It was most

recently renewed on February 5, 1997

(FAA Order 1110.119C, Aviation

Rulemaking Advisory Committee;

March 3, 1997). The ARAC was

established to assist the FAA in the

rulemaking process by providing input

from outside the Federal Government on

major regulatory issues affecting

aviation safety. The ARAC includes

representatives of air carriers,

manufacturers, general aviation, labor

groups, colleges, universities,

associations, airline passenger groups,

and the general public. The ARAC’s

formation has given the FAA additional

opportunities to solicit information

directly from significantly affected

parties, who meet and exchange ideas

about proposed rules and existing rules

that should be revised or eliminated.

The FAA has received significant

assistance from the ARAC in this review

and in the formulation of the proposals

in this NPRM.

At its first meeting on air carrier/

general aviation maintenance issues on

May 24, 1991 (56 FR 20492, May 3,

1991), the ARAC established the Part 65

Working Group. The ARAC tasked this

Working Group to conduct a review of

the certification requirements for

mechanics, mechanics holding

inspection authorizations, and

repairmen. At that time, these

requirements were in part 65, subparts

D and E. Because the scope of the

Working Group’s task was extensive, the

group divided its review of the

certification requirements for aviation

maintenance personnel into two phases.

Once the first phase of this review

was complete, the ARAC analyzed the

efforts of the Working Group and made

a series of recommendations to the FAA,

which resulted in the FAA’s issuance of

Notice No. 94–27 on August 17, 1994

(59 FR 42430). That NPRM proposed: (1)

Establishing a separate part 66 for

aviation maintenance personnel; (2)

removing gender-specific terms from the

original regulation; (3) changing the

term ‘‘mechanic’’ to ‘‘aviation

maintenance technician’’; (4) changing

the term ‘‘repairman’’ to ‘‘aviation repair

specialist’’; (5) establishing the

equivalency of the aviation maintenance

technician certificate and the aviation

repair specialist certificate with current

mechanic and repairman certificates; (6)

allowing facsimiles to be used in the

process of replacing lost or destroyed

aviation maintenance technician and

aviation repair specialist certificates; (7)

requiring applicants to demonstrate

English-language proficiency by reading

and explaining appropriate maintenance

publications and by writing defect and

repair statements; (8) discontinuing the

certification of aviation maintenance

personnel who are employed outside

the United States and who are not

proficient in the English language; (9)

requiring all aviation maintenance

technician applicants to pass a written

test that would examine their

knowledge of all applicable

maintenance regulations; (10) clarifying

the requirement that each applicant for

an aviation maintenance technician

certificate pass all written tests before

applying for oral and practical tests; (11)

recognizing computer-based testing

methods; (12) specifying all experience

requirements in hours instead of months

for initial certification; (13) establishing

a basic competency requirement for

aviation maintenance technicians; (14)

allowing aviation maintenance

technicians to use equipment-specific

training as an additional means to

qualify for the exercise of certificate
37174 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

privileges; (15) permitting aviation

maintenance instructors to use

instructional time to satisfy currency

requirements; (16) establishing training

requirements for aviation maintenance

technicians who desire to use their

certificates for compensation or hire;

(17) extending the duration of an

inspection authorization from 1 to 2

years; and (18) expanding the renewal

options available to the holder of an

inspection authorization.

After further work by the Part 65

Working Group and the rapid

completion of the second phase of the

Working Group’s review of the

certification requirements for mechanics

and repairmen, the ARAC

recommended that the FAA consolidate

the proposals made in Notice 94–27

with those proposals made by the ARAC

at the completion of the second phase

of the regulatory review. This decision

was based on the ARAC’s evaluation

that the proposals made in the second

phase of the Part 65 Working Group’s

review of the certification requirements

for aviation maintenance personnel

would cause significant changes to the

format and content of proposed part 66,

as set forth in Notice No. 94–27, which

proposed the changes recommended by

the ARAC and the FAA after the

completion of the first phase of the

review. As a result of the creation of

new subparts in proposed part 66 for the

aviation maintenance technician

(transport) (AMT(T)) certificate and the

inspection authorization, the addition of

a separate rating for aviation

maintenance instructors, and the

creation of an additional aviation repair

specialist certificate, the ARAC

determined that the general organization

of part 66, as previously proposed,

would be greatly altered.

The FAA, in an effort to avoid

confusion in the implementation of the

final rule, agreed with the ARAC’s

recommendation and determined that

the changes proposed in the earlier

NPRM and the additional changes

proposed as a result of

recommendations made at the

completion of the second phase of the

regulatory review should be reconciled

and consolidated into a single NPRM

containing both sets of proposals.

Therefore, the FAA is withdrawing the

initial NPRM in a document published

elsewhere in this separate part of the

Federal Register. The FAA contends

that the creation of part 66, as set forth

in the earlier proposal, followed by a

series of sweeping changes to

implement the additional proposals set

forth in this NPRM, would have been

confusing to the aviation maintenance

community and would have hindered

the implementation of the changes that

the Working Group has set out to

accomplish.

The proposals developed during both

phases of the part 65 regulatory review,

and set forth in this NPRM, cover a

broad range of issues affecting the

certification of aviation maintenance

personnel. This NPRM reconciles the

proposals made in the earlier NPRM

with the proposals made as a result of

the completion of the second phase of

the ARAC’s review of the certification

requirements for aviation maintenance

personnel. As stated previously, all of

the proposals in this NPRM have been

extensively researched for the FAA by

the Part 65 Working Group, and all

proposals made in this NPRM are based

on the ARAC’s recommendations.

General Discussion of the Proposal

Modification of the Previous Proposal

A majority of the proposals developed

during the first phase of the regulatory

review and set forth in Notice No. 94–

27 also have been set forth in this

proposal. Of those 18 specific proposals

previously noted as being set forth in

the earlier NPRM, fewer than half have

been significantly modified in this

NPRM.

Many of the discrepancies between

the current proposal and the earlier

NPRM resulted from the previous

proposal to equate a mechanic

certificate to an aviation maintenance

technician (AMT) certificate. As a result

of the completion of the second phase

of this review, the FAA proposes the

creation of AMT and AMT(T)

certificates. The current mechanic

certificate with airframe and powerplant

ratings would be equivalent to the

proposed AMT(T) certificate with an

aircraft rating (with no loss of

privileges) and not the AMT certificate,

as stated in the earlier NPRM. The

original proposal to change the term

‘‘mechanic’’ to ‘‘aviation maintenance

technician’’ has, therefore, been

modified to reflect the proposed change.

All privileges granted to an AMT(T)

with an aircraft rating, as set forth in

this notice, would apply to the holder

of a current mechanic certificate with

airframe and powerplant ratings. The

holder of the proposed AMT certificate

with an aircraft rating would not

possess the full approval for return-toservice privileges of the holder of either

the current mechanic certificate with an

airframe and powerplant rating or the

proposed (and equivalent) AMT(T)

certificate with an aircraft rating.

This proposal also would combine the

current airframe and powerplant ratings

into a single ‘‘aircraft’’ rating. The FAA

would not issue any proposed

certificates with airframe and

powerplant ratings as stated in the

previous NPRM.

In the earlier NPRM, information

pertaining to inspection authorizations

was found solely in the subpart of

proposed part 66 that would pertain to

AMTs. The current proposal, however,

would create two certificates (the AMT

and AMT(T)), both of whose holders

would be eligible for inspection

authorization privileges. Therefore, the

proposal would remove those sections

that pertain to inspection authorizations

from the subpart, proposed in the earlier

NPRM, that was applicable solely to the

AMT certificate and place this

information in a separate subpart

applicable to AMT and AMT(T)

certificates. Additionally, the proposal

would not permit participation in

current inspection programs

recommended by the manufacturer or

other inspection programs established

by the registered owner or operator

under 14 CFR § 91.409(f)(3) or (4), as a

means of satisfying inspection

authorization renewal requirements.

By establishing a new type of aviation

repair specialist certificate based on

proficiency in a designated specialty

area but not linked to employment, this

proposal significantly reorganizes the

subpart of previously proposed part 66

applicable to aviation repair specialists.

Although Notice No. 94–27 states that a

valid repairman certificate would be

equal to an aviation repair specialist

certificate, under the proposal contained

in this notice, the current repairman

certificate would only be equivalent to

the aviation repair specialist certificate

issued on the basis of employment

(ARS–II) and not to the aviation repair

specialist certificate issued on the basis

of proficiency in a designated specialty

area (ARS–I) (unless the FAA issued the

current repairman certificate based on

compliance with a recognized national

standard, such as that established for

nondestructive inspection).

Additionally, as a result of comments

received on the earlier NPRM, the

proposal to specify practical experience

requirements in hours for the issuance

of an AMT certificate would be retained;

however, the time interval in which

recent experience requirements would

be measured would continue to be

stated in months. Also as a result of

comments received, this proposal would

propose a mandatory recurrent training

requirement for AMTs and AMT(T)s

who use their certificates for

compensation or hire; however, this

NPRM would not propose that this

recurrent training consist of a minimum

of 16 hours of recurrent training every
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37175

24 months, as stated in the previous

NPRM. To afford aviation maintenance

personnel greater latitude in the types of

training that could be used to qualify for

the exercise of certificate privileges, this

proposal would change the more

restrictive term ‘‘equipment-specific

training,’’ as set forth in the earlier

proposal, to ‘‘appropriate training.’’ The

proposal also would permit training on

the ‘‘tasks to be performed’’ to be used

to qualify a person for the exercise of

certificate privileges, rather than require

training to be on the ‘‘equipment on

which the work is to be performed.’’

Therefore, completion of training

sufficient to permit the exercise of

certificate privileges would not need to

be conducted on the identical make and

model of an item on which subsequent

work would be performed. Maintenance

personnel would be permitted to

complete training by performing similar

maintenance tasks on different makes

and models of equipment. This would

provide maintenance personnel with

increased opportunities to obtain

qualifying training without causing any

decrease in safety.

To decrease the possibility that a

certificate holder would have to make

any additional requests for a telegram or

facsimile to be used as proof of

certification after a replacement

certificate has been requested, this

NPRM also would increase the period of

validity of telegrams and facsimiles

used as proof of certification from 60

days to 90 days.

Additionally, the FAA has revised the

certificate eligibility requirements

relating to English-language proficiency

to permit aviation maintenance

personnel who are deaf, hard of hearing,

speech impaired, or possess similar

medical conditions, yet have a

command of the English language, to

meet certificate eligibility requirements.

Therefore, the FAA has added a

provision to the proposed certificate

eligibility requirements that would

permit an individual who has a

demonstrated proficiency in the English

language, but who may not be able to

meet the proposed requirements

because of a medical condition, to have

limitations placed on his or her

certificate that would permit the

exercise of certificate privileges.

New Proposals Based on the Completion

of the Second Phase of the Regulatory

Review of the Certification

Requirements for Mechanics and

Repairmen

Additional proposals developed

during Phase II of the regulatory review

and set forth in this NPRM would: (1)

establish AMT and AMT(T) certificates;

(2) establish additional training

requirements for individuals seeking the

AMT(T) certificate with an aircraft

rating; (3) consolidate current airframe

and powerplant ratings into a proposed

aircraft rating; (4) provide for the

registration of holders of AMT and

AMT(T) certificates; (5) establish an

aviation maintenance instructor rating;

(6) permit AMTs and AMT(T)s to

perform maintenance on horizontal card

liquid-filled compasses; (7) grant

inspection authorization privileges

based on the type of certificate held by

an individual; (8) require applicants for

the inspection authorization to

successfully complete an inspection

authorization refresher course before

application; (9) establish an aviation

repair specialist certificate that may be

issued independent of employment

(ARS–I), based on proficiency in

designated specialty areas; (10) require

the holder of any certificate issued

under proposed part 66 to notify the

FAA of a change of address to continue

to exercise the privileges of the

certificate; (11) establish procedures for

the approval of AMT(T) training

providers; (12) permit certain aviation

maintenance technician schools to test

applicants for the AMT certificate; (13)

establish procedures by which the

Administrator would be able to grant, by

waiver, certificates to applicants who

have not met certain requirements of

proposed part 66; and (14) replace the

term ‘‘written test’’ with ‘‘knowledge

test’’.

The remainder of this preamble

addresses the proposed changes

resulting from both phases of the FAA’s

review of the certification requirements

for mechanics and repairmen through a

discussion of the principal issues and in

a section-by-section analysis of the

proposed rule.

Principal Issues

Establishment of a Separate Subpart for

Aviation Maintenance Personnel

Current part 65, in addition to

regulating the certification requirements

for aviation maintenance personnel,

regulates the certification of airmen

such as aircraft dispatchers, air traffic

control tower operators, and parachute

riggers, whose certification

requirements and duties differ markedly

from those of aviation maintenance

personnel. Current industry estimates

indicate that there are more than

145,000 certificated mechanics and

repairmen. Among personnel

certificated by the FAA, the number of

certificated aviation maintenance

personnel is second only to the number

of certificated pilots. Aviation

maintenance personnel work in all

aspects of the aviation environment,

perform tasks vastly different from those

performed by other airmen, and are

affected by training and recent

experience requirements that are

substantially more extensive than those

affecting other airmen currently

regulated by part 65. The aviation

maintenance sector is one of the most

complex sectors of the aviation

community, and all aviation

maintenance personnel must possess

many technical skills. Therefore, the

FAA proposes to establish a new part 66

under the title ‘‘Certification: Aviation

maintenance personnel.’’ This new part

would be created by removing subparts

D (Mechanics) and E (Repairmen) from

current part 65 and by using these

existing subparts as the nucleus for the

newly created subpart B (Aviation

Maintenance Technicians), subpart C

(Aviation Maintenance Technicians

(Transport)), subpart D (Inspection

Authorizations), and subpart E

(Aviation Repair Specialists) under

proposed part 66. The sections of

current subpart A (General) of part 65

that apply to aviation maintenance

personnel would be included in subpart

A of proposed part 66.

The addition of this new part to the

FAR is warranted because of the

proposed creation of additional

certificates and ratings for aviation

maintenance personnel, the expansion

of current certification requirements,

and the increasing complexity of the

training and experience requirements

affecting aviation maintenance

personnel.

Redesignation of the Term ‘‘Mechanic’’

Because of changes in aircraft

technology, the amount of specialized

training required to perform aviation

maintenance has increased significantly

since the introduction of the term

‘‘mechanic.’’ The highly complex and

technical field of contemporary aviation

maintenance requires substantially more

than the manual skills typically

associated with individuals classified as

‘‘mechanics.’’ The FAA asserts that the

term ‘‘aviation maintenance technician’’

more completely describes the types of

skills necessary to maintain today’s

complex aircraft and more accurately

reflects the level of professionalism

found in the aviation maintenance

industry. Additionally, adoption of the

term ‘‘aviation maintenance technician’’

would standardize terminology

throughout the aviation industry and

make part 66 consistent with part 147

(which regulates aviation maintenance

technician schools), aviation

maintenance trade publications, and the
37176 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

civil aviation regulations of many ICAO

member states. Accordingly, the FAA

proposes not to use the term

‘‘mechanic’’ to designate certificates

issued under proposed part 66.

Establishment of Aviation Maintenance

Technician (AMT) Certificates and

Aviation Maintenance Technician

(Transport) (AMT(T)) Certificates

The Pilot and Aviation Maintenance

Technician Blue Ribbon Panel, in its

report titled ‘‘Pilots and Aviation

Maintenance Technicians for the

Twenty-First Century: An Assessment of

Availability and Quality,’’ noted that

current FAA certification requirements

do not give aviation maintenance

personnel the entry-level experience

and skills necessary for work involving

transport-category aircraft that employ

new technology. The panel further

noted that because of the rapid

acceleration of technological advances,

the ability of AMTs to master this new

technology without enhanced training is

becoming exceedingly difficult. The

Blue Ribbon Panel concluded that more

preparation and training are required to

meet the higher levels of qualification

that the aviation maintenance industry

demands.

The Blue Ribbon Panel strongly

recommended that the FAA develop the

means necessary to train aviation

maintenance personnel to a level of

expertise beyond the level currently

required. The FAA agrees that this

training must be accomplished to ensure

that aviation maintenance personnel

possess the necessary skills to maintain

the sophisticated aircraft that are in

service today.

In recognition of the increasing

complexity and integrated nature of the

systems found in transport-category

airplanes and transport-category

rotorcraft, and as a result of the Blue

Ribbon Panel’s and ARAC’s

recommendations, the FAA proposes

the creation of the AMT certificate and

the AMT(T) certificate.

Under the proposal, the holder of an

AMT(T) certificate with an aircraft

rating would possess full approval for

return-to-service privileges for all types

of aircraft, including those transportcategory aircraft certificated under 14

CFR part 25 or 14 CFR part 29.

Individuals obtaining this certificate

and rating after the effective date of the

rule would be required to complete

additional training in those systems and

procedures of critical importance to the

maintenance of sophisticated transportcategory aircraft. Holders of current

mechanic certificates with airframe and

powerplant ratings would not be

required to obtain this additional

training.

The holder of an AMT certificate with

an aircraft rating would possess all the

privileges of the AMT(T) certificate (and

the equivalent mechanic certificate with

airframe and powerplant ratings) except

for full approval for return-to-service

privileges of aircraft certificated under

part 25 or part 29.

The proposal would, however,

provide approval for return-to-service

privileges, for any aircraft certificated

under part 25 or part 29, to the holder

of the proposed AMT certificate under

certain limited and specified

circumstances. The proposal recognizes

that an AMT may occasionally be called

on to perform relatively uncomplicated

maintenance on aircraft certificated

under part 25 or part 29. The holder of

an AMT certificate would be permitted

to approve these aircraft for return to

service only after the performance of

those preventive maintenance tasks

specified in paragraph (c) of appendix A

to 14 CFR part 43, or after the

performance of certain tasks specified

by the Administrator. Those additional

tasks specified by the Administrator

would be published in advisory

material. These exceptions to permit the

approval for return to service of an

aircraft certificated under part 25 or 29

by an AMT recognize that in certain

limited circumstances an AMT may be

required to perform preventive

maintenance (or other tasks specifically

approved by the Administrator) on a

transport-category aircraft and approve

that aircraft for return to service. This

need could arise at a remote location

where an AMT(T) would not be

available.

An AMT would be permitted to

perform maintenance and preventive

maintenance on transport-category

aircraft but would be permitted to

approve for return to service only the

airframe, or aircraft engine, propeller,

appliance, component, or part of the

aircraft. The AMT certificate holder

would not be permitted to approve the

transport-category aircraft for return to

service following the completion of

tasks that are not specified in paragraph

(c) of appendix A to part 43, or those

tasks that have not otherwise been

specified by the Administrator.

In formulating this proposed rule, the

ARAC and the FAA considered

requiring certificate holders operating

under 14 CFR part 121 to ensure that

any person approving its aircraft for

return to service, regardless of the

aircraft’s certification basis, possess a

current and valid AMT(T) certificate.

This restriction would not apply,

however, to approval for return to

service of an aircraft after the

performance of those tasks specified in

paragraph (c) of appendix A to part 43

or other tasks approved by the

Administrator. The FAA solicits

comments on including the provisions

of this proposal in part 121. Based on

the comments received, the FAA may

adopt such provisions in a final rule.

Under the proposed rule, current

limitations pertaining to the approval of

items for return to service after the

completion of major repairs or major

alterations would be retained for

holders of the proposed AMT(T)

certificate and the AMT certificate with

an aircraft rating.

As a result of the regulatory changes

to the certification requirements in this

portion of the proposal and in the

section of this proposal pertaining to the

issuance of aviation repair specialist

certificates (discussed below), the

proposal would result in a certification

process that would be compatible with

that recommended by ICAO. The

proposed certificate structure also

would more closely reflect Transport

Canada’s proposed technician

certification structure and would,

therefore, facilitate the implementation

of the fairly comprehensive provisions

that pertain to the reciprocal acceptance

of maintenance actions by U.S. and

Canadian entities that operate under the

terms of the U.S.-Canadian Bilateral

Airworthiness Agreement.

Any current and valid mechanic

certificate with airframe and powerplant

ratings would be equivalent to an

AMT(T) certificate with an aircraft

rating. Therefore, any individual who

possesses a mechanic certificate with

airframe and powerplant ratings before

the effective date of the rule would

possess the same approval for return-toservice privileges as the holder of the

proposed AMT(T) certificate with an

aircraft rating. A valid mechanic

certificate with an airframe and

powerplant rating could be exchanged

for an AMT(T) certificate with an

aircraft rating. However, such an

exchange would not be necessary

because both certificates would

continue to be recognized by the FAA

and the privileges and limitations of the

certificates would be identical.

After the effective date of the rule, the

FAA would cease issuing and no longer

recognize mechanic certificates with

aircraft and aircraft engine ratings.

Mechanic certificates with these ratings

have not been issued since 1952.

Individuals who hold valid mechanic

certificates with aircraft and aircraft

engine ratings and who intend to

exercise the privileges of the AMT(T)

certificate are encouraged to exchange
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37177

these certificates for mechanic

certificates with airframe and

powerplant ratings, as specified in

current § 65.73(b), before the effective

date of the rule. If these individuals

exchange their mechanic certificates

with aircraft and aircraft engine ratings

for mechanic certificates with airframe

and powerplant ratings before the

effective date of the rule, these

individuals would hold the privileges of

the AMT(T) certificate after the effective

date of the rule. After the effective date

of the rule, a mechanic certificate with

aircraft and aircraft engine ratings could

not be exchanged for a valid mechanic

certificate with airframe and powerplant

ratings or an AMT(T) certificate with an

aircraft rating.

In addition, after the effective date of

the rule, the FAA would cease issuing

mechanic certificates with airframe and

powerplant ratings. However, mechanic

certificates with airframe and

powerplant ratings issued before the

effective date of the rule would continue

to be recognized by the FAA. The

proposal would not require holders of

valid mechanic certificates with

airframe and powerplant ratings to

exchange their certificates for the

proposed AMT(T) certificate. If the

holder of a valid mechanic certificate

with airframe and powerplant ratings

wished to exchange his or her certificate

for an AMT(T) certificate after the

effective date of the rule, that individual

could do so without having to receive

any additional training. In the event of

a lost or destroyed certificate, the holder

of a valid mechanic certificate with

airframe and powerplant ratings would

be issued an AMT(T) certificate with an

aircraft rating. A mechanic, however,

would not be precluded from

completing the AMT(T) training

curriculum (or obtaining credit for

previous equivalent training).

Establishment of Additional Training

Requirements for Holders of the

Aviation Maintenance Technician

(Transport) Certificate

An essential prerequisite for an

individual to obtain the proposed

AMT(T) certificate would be the

completion of an AMT(T) training

program. Successful completion of this

program would ensure that a person

approving transport-category aircraft for

return to service would possess the

requisite level of expertise necessary to

accomplish such tasks.

All aviation maintenance personnel

must possess a basic level of knowledge

and skill to maintain an aircraft

properly and approve that aircraft for

return to service. Therefore, the FAA

contends that the complexity of large

transport aircraft systems and the

enhanced level of safety required in air

carrier operations, where transportcategory aircraft are primarily used,

necessitate that aviation maintenance

personnel approving these aircraft for

return to service possess additional

specialized skills and training.

The FAA recognizes that acquiring

these skills is a time-consuming process

and that today’s mechanics often learn

the requisite skills while working for an

air carrier or repair station. However,

whether a current mechanic has these

skills cannot be readily discerned

through a review of an individual’s

current certification record. The

proposed AMT(T) certificate would

ensure that all aviation maintenance

personnel certificated after the effective

date of the rule who approve transportcategory aircraft for return to service

possess these skills. The AMT(T)

certificate also would provide the

individual with a readily available,

FAA-sanctioned recognition of a level of

proficiency that previously could not be

determined by reference to the

individual’s certificate.

Through the creation of this

certificate, operators of aircraft

certificated under part 25 or part 29

could be assured that the holder of an

AMT(T) certificate issued after the

effective date of the rule possesses the

requisite knowledge and skill to

approve these aircraft for return to

service. This would enable operators to

employ aviation maintenance personnel

who could more rapidly meet the needs

of their specific operating environment

without having to participate in

extensive operator-sponsored training

programs before performing

maintenance on these aircraft.

Therefore, operators would be able to

focus their training resources on aircraft

type and difference training rather than

on primary aircraft maintenance skills

for transport-category aircraft. Aviation

maintenance technician training schools

also would be able to apply their

training resources more efficiently and

could spend more time training their

students in the fundamental concepts

and basic skills of aviation maintenance.

Under the proposal, an applicant for

an AMT(T) certificate who does not

already possess the equivalent mechanic

certificate with airframe and powerplant

ratings would only be required to

possess a current and valid AMT

certificate and present evidence that he

or she has completed an AMT(T)

training program, administered by an

approved training provider, that meets

specific curriculum requirements. These

training requirements would be

designed to ensure that the holder of the

certificate is competent to approve these

aircraft for return to service.

The proposed training requirements

for the issuance of the AMT(T)

certificate with an aircraft rating would

place no burden on current mechanics

with airframe and powerplant ratings.

Currently certificated mechanics

possess approval for return-to-service

authority for aircraft certificated under

part 25 and part 29. Any holder of a

current and valid mechanic certificate

with airframe and powerplant ratings

would, therefore, possess the privileges

of the AMT(T) certificate with the

aircraft rating. The proposal would not

require a certificate exchange, and the

FAA would recognize a current

mechanic certificate with airframe and

powerplant ratings as being equivalent

to the proposed AMT(T) certificate with

the aircraft rating. As stated previously,

if the holder of a valid mechanic

certificate with airframe and powerplant

ratings wished to exchange the

certificate for an AMT(T) certificate

with an aircraft rating, the individual

could do so after the effective date of the

rule without having to receive any

additional training.

After the effective date of the

proposed rule, individuals intending to

obtain an AMT(T) certificate would

have to possess a current and valid

AMT certificate and attend and

successfully complete an AMT(T)

training program, given by an approved

training provider, that consists of 573

hours of training in subjects of critical

importance to individuals who maintain

aircraft certificated under part 25 or part

29. Training would be provided in

subject areas such as electronics,

composites, publications, safety and

environmental concerns, structural

repair, and powerplants and systems.

Inclusion of these specific subject areas

and the determination of the specific

amount of training time that would be

devoted to each individual subject area

were specifically recommended by the

ARAC after extensive consultations with

aviation maintenance personnel,

aviation maintenance educators, and

operators of transport-category aircraft.

The FAA, in conjunction with the

ARAC and the Part 65 Working Group,

has developed a detailed list of those

individual subjects that it recommends

should be required for inclusion in each

subject area. The FAA has not, however,

proposed that these individual subjects

be included in the proposal, as their

inclusion would require that any future

proposal to change the subjects taught

would have to be accomplished through

rulemaking or through the grant of a

petition for exemption. The FAA would

publish, before the effective date of the
37178 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

final rule, a detailed list, in advisory

material, of those subjects to be taught

in an AMT(T) training program. By

publishing this subject list in advisory

material, the FAA could inform AMT(T)

training providers of those subjects that

should be taught in an AMT(T) training

program and, in response to future

developments in aviation technology,

rapidly revise the list of subjects that are

taught.

Because much of this training also can

be obtained in aviation maintenance

training programs used by certificate

holders operating under 14 CFR part

121 or part 135, or repair stations

certificated under 14 CFR part 145,

individuals currently employed by these

operators would be permitted to use the

training gained in such programs to

satisfy the requirements for the

proposed AMT(T) certificate. However,

these training programs would be

required to meet the same standards as

those of an AMT(T) training program

administered by an approved training

provider. The FAA contends that the

flexibility provided by these training

programs would enable the operator to

tailor its training programs to meet

current organizational maintenance

requirements.

To refrain from unduly penalizing

individuals currently possessing a

mechanic certificate with a single rating,

the effective date of the final rule is

proposed for 18 months after its

publication. This would permit these

individuals to acquire either the

airframe or powerplant rating, as

appropriate, and facilitate the issuance

of an AMT(T) certificate with an aircraft

rating and its associated privileges and

limitations. An individual possessing a

mechanic certificate with a single rating

would still be permitted to exercise the

current privileges of that individual

rating and those specified under

proposed § 66.109, except as noted in

proposed § 66.105.

Under the proposed rule, an

individual holding a mechanic

certificate with a single rating would be

considered to hold the equivalent of an

AMT(T) certificate limited to the

privileges of the single rating. If the

holder wished to exchange the

certificate for an AMT(T) certificate, the

AMT(T) certificate would include a

specific endorsement limiting the

certificate holder to the exercise of

privileges identical to those of the

current certificate and rating. In either

case, the holder would not be permitted

to approve for return to service the

powerplant or propeller of any aircraft

certificated under this chapter (or any

related appliance, component, or part

thereof) if the individual possessed only

an airframe rating, or the airframe of any

aircraft certificated under this chapter

(or any related appliance, component, or

part thereof) if the individual possessed

only a powerplant rating. To have the

limitation removed before the effective

date of the rule, the individual would

have to meet the knowledge, experience,

and skill requirements necessary to

obtain either the aircraft or powerplant

rating, as appropriate. After the effective

date of the rule, to have the limitation

removed, the individual would have to

receive the 573 hours of training

required for the AMT(T) certificate.

Therefore, the FAA strongly encourages

anyone who holds a mechanic

certificate with a single rating interested

in obtaining an AMT(T) certificate

without a limitation to obtain both the

airframe and powerplant ratings before

the effective date of the rule.

Additionally, certain individuals

currently enrolled in aviation

maintenance training programs may

have enrolled in these training programs

with the intent to apply only for one

rating when they apply for the current

mechanic certificate. To give these

individuals the opportunity to complete

their intended training without the

additional expense of training for an

unwanted rating, the FAA will continue

to issue mechanic certificates and their

associated ratings until the effective

date of the rule. After that period, the

FAA will only accept applications for,

and issue, the proposed new certificates

and ratings.

Most individuals currently enrolled in

aviation maintenance training programs

have enrolled in these programs with

the intent of obtaining the approval for

return-to-service privileges of the

current mechanic certificate with both

airframe and powerplant ratings. The

FAA recognizes that some of these

individuals may have only limited

resources and may have enrolled in

current mechanic training programs

without notice of the proposed

additional training requirements for the

AMT(T) rating. The FAA contends that

by establishing an effective date for the

final rule as 18 months after its

publication, these individuals would be

provided with an adequate period of

time to complete their training

objectives and obtain mechanic

certificates with airframe and

powerplant ratings. Additionally, the

FAA contends that the aviation

maintenance training industry would

require 18 months to develop adequate

programs to train applicants for the

AMT(T) certificate; therefore, a

proposed effective date of 18 months

after publication of the final rule is

warranted.

Although the holder of a current

mechanic certificate with airframe and

powerplant ratings would possess the

same privileges as the holder of an

AMT(T) certificate with an aircraft

rating and could exchange that

mechanic certificate with airframe and

powerplant ratings for an AMT(T)

certificate with an aircraft rating

without having to receive additional

training, the FAA would encourage all

current mechanics to complete the

proposed training requirements for the

AMT(T) certificate and aircraft rating.

Creation of an Aircraft Rating To

Replace Current Airframe and

Powerplant Ratings

In view of the integrated nature of

today’s aircraft and their associated

systems, the FAA recognizes that the

differences between the privileges and

limitations conveyed by the current

airframe and powerplant ratings are

becoming less distinct. The FAA

contends that the demands of current

and future aviation technology require

that aviation maintenance personnel

have a broad-based level of knowledge.

These demands frequently require the

concurrent use of expertise associated

with the disciplines of both airframe

and powerplant maintenance.

Therefore, the proposal would require

an applicant for an AMT certificate to

possess the knowledge currently

required of an applicant for the current

mechanic certificate with both airframe

and powerplant ratings at the time the

individual applies for the proposed

AMT certificate. The FAA contends

that, by establishing an aircraft rating

encompassing both the current airframe

and powerplant ratings and by requiring

an applicant to possess the training for

both disciplines at the time of

application for an AMT certificate,

aviation maintenance personnel will

better understand the nature and

interrelationship of aviation systems as

opposed to the individual maintenance

disciplines. Such knowledge should

lead to a greater understanding of how

individual components affect other

components within an aircraft and to a

subsequent increase in the quality of

aviation maintenance.

Similarly, an applicant for an AMT(T)

certificate would be required to

complete additional training that would

encompass the disciplines of airframe

and powerplant maintenance for

transport-category aircraft and systems.

After completion of this training, an

applicant for an AMT(T) certificate

would be awarded the AMT(T)

certificate with an aircraft rating.

The proposal also would provide

aviation maintenance technician
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37179

schools with greater flexibility in

developing their individual course

curriculums. By requiring an applicant

to apply for the consolidated aircraft

rating, aviation maintenance technician

schools would have the incentive to

integrate the training requirements for

each of the current ratings into a single

consolidated program. This integration

should result in a more productive and

less costly use of the resources of these

schools. It also should eliminate any

duplication of training requirements

found in separate airframe and

powerplant rating training programs.

As a result of the issuance of the

aircraft rating to new applicants for the

AMT certificate, the differentiation of

tasks between current holders of the

airframe rating or the powerplant rating

would gradually diminish. To give the

FAA the opportunity to develop new

types of testing procedures to facilitate

this change, the proposal would remove

current regulatory language stating that

the installation and maintenance of

propellers is covered on the powerplant

test and that an applicant for a

powerplant rating must show the ability

to make satisfactory minor repairs to,

and minor alterations of, propellers.

Although the FAA will continue to

certificate applicants using these

procedures, removing this language

would permit the FAA to develop

testing procedures that are more flexible

and more appropriately suited to the

integrated aviation maintenance

environment.

Establishment of Recurrent Training

Requirements for Certificated Aviation

Maintenance Personnel

Under current part 65, there are no

specific provisions that require

recurrent training for certificated

mechanics. Current §§ 121.375 and

135.433 require that an operator have a

training program to ensure that persons

performing maintenance or preventive

maintenance functions be informed

fully about procedures, techniques, and

new equipment in use. Additionally,

§ 145.2(a) requires that repair stations

performing maintenance for a part 121

operator comply with part 121, subpart

L (which includes the requirements of

§ 121.375).

In an effort to ensure that all AMTs

and AMT(T)s are fully informed of

current maintenance practices in the

rapidly changing aviation maintenance

environment, the FAA proposes the

adoption of recurrent training

requirements for AMTs and AMT(T)s

who use their certificates for

compensation or hire. The proposal

would particularly benefit AMTs and

AMT(T)s who support operations

conducted under part 91 and who do

not receive training comparable to that

received by AMTs and AMT(T)s who

support operations conducted under

part 121, part 135, or § 145.2(a). This

proposal would ensure that all holders

of AMT or AMT(T) certificates who

exercise the privileges of their

certificates for compensation or hire,

and who have the sole responsibility for

ensuring the airworthiness of the

equipment on which they perform

maintenance, meet training

requirements similar to those in place

for AMTs and AMT(T)s supporting

operations under part 121, part 135, or

§ 145.2(a). In addition, this proposal

also would ensure that all AMTs and

AMT(T)s who support U.S.-certificated

repair stations that do not have

maintenance and preventive

maintenance training programs receive

comparable training.

Under the proposed rule, an AMT or

AMT(T) who meets the prescribed work

experience requirements and wishes to

exercise, for compensation or hire, the

privileges of the certificate or rating

would be required to complete recurrent

training.

Individuals who participate in

currently required maintenance and

preventive maintenance training

programs provided by a certificate

holder would meet the proposed

recurrent training requirement.

Individuals who do not receive

recurrent training through a training

program provided by a certificate holder

could use a number of methods to meet

the proposed requirement. An AMT

refresher course, inspection

authorization refresher course, or a

series of such courses that are

appropriate to the duties of an AMT or

AMT(T) and acceptable to the

Administrator could be used to satisfy

the proposed recurrent training

requirement. The FAA notes that by

including a specific reference to the

inspection authorization refresher

course, the proposal seeks to encourage

completion of this course by an AMT or

AMT(T) who does not hold a current

inspection authorization and, thereby,

enhance that individual’s understanding

of the regulations relevant to the

inspection authorization.

As an alternative to training provided

in the form of an AMT, AMT(T), or

inspection authorization refresher

course, an AMT or AMT(T) who wishes

to comply with the proposed recurrent

training requirements and to exercise,

for compensation or hire, the privileges

of the certificate, may complete other

training appropriate to the duties of an

AMT or AMT(T). This training may be

broad-based and would consist of any

course, or series of courses, of

instruction acceptable to the

Administrator. A description of those

additional types of courses that would

be considered acceptable to the

Administrator would be published in

advisory material accompanying the

publication of the final rule. For

example, the completion of courses

dealing with general maintenance

practices or regulations applicable to

maintenance operations would satisfy

the intent of this proposed rule.

The FAA recognizes that many

current mechanics who support part 91

operations, or other maintenance

facilities without maintenance or

preventive maintenance training

programs in place, receive periodic

maintenance training. For example,

these mechanics may receive training

through aviation training centers or

manufacturers’ courses. The proposed

rule would permit this type of

maintenance instruction to be credited

toward completion of the proposed

recurrent training requirement,

provided the instruction is acceptable to

the Administrator.

The proposal also would include

specific provisions applicable to

individuals exercising the privileges of

their certificates while employed by an

operator under part 121 or part 135, or

by a repair station performing work for

an operator under part 121. Such

individuals would be considered to

meet the recurrent training requirements

set forth in the proposed rule.

In addition, an aviation maintenance

instructor providing instruction for an

aviation maintenance training program

acceptable to the Administrator, or

serving as the direct supervisor of

individuals providing aviation

maintenance instruction for an aviation

maintenance training program

acceptable to the Administrator, would

meet the proposed recurrent training

requirements. As a result of their

position as aviation maintenance

instructors, these individuals are

continually exposed to current

maintenance practices and often

disseminate information about new

practices, techniques, and equipment to

the aviation maintenance community.

These individuals would be considered

fully informed about current

maintenance practices.

The FAA notes, however, that an

aviation maintenance instructor could

meet the requirements for the exercise

of the privileges of the aircraft rating but

might not be able to exercise the

privileges of the aviation maintenance

instructor rating if the instructor has

provided less than 300 hours of

instruction or served as a supervisory
37180 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

instructor for less than 300 hours during

the preceding 24 months. However,

recent experience requirements for the

aviation maintenance instructor rating

could be met if the individual

successfully completed an AMT

refresher course (or other course of

instruction acceptable to the

Administrator and appropriate to the

duties of an aviation maintenance

instructor) or if the Administrator

specifically determined that the

individual met the standard prescribed

for the issuance of the rating.

Although the FAA considered

establishing a requirement that

recurrent training consist of a minimum

of 16 hours every 24 months for AMTs

and AMT(T)s supporting operations

under part 91 and working for

compensation or hire, the FAA has not

proposed such action in this NPRM. The

inclusion of a 16-hour recurrent training

requirement for these individuals had

been recommended by some

participants in the Part 65 Working

Group; however, it was the general

consensus of the group that the specific

number of hours for any proposed

recurrent training requirement should

be determined at a later date. Although

written comments were solicited from

all members of the group to provide

justification for a specific recurrent

training requirement, the FAA did not

receive written comments providing

such justification.

Currently, the FAA is engaged in a

number of studies and activities to

determine the appropriate level of

recurrent training for aviation

maintenance personnel. Specifically,

the FAA is conducting an expanded job

task analysis of those tasks performed

by all aviation maintenance personnel

to determine the appropriate focus and

depth of recurrent training. The FAA

also is analyzing accident data and

airmen violations in which maintenance

elements were a causal factor and is

surveying its field inspectors in an effort

to develop recurrent training

requirements. The FAA also is

sponsoring an ongoing study to

determine the feasibility of forming a

national training council that is

composed of individuals,

representatives of the aviation

maintenance industry, and the FAA to

determine proposed training

requirements for aviation maintenance

personnel. As a result of these efforts,

the FAA is evaluating the

appropriateness of consolidating all

maintenance training into a single

future NPRM and issuing detailed

advisory material to provide specific

guidance for the completion of training

requirements. The FAA strongly

supports the concept of recurrent

training for aviation maintenance

personnel and has proposed a recurrent

training requirement in proposed part

66 that would establish a basic recurrent

training for aviation maintenance

personnel.

The recurrent training required under

this proposal, as set forth in proposed

§§ 66.65 and 66.111, encompasses more

types of training than the types of

training that may be used to satisfy the

provisions of proposed §§ 66.63 and

66.109 for the exercise of specific

privileges granted to AMTs and

AMT(T)s with an aircraft rating.

‘‘Training acceptable to the

Administrator on the tasks to be

performed,’’ as set forth in proposed

§§ 66.63 and 66.109, is encompassed

within the concept of training

‘‘appropriate to the duties’’ of an AMT

or AMT(T), as set forth in proposed

§§ 66.65 and 66.111, and may be used

to satisfy both requirements. However,

compliance with the proposed recurrent

training requirements of § 66.65 or

§ 66.111 does not automatically

authorize the AMT to perform a specific

task. For example, an AMT who

received maintenance training on a

specific make and model of aircraft,

which enabled the AMT to perform

work on that specific aircraft under

proposed § 66.63 or § 66.109, also may

credit the instruction received as

satisfying the recurrent training

requirements in proposed § 66.65 or

§ 66.111. The completion of a course in

general maintenance procedures would

not, however, provide the specialized

level of training required by the

proposal to permit an AMT or an

AMT(T) to perform work on a specific

make and model of aircraft. (The use of

training to qualify for the exercise of

certificate privileges is discussed more

thoroughly below.)

An individual who exercises the

privileges of an AMT certificate or an

AMT(T) certificate, but not for

compensation or hire, would not need

to complete the proposed recurrent

training requirements. These

individuals perform only limited work

on aircraft that they own or on a limited

range of aeronautical equipment. In

such cases, knowledge of a broad range

of current maintenance technologies is

not necessarily required. Although the

FAA encourages these personnel to

attend recurrent training, the FAA has

determined that a mandatory recurrent

training requirement for these

individuals is not currently warranted.

The proposal also sets forth a

provision that would permit an AMT or

AMT(T) who has not met the work

experience and proposed recurrent

training requirements of the certificate

within the preceding 24 months to

exercise the privileges of the certificate

(including for compensation or hire) by

completing requalification training

acceptable to the Administrator. A

specific minimum time requirement and

course content for requalification

training has not been specified in the

proposed regulation to provide

instructors and examiners with greater

flexibility in assisting noncurrent AMTs

and AMT(T)s to achieve the required

proficiency. To be considered

acceptable to the Administrator, any

requalification training would need to

include a review of those regulations

applicable to the maintenance,

preventive maintenance, or alteration of

aircraft under the provisions of the FAR.

The holder also may continue to

exercise all of the privileges of the

certificate and associated ratings if the

Administrator finds that the AMT or

AMT(T) is competent to exercise those

privileges. Passing an oral and practical

test with a designated examiner

(currently, a designated mechanic

examiner (DME)) also would satisfy all

recent experience requirements.

In recognition of enhancements in

training technology, the proposed rule

also requires successful completion of

these courses, rather than attendance

and successful completion. Therefore,

the Administrator may find self-study

courses acceptable for fulfilling the

requirements specified in proposed

§ 66.65 or § 66.111.

This proposal for continued aviation

maintenance training addresses

concerns such as those expressed in

recent proposals to require formal

training for all aircraft mechanic

applicants. In conjunction with the

issuance of a final rule, the FAA will

develop policy on the content and

conduct of any AMT refresher course,

AMT(T) refresher course, the range of

training considered appropriate to the

duties of an AMT or AMT(T), and

requalification training. Any AMT

refresher course or AMT(T) refresher

course should also include a substantial

review of those regulations pertinent to

the exercise of the privileges of the AMT

certificate or AMT(T) certificate, as

appropriate.

Registration of Holders of Aviation

Maintenance Technician (AMT)

Certificates and Aviation Maintenance

Technician (Transport) (AMT(T))

Certificates

The FAA currently has no accurate

means to determine the number or

location of active aviation maintenance

personnel. Without this demographic

information, the FAA is unable to make
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37181

accurate assessments of the status of the

current mechanic population or provide

currently active mechanics with

essential safety and training

information.

Based on the number of certificates

issued, the FAA estimates that the

number of certificated mechanics is

second only to the number of

certificated pilots. However, pilots

(other than those of gliders or free

balloons) are required to obtain a

medical certificate issued under 14 CFR

part 67 to exercise the privileges of their

certificates. As a result of this process,

the FAA is able to update its airman

records effectively and make accurate

assessments of the size of the active

pilot population. Because no similar

form of recurrent medical testing is

required for current mechanics, the FAA

is unable to assess accurately the

number of active mechanics or delete

deceased, inactive, or ineligible

mechanics from its records. Therefore,

any estimate of the current and active

mechanic population is solely a matter

of conjecture. Lack of this vital

demographic information seriously

hinders the FAA’s ability to make

accurate predictions of future industry

requirements and to communicate

important safety information to active

mechanics.

In its report, the Blue Ribbon Panel

expressed its concern about the FAA’s

aviation maintenance personnel records.

The panel noted that, although the FAA

issues approximately 20,000 mechanic

certificates annually, the FAA has no

procedures to identify the current

number of active mechanics or to obtain

other necessary demographic

information pertaining to these

individuals. In view of this finding, the

panel recommended that the FAA

conduct periodic registration of

mechanics to obtain vital information

about FAA-certificated aviation

maintenance personnel and to ensure

that these individuals could be provided

with safety and training information

whenever necessary. The Part 65

Working Group made a similar proposal

to the ARAC, which concurred with the

recommendation.

The FAA has accepted the ARAC and

Blue Ribbon Panel recommendations;

therefore, the FAA proposes to establish

a periodic registration requirement for

each holder of an AMT or AMT(T)

certificate. In an effort to obtain a valid

initial assessment of the current number

of active aviation maintenance

personnel, the FAA proposes that each

AMT and AMT(T) be required to notify

the FAA of his or her current address

within 12 months after the effective date

of this rule. The FAA contends that a

12-month period is sufficient to obtain

a basic estimate of the current and

active AMT and AMT(T) population

and that any deviations from the

estimate of the current population, as a

result of changes to the AMT and

AMT(T) population during the 12-

month period, would be statistically

insignificant. A 12-month period also

would give all current certificate

holders adequate notice of this proposed

requirement and time to comply with

the requirement.

After completion of this initial

registration period, AMTs and AMT(T)s

would be required to provide similar

registration information during every

subsequent 48-calendar-month period.

The FAA considers that a 48-month

continuing requirement is necessary to

provide an up-to-date record of current

and active AMTs and AMT(T)s. The

FAA contends that changes to the AMT

and AMT(T) populations, which occur

as a result of the death of certificate

holders or of personnel entering inactive

status and not complying with current

change of address requirements, would

become statistically significant after a

48-month period. To ensure an accurate

record of the size of the AMT and

AMT(T) population, a reassessment

would be required during each

consecutive 48-month period.

In an effort to eliminate the repetitive

submission of current address

information to the FAA, an airman who

notifies the FAA of a change of address,

obtains an additional certificate, rating,

or inspection authorization issued

under this (or any other) part, or

provides the FAA with current address

information as a result of the

application for an airman medical

certificate during this period would be

considered to have fulfilled the

registration requirement.

The FAA has not proposed a periodic

registration requirement for holders of

aviation repair specialist certificates

because holders of an aviation repair

specialist certificate (except

experimental aircraft builders) cannot

exercise the privileges of that certificate

without being employed by a

certificated entity. Because the FAA

could obtain any required demographic

information pertaining to the holders of

aviation repair specialist certificates

from the operator or repair station under

which an aviation repair specialist is

exercising privileges, the proposal

would not require the submission of

registration information from aviation

repair specialists. Therefore, the FAA

contends that requiring the registration

of aviation repair specialists would

place an unnecessary burden on these

individuals.

The responsibility for complying with

the proposed registration requirement

would rest solely on AMT and AMT(T)

certificate holders. To simplify the

proposed registration requirement for

individual certificate holders, the FAA

would only require AMT and AMT(T)

certificate holders to provide their

names and current addresses. The

submission of any additional

information would not be required, nor

would the submission be required to be

made on any specific form. To

encourage compliance with these

proposed requirements, an AMT or

AMT(T) certificate holder who does not

provide current address information to

the FAA during the registration period

would not be permitted to exercise the

privileges of the certificate until that

individual had complied with the

proposed registration requirement.

The FAA specifically requests

comments on its proposed registration

of AMT and AMT(T) certificate holders.

Based on its analysis of comments

received, the FAA may adjust the

lengths of the proposed initial and

recurring registration periods.

Establishment of Training as an

Additional Means for Aviation

Maintenance Personnel To Qualify for

the Exercise of Certificate Privileges

Through the use of training, the

proposal would provide holders of AMT

certificates and AMT(T) certificates with

an additional means to remain qualified

to approve for return to service any

aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or part

and to supervise the maintenance,

preventive maintenance, alteration, and

approval for return to service of these

items.

Under current § 65.81, a certificated

mechanic may supervise maintenance

operations or approve and return to

service an aircraft, appliance, or part if

the certificate holder has: (1) Previously

performed the work, (2) performed the

work to the satisfaction of the

Administrator, or (3) performed the

work under the direct supervision of a

certificated mechanic or repairman who

has had previous experience with that

specific task.

The proposal would allow AMTs and

AMT(T)s to use appropriate training to

obtain the competency necessary to

supervise these operations or approve

an item for return to service without

previously having performed the work

that is anticipated. Through the

adoption of appropriate training to

satisfy this experience requirement, the

FAA recognizes enhancements in

aviation maintenance training, which

can provide the AMT with technical
37182 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

knowledge equivalent to knowledge

gained in the work environment.

However, in allowing training to replace

actual work experience, the FAA would

require an appropriate level of

specificity between the training and the

actual work to be performed or

supervised. Therefore, the proposal

would require that the training used to

satisfy this requirement be appropriate

to the equipment on which the work is

to be performed. For example, a course

of instruction detailing the maintenance

tasks for the same make and model

aircraft on which an AMT will perform

work, or a course of instruction

detailing the maintenance tasks for a

part or appliance on which the

individual will perform work, would

satisfy the provisions of the proposed

rule and permit the exercise of

certificate privileges under proposed

§ 66.63 or § 66.109. Such courses may be

provided by any manufacturer,

individual, or organization whose

training has been found acceptable to

the Administrator.

Training of a more general nature,

which may be used to satisfy recent

experience requirements as proposed in

§§ 66.65 and 66.111, may not be

sufficiently specific to allow an AMT or

AMT(T) to perform work on a specific

aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or

part. For example, a course in the FAR

that is applicable to maintenance

procedures would not satisfy the

provisions of proposed § 66.63 or

§ 66.109 but could be used to satisfy the

provisions of proposed § 66.65 or

§ 66.111, respectively.

The FAA also proposes to clarify the

intent of current § 65.81 by proposing

language in part 66 that would allow

AMT and AMT(T) certificate holders

who desire to exercise supervisory,

return-to-service, or approval

responsibilities, to demonstrate, to the

satisfaction of the Administrator, the

ability to perform the work. The current

regulation requires actual performance

of the work.

An additional change to the current

rule would enhance the ability of

noncurrent AMTs and AMT(T)s to meet

the recent experience requirements to

exercise the privileges of their

certificates and ratings. The proposed

rule would allow these individuals to

credit the time they work under the

supervision of a certificated AMT or

AMT(T) toward recent experience

requirements. The FAA considers that

work performed by a certificated but

noncurrent AMT or AMT(T) under such

circumstances would provide the

individual with a level of experience

equivalent to actual performance of the

work.

Use of Instructional Time by Aviation

Maintenance Instructors To Satisfy

Recent Experience Requirements

The purpose of recent experience

requirements is to ensure that all

aviation maintenance personnel are

familiar with current maintenance

practices and the applicable FAR. The

aviation maintenance instructor must

keep abreast of current maintenance

practices in a wide variety of disciplines

to provide high-quality instruction.

Aviation maintenance instructors

perform a critical function in the

aviation maintenance education

process, and the FAA believes that the

changes set forth in the proposed rule

would recognize this importance.

Under current § 65.83, there are no

provisions for allowing individuals

involved in aviation maintenance

instruction to use that experience for

maintaining the recent experience

required to exercise the privileges of

their certificate and ratings. The FAA

recognizes that the experience gained

while providing aviation maintenance

instruction or directly supervising other

aviation maintenance instructors is

commensurate with the experience

obtained while directly performing

aviation maintenance. The FAA already

recognizes instructional experience for

holders of an inspection authorization

in current § 65.91(c)(2). Within that

section, the phrase ‘‘actively engaged’’

includes instructors who are exercising

the privileges of their certificate and

ratings at an aviation maintenance

technician school certificated under part

147. Therefore, the FAA proposes to

allow the use of instructional time to

satisfy recent experience requirements

for holders of the AMT and AMT(T)

certificates.

Under the proposed rule, the holder

of an AMT or AMT(T) certificate with

an aircraft rating could meet recent

experience requirements by serving as

an aviation maintenance instructor or by

directly supervising other aviation

maintenance instructors. The

instruction concerned would have to be

directly related to aviation maintenance

and acceptable to the Administrator so

that the time an individual spends

providing instruction or directly

supervising other instructors is

equivalent to the experience gained

while performing aviation maintenance

tasks. For example, instructional time

provided for a part 147 aviation

maintenance technician school, an

approved air carrier maintenance

training program, an approved training

provider, or a manufacturer’s training

program would be acceptable and

would meet the intent of the proposed

rule.

AMT(T) Recent Experience

Requirements

Because the AMT(T) certificate would

upgrade the level of maintenance

proficiency of those individuals

performing maintenance on aircraft

certificated under part 25 or part 29, or

on any airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, or component part

thereof, the FAA would require that all

work experience necessary to meet

recent experience requirements for

retention of the privileges of this

certificate be maintained through work

performed or supervised, or through

instruction given or supervised, on

aircraft certificated under part 25 or part

29, or on any airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or part

thereof. The holder of an AMT(T)

certificate who does not meet recent

experience requirements on aircraft

certificated under part 25 or part 29

could exercise the more limited

privileges of the AMT certificate if the

holder complies with the AMT

certificate’s corresponding recent

experience requirements.

Approval of AMT(T) Training Providers

To ensure that applicants for the

proposed AMT(T) certificate possess the

necessary knowledge and skill to

approve aircraft certificated under part

25 and part 29 for return to service, the

FAA has proposed that applicants for

this certificate be required to complete

an AMT(T) training program. For this

program, the proposal would set forth a

curriculum that would be specifically

geared to the needs of individuals

performing maintenance on transportcategory aircraft. Although the proposed

curriculum would be comprehensive in

nature, it also would be flexible enough

to be modified easily to respond to

changes in aviation maintenance

practices and techniques.

To determine the subject areas in the

proposed AMT(T) training curriculum

and the amount of training to be

provided in each subject area, the Part

65 Working Group conducted a survey

of 13 air carriers. The survey requested

that its participants specify the depth

and breadth of skills that aviation

maintenance personnel must possess to

perform work on transport category

aircraft and approve these aircraft for

return to service. The results of this

survey were reviewed by aviation

maintenance educators within the Part

65 Working Group and consolidated

into the AMT(T) training curriculum

proposed in this notice. The proposed
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37183

AMT(T) training curriculum would

require that 573 hours of training be

offered in the six broad subject areas of

advanced electronics, composites,

structural repair, powerplants and

systems, safety and environmental

concerns, and publications. The specific

amount of training required in each

individual subject area is specified in

appendix A to proposed part 66.

The basic requirements for approval

of training providers administering this

AMT(T) training program are similar to

those specified for the approval of other

training course requirements specified

in this subchapter. In its administrative

requirements, the program established

by this proposal would correspond to

other training courses referenced in this

subchapter; however, it will differ most

significantly from other training courses

in that, under the proposal, the FAA

may approve the provider of the training

program and not specifically approve

the training curriculum, as is currently

the case with training programs

developed to satisfy the requirements of

part 147. By approving the training

provider, as opposed to the training

program itself, the FAA contends that

the training provider would have the

necessary flexibility to modify the

curriculum of the training program

rapidly to respond to advances in

aviation maintenance technology, while

continuing to ensure that acceptable

standards of training are met.

To ensure that these programs meet

current industry standards, the FAA

would require that an outline of the

training program be provided for

review. In recognition of the diversity of

current information retrieval systems,

this outline could be submitted in paper

or electronic format, or in any other

format acceptable to the Administrator.

The outline would contain information

specifying those subject areas to be

taught and the number of hours of

instruction required. Additional subject

areas also could be included.

Facilities, equipment, and material

requirements would be similar to those

found in other course requirements

specified in this subchapter; however,

the training provider would ensure that

all instructors in a training program

meet the requisite standards of technical

competency.

Revisions to the training program

outline would be submitted in a manner

identical to that required for initial

approval of the training provider. Based

on the improved effectiveness of

training methods, the FAA may permit

training program revisions that would

offer fewer than the specified number of

hours of instruction in the complete

training program or in a designated

subject area. The training provider

would be required to provide

justification for such a reduction. A

reduction would be permitted only if

the quality of training provided did not

decrease. Sufficient indicators of

student participation and progress in

the program would be required to be

reported; however, if an approved

training provider already provided this

information to the FAA as a result of

reporting requirements specified in

another part, a duplicate submission of

this information would not be required.

The FAA notes that an aviation

maintenance technician school

certificated under part 147 also could

offer a combined AMT and AMT(T)

training program. In such a

circumstance, the school would be

required to obtain approval as an

AMT(T) training provider under

proposed part 66. Instruction used to

satisfy AMT course curriculum

requirements also could be used to

satisfy AMT(T) training program

requirements resulting in a combined

AMT and AMT(T) training curriculum

with significantly fewer hours of

training than required to obtain the

AMT and AMT(T) certificates

separately. Instruction used to satisfy

both AMT course curriculum

requirements and AMT(T) training

program requirements would be

specified in the training curriculum

approved under part 147 for use by the

aviation maintenance technician school.

The approved training curriculum also

would be required to meet the

provisions of proposed appendix A to

part 66.

The proposal also would require

approved training providers to provide

each student who successfully

completes the training program with a

statement of graduation. Those students

who complete only a portion of a

training program could, upon request,

receive a record of the training

completed.

Although the proposal would permit

training providers to contract for

services to assist in the provision of the

required training, records of any such

contracts would have to be forwarded to

the FAA. The proposal also would

reiterate that the training provider, not

the party providing contract services,

would ultimately be responsible for the

conduct of the training program.

The proposal would permit a training

provider, other than a certificate holder

operating under part 121 or part 135, an

aviation maintenance technician school

certificated under part 147, or a repair

station that performs work under

§ 145.2(a), to retain approval for a

period of 24 months. Because the

training programs of these certificate

holders are routinely surveilled, a

training provider that also is a certificate

holder under any of these parts would

retain approval for the duration of that

certificate. However, approval may be

canceled at any time by the FAA or,

voluntarily, by the training provider, or

as a result of change of ownership. Like

other training courses specified in this

subchapter, the proposal would require

that applications for a training

provider’s renewal of approval be

submitted 60 days before the expiration

of the current approval.

Performance of Repairs and Alterations

by AMTs and AMT(T)s on HorizontalCard Liquid-Filled Compasses

The current rule prohibits the repair

or alteration of instruments by

mechanics. However, the aviation

maintenance industry has recognized

that aviation instruments vary

significantly in complexity. A

commenter to the short-term FAA

regulatory review initiated in response

to a recommendation from the Clinton

Administration’s ‘‘Initiative To Promote

a Strong Competitive Aviation Industry’’

noted that the fairly simple task of

replenishing magnetic compass fluid

and changing the expansion diaphragm

in a compass could be accomplished by

a mechanic with no adverse effect on

safety. The commenter stated that these

instruments must often be sent to

instrument repair shops for

maintenance that mechanics can readily

accomplish. This action frequently

results in increased and unnecessary

costs to the user and, for certain

operators, an unwarranted loss of use of

the aircraft.

The ARAC and the FAA concur with

this assessment and contend that an

AMT or an AMT(T) can readily perform

maintenance on horizontal-card liquidfilled compasses. Therefore, the FAA

proposes that an AMT or an AMT(T) be

permitted to perform all maintenance

actions on horizontal-card liquid-filled

compasses and that the limitations of

the current rule prohibiting the

performance of repairs and alterations to

these instruments be removed.

Establishment of an Aviation

Maintenance Instructor Rating

Under the provisions of the current

rule, persons providing aviation

maintenance instruction are not

required to demonstrate any degree of

teaching proficiency. Flight instructors

certificated under part 61 are currently

required to pass a knowledge test on the

subjects in which instruction is required

by § 61.185(a). These subjects include:

the learning process, elements of
37184 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

effective teaching, student evaluation

and testing, course development, lesson

planning, and classroom training

techniques. Ground instructors

certificated under subpart I of part 61

also are required to show a practical and

theoretical knowledge of the subjects for

which a rating is sought by passing a

similar knowledge test.

Because it is necessary that the

subject material taught by individuals

providing aviation maintenance

instruction be completely understood

and adequately applied by students to

the maintenance problems that they will

eventually encounter in the aviation

maintenance industry, the FAA, based

on the ARAC’s recommendation,

proposes to create an aviation

maintenance instructor rating that may

be obtained by the holder of the AMT

certificate or the AMT(T) certificate. The

FAA contends that creation of this

rating would serve to enhance the

quality of aviation maintenance

instruction that is provided in aviation

maintenance programs. This

enhancement would be accomplished

by ensuring that aviation maintenance

instructors possess not only technical

proficiency in the subject material

taught but also the requisite teaching

competence to ensure that their students

understand the material. Adoption of

this proposal also would quantify and

recognize the special skills required of

an aviation maintenance educator, and

would improve the images of aviation

maintenance educators and aviation

maintenance education.

The Blue Ribbon Panel also

recognized these deficiencies. In its

report, the panel noted that the

instructional standards and the quality

of aviation maintenance instruction

often are questioned. It also noted that

there was no certification, beyond that

of a current mechanic certificate,

needed to teach in an aviation

maintenance technician school

certificated under part 147. Therefore,

the Blue Ribbon Panel recommended

that qualification, certification, and

recurrent training requirements be

established for instructors who teach in

part 147 schools.

Under the proposal, an applicant for

an aviation maintenance instructor

rating would be required to: hold a

current and valid AMT certificate or a

current and valid AMT(T) certificate for

at least 3 years before application;

present evidence that he or she has been

actively engaged in the maintenance of

aircraft for at least the 2-year period

before application; and pass a

knowledge test on instructional

proficiency. The proposal recognizes the

widespread use of computer-based

testing in the administration of FAA

examinations and, therefore, would

require that a ‘‘knowledge test’’ rather

than a ‘‘written test’’ be passed.

The FAA contends that the possession

of an AMT certificate or an AMT(T)

certificate is necessary to ensure the

basic technical proficiency of the

aviation maintenance instructor. The

specific time period proposed for the

possession of either certificate and the

amount of time that the individual

would be required to have been actively

engaged in the maintenance of aircraft

also are identical to the eligibility

requirements for the issuance of an

inspection authorization. The FAA

contends that this minimum amount of

actual work experience is required to

give the aviation maintenance instructor

the requisite practical experience

necessary to explain the application of

aviation maintenance concepts

satisfactorily.

The proposed areas of educational

theory and instructional techniques in

which the prospective aviation

maintenance instructor would be

required to pass a knowledge test are the

same areas that are currently tested on

the fundamentals of instruction

knowledge test for the flight instructor

and ground instructor certificates. In

recognition of other training that a

prospective aviation maintenance

instructor could receive, which would

provide proficiency in educational

theory and instructional techniques, an

applicant would not be required to take

this test if the applicant possesses a

recognized degree in education or holds

a current and valid State teaching

certificate issued in the United States.

Under the proposal, any person

providing or supervising aviation

maintenance instruction within 12

months after the effective date of the

rule at an aviation maintenance

technician school certificated under part

147 would not be required to pass a

knowledge test on those subjects

specified in proposed § 66.69 to obtain

the aviation maintenance instructor

rating. To retain the ability to exercise

the privileges of the proposed rating and

maintain a high degree of instructional

proficiency, the holder would be

required to provide 300 hours of

aviation maintenance instruction or

serve as the supervisor of aviation

maintenance instructors for a period of

300 hours within the preceding 24

months. For aviation maintenance

instructors holding an AMT(T)

certificate, this instruction would not

need to be provided in transportcategory aircraft or their associated

systems. Recent experience

requirements also could be maintained

if the individual completed a refresher

course acceptable to the Administrator

and appropriate to the duties of an

aviation maintenance instructor or if the

Administrator determined that the

aviation maintenance instructor

continues to meet the standards

prescribed for the issuance of the rating.

Current rules pertaining to the

training of individuals at aviation

maintenance technician schools

certificated under part 147 require 1

instructor for each 25 students in a shop

class. Because the current rule already

recognizes the importance of qualified

instructors in these classes, the FAA

proposes that the best qualified

providers of aviation maintenance

education be available in these classes.

Proposed §§ 147.23 and 147.36 would,

therefore, require that these instructors

also possess an aviation maintenance

instructor rating. To enable instructors

at these schools to acquire this rating,

this requirement would not become

effective until 12 months after the

effective date of the rule.

The FAA also notes that certain

subjects taught at aviation maintenance

technician schools do not require the

technical knowledge required of

instructors who possess the AMT

certificate or AMT(T) certificate.

Therefore, the proposal would not

require instructors who teach basic

subjects (such as mathematics, physics,

basic electricity, basic hydraulics,

drawing, or similar subjects) at AMT

schools that are certificated under part

147, to obtain an AMT or AMT(T)

certificate and aviation maintenance

instructor rating.

Establishment of Basic Competency

Requirements for AMT Certificate

Holders

Currently, § 65.79, which sets forth

the skill requirements for a mechanic

certificate, requires an applicant for a

mechanic certificate to pass an oral and

practical test covering the applicant’s

basic skills in performing practical

projects covered by the written test.

Because of the complexity of current

aviation maintenance operations, the

FAA proposes to establish a broad-based

competency requirement for AMT

certificate applicants under proposed

§ 66.59, which would encompass more

than the skill requirements included in

the current regulation.

Current interpretations of the existing

regulation tend to emphasize the

evaluation of basic skills that solely

involve tasks requiring manual

dexterity. Although mastery of these

basic skills is invaluable, the FAA

asserts that a more comprehensive level

of competency, based on current
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37185

aviation maintenance practices, is

required of AMTs. The proposed rule

would expand the evaluation of AMT

applicants to include a demonstration of

competency in technical tasks and

aircraft maintenance more appropriate

to the current aviation environment and

the certificate and rating sought.

Therefore, all training provided to an

applicant for any certificate, rating, or

inspection authorization issued under

the proposed part should be conducted

to a proficiency-based standard

evidenced by demonstrated competency

to perform required tasks.

Specification of Practical Experience

Requirements in Hours

The FAA proposes that the practical

experience requirements for a mechanic

seeking airframe and powerplant

ratings, currently expressed in § 65.77 as

30 months, be expressed as the

equivalent number of hours (5,000

hours) in proposed § 66.57, for an

applicant seeking the AMT certificate

with an aircraft rating. The FAA also

proposes that the practical experience

requirements for a repairman seeking a

certificate, currently expressed as 18

months in § 65.101, be expressed as its

hour equivalent of 3,000 hours in

proposed § 66.203, for Aviation Repair

Specialist-II (ARS–II) certificate

applicants.

A change to the hourly experience

requirements would give the FAA and

the aviation maintenance industry a

simpler method to measure and verify

the amount of practical work experience

that the individual applicant possesses.

The proposed revision also would

enable aviation maintenance personnel

working in part-time positions to

quantify their work experience more

easily. FAA Order 8300.10,

‘‘Airworthiness Inspector’s Handbook,’’

currently permits the practice of

measuring part-time experience

requirements in hours. The proposed

rule would expand this current practice

by measuring part-time and full-time

experience in hours.

The FAA, in the previous NPRM,

proposed that all experience

requirements, as stated in current

§ 65.77; all recent experience

requirements, as stated in current

§ 65.83; and all eligibility requirements,

as stated in current § 65.101, be

expressed in hours instead of months. In

response to comments received

detailing the difficulties that such a

proposal would impose on the ability of

part-time aviation maintenance

personnel to meet proposed recent

experience requirements for the exercise

of certificate privileges, the FAA

proposes only that the practical

experience necessary for the AMT

certificate with the aircraft rating and

the eligibility requirements for the ARS–

II certificate be expressed in hours.

Proposed recent experience

requirements for the exercise of

certificate privileges, however, would be

expressed in months.

As the proposed rule would eliminate

the issuance of individual airframe and

powerplant ratings, the provisions

currently stated in § 65.77(a), which

require 18 months of practical

experience, appropriate to the rating

sought, with the procedures, practices,

tools, machine tools, and equipment

generally used in constructing,

maintaining, or altering airframes or

powerplants, would be eliminated

under the proposal.

Establishment of a Requirement for

Aviation Maintenance Technicians To

Pass a Knowledge Test on All

Applicable FAR

Current regulations require an

applicant for a mechanic certificate to

pass a written test that includes the

applicable provisions of part 43 and part

91. Because contemporary maintenance

operations require the applicant to

understand certification and

maintenance regulations other than

those found solely in part 43 and part

91, the FAA proposes that the

knowledge requirements for the AMT

certificate with an aircraft rating require

an applicant to pass a knowledge test on

the applicable provisions of the entire

chapter. The proposal recognizes the

use of computer-based testing by

replacing the term ‘‘written test’’ with

‘‘knowledge test’’.

Clarification of Requirement To Pass All

Knowledge Tests Before Applying for the

Oral and Practical Tests

There has been some confusion

among applicants for the current

mechanic certificate who are not

enrolled at aviation maintenance

technician schools approved under part

147 with regard to the language of

current § 65.75(b). The current section

requires an individual to pass each

section of the written test before

applying for the oral and practical tests

prescribed by § 65.79. The FAA believes

that it is essential that the applicant

display knowledge of the equipment

and procedures to be used by the

applicant before the oral and practical

tests are given. The applicant must

possess adequate knowledge before

being permitted to take the oral and

practical tests because it is this

knowledge that enables an applicant to

solve practical problems and

demonstrate the ability to perform the

work of a certificated AMT. In addition,

when taking an oral or practical test, an

applicant for a certificate must handle

complex equipment; a lack of

knowledge about the use of that

equipment could injure the applicant or

others. Therefore, the FAA has clarified

the current requirement by proposing

language that would require all

applicants for the AMT certificate,

except students enrolled at an aviation

maintenance technician school

approved under part 147, to pass all

knowledge tests before applying for the

oral and practical tests.

Demonstration of English-Language

Proficiency

The proposal would require all

applicants for an AMT certificate,

AMT(T) certificate, or aviation repair

specialist certificate to read, write,

speak, and understand the English

language.

The current rule requires only those

applicants desiring to exercise the

privileges of current certificates within

the United States to comply with

English-language proficiency

requirements. It does not specify an

appropriate means for the applicant to

demonstrate this proficiency nor does it

provide a mechanism for the

Administrator to issue a certificate to an

individual who may not meet these

English-language proficiency

requirements solely because of a

medical condition.

The proposal would require the

applicant to demonstrate Englishlanguage proficiency by reading and

explaining appropriate maintenance

publications and by writing defect and

repair statements. This proposal

recognizes the highly technical nature of

aviation maintenance in today’s aviation

industry. Proficiency with the general

terminology of the English language is

not sufficient to ensure the competency

of an FAA-certificated AMT or aviation

repair specialist. The individual must be

able to understand and master the

complex and often very specialized

language of airworthiness instructions

and other terminology associated with

the maintenance of highly sophisticated

aviation equipment.

In addition, the current airframe,

powerplant, and general written tests for

mechanics are administered in the

English language. Applicants taking

these tests must be proficient in the

English language to complete these

examinations successfully. Although

currently certificated repairmen are not

required to take written tests, these

individuals also work in environments

that require more than mere proficiency

in the English language. Because the
37186 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

FAA does not certify repairmen working

under U.S.-certificated foreign repair

stations and because of the need for all

certificated repairmen to understand

technical material written in English,

the FAA proposes that all aviation

repair specialists demonstrate

proficiency in the English language.

In operations conducted at

certificated U.S. air carriers, certificated

U.S. commercial operators, and U.S.-

certificated repair stations, the vast

majority of technical information is

conveyed in the English language. The

FAA has determined that the proposed

rule would guarantee a level of

competency that would ensure that an

applicant for either certificate is able to

use all relevant maintenance

publications effectively.

The proposal also would revise the

current rule to permit the Administrator

to issue certificates to applicants who

are deaf, hard of hearing, speech

impaired, or possess other similar

medical conditions, yet have a

demonstrated proficiency in the English

language. Under the proposal, an

applicant could be issued a certificate

with specific limitations necessary for

the safe maintenance, preventive

maintenance, or alteration of aircraft if

the applicant has a command of the

English language, yet is unable to meet

the proposed requirements solely

because of a medical condition.

The FAA also proposes that

exceptions found in current §§ 65.71

and 65.101, which permit the

certification of mechanics and

repairmen who are employed outside

the United States but who are not

proficient in the English language, be

deleted from the proposed rule. The

FAA proposes the inclusion of

provisions in the proposed rule that

would permit the Administrator to

waive compliance with the proposed

English-language proficiency

requirement, in certain limited

circumstances. The waiver provisions

are discussed in more detail below.

Current holders of a mechanic

certificate or repairman certificate who

do not meet the English-language

requirement but who are employed

outside the United States by a

certificated U.S. air carrier or a

certificated U.S. repair station would

continue to exercise the privileges of

their certificates without a further

showing of competency. Their

certificates would remain endorsed,

‘‘Valid only outside the United States.’’

Waiver of Specific Certificate

Requirements

The FAA recognizes that in certain

distinct and special circumstances,

deviations from compliance with the

requirements of the FAR may be in the

public interest. To afford the FAA with

a means to respond rapidly to requests

for deviations when such requests are in

the public interest, the FAA proposes

that certain provisions of the

certification rules, contained in

proposed part 66, be subject to waiver.

The FAA has specifically identified two

sets of circumstances where a waiver of

the proposed certification requirements

may be in the public interest. Therefore,

the FAA proposes to include provisions

in the proposed rule that would permit

the issuance of certificates and ratings

in deviation from the requirements of

proposed §§ 66.51(b), 66.57, 66.201(b),

and 66.203(b).

Although the FAA has proposed that

all applicants for certificates issued

under proposed part 66 be able to read,

write, speak, and understand English,

the FAA recognizes that in certain

circumstances the issuance of an AMT,

AMT(T), or aviation repair specialist

certificate to an individual who does not

meet this requirement may be necessary

to ensure the continued airworthiness of

U.S.-registered aircraft operating outside

the United States. Only in such limited

instances where no FAA-certificated

AMT, AMT(T), or aviation repair

specialist who can read, write, speak,

and understand English is available to

maintain a U.S.-registered aircraft

overseas, will the FAA consider the

issuance of a certificate. Any certificate

issued in accordance with the proposed

waiver provisions would contain an

endorsement specifying that the

certificate is valid only outside the

United States and that the certificate

holder may exercise the privileges of the

certificate only while employed by a

specific operator or certificate holder.

Such restrictive endorsements would

preclude any expansive use of the

certificate’s privileges to perform work

outside the United States.

The FAA also recognizes that

applicants for an AMT certificate may

complete a significant portion of the

required training at an aviation

maintenance technician school

certificated under part 147 but may be

unable to complete the remaining

portion of the required training. This

situation frequently occurs as a result of

the closing of an FAA-certificated

aviation maintenance technician school

or the relocation of a student to a

portion of the country where an aviation

maintenance technician school

certificated under part 147 is not readily

available. In such circumstances, the

proposal would permit the FAA to issue

an AMT certificate in deviation from the

AMT training requirements specified in

part 147 and, therefore, recognize an

equivalent combination of formal

training and work experience. The

Administrator would, however, require

the applicant to demonstrate

specifically that he or she has received

an amount of experience equivalent to

that required of an applicant for the

proposed certificate who has completed

the training specified in part 147 for the

issuance of the AMT certificate.

Issuance of any certificate under these

provisions would be based on a

demonstrated need and a finding that

the applicant is able to safely exercise

the privileges of the certificate and

rating. An applicant also would be

required to provide evidence sufficient

to indicate that work experience used to

satisfy part 147 training requirements

that have not been completed is of

equivalent scope and detail to ensure

proficiency in those tasks specified in

the training curriculum.

Recognition of New Testing Methods

In the area of testing administration,

the FAA recognizes recent

developments in training and testing

technology and, therefore, has proposed

to replace the term ‘‘written test’’ with

‘‘knowledge test’’. Because the results of

some tests, such as those from recently

approved computer-based testing, can

be made immediately available to the

applicant, the FAA proposes that a

report of the knowledge test results be

made available, as opposed to being

sent, to an applicant who has taken an

examination using computer-based

testing.

Replacement of Lost or Destroyed

Certificates by Facsimile or Telegram

The proposal would revise current

procedures by permitting an airman

who has lost a certificate issued under

proposed part 66 to request a facsimile

of the certificate from the FAA as

confirmation of the certificate’s original

issuance. The proposal also would

allow any request to the FAA to be

made by facsimile and would permit the

FAA to send directly to the airman a

facsimile that the airman may carry as

proof of the original certificate’s

issuance, for a period not to exceed 90

days. Adoption of the proposed changes

would make the rule consistent with

current practices implemented by the

Airman Certification Branch (AVN–460)

at the Aviation Standards National Field

Office in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Current regulations specify the use of

telegrams only and limit their validity to

a 60-day period.

The proposed use of facsimiles, in

addition to telegrams, reflects

advancements in communications
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37187

technology and would speed access to

FAA services by permitting the use of

other means, such as telephone

facsimile or computer modem, to obtain

a replacement certificate. The use of

these means would speed the

replacement of a lost certificate to an

airman, thereby decreasing the time

during which an airman may not

exercise the privileges of a certificate or

rating. Increasing the period of validity

of telegrams and facsimiles used as

proof of certification also would

decrease the possibility of a certificate

holder having to make any additional

request for a replacement certificate.

Similar provisions are under

consideration for adoption in other parts

of the FAR.

Extension of the Duration of an

Inspection Authorization

Under the proposed rule, the duration

of an inspection authorization would be

extended, from the current 12-month

period ending in March of each year, to

a 24-month period ending on the last

day of the 24th month after the date of

issuance of the inspection authorization.

Extending the duration of the inspection

authorization would make the

authorization consistent with FAA

practices regarding the issuance of other

renewable certificates, such as the flight

instructor certificate. A 24-month

renewal cycle would relieve the public

of a significant regulatory burden and

FAA Flight Standards District Offices of

a considerable administrative burden,

without compromising safety.

Modifying the existing training and

recent experience requirements to

coincide with the adoption of a 24-

month renewal cycle would give

holders greater flexibility in meeting

regulatory requirements.

Granting of Inspection Authorization

Privileges Based on the Type of

Technician Certificate Held by an

Applicant

In view of the creation of the

proposed AMT and AMT(T) certificates,

the FAA proposes to delineate the

privileges and limitations of the

inspection authorization in a manner

similar to that provided for by the AMT

and AMT(T) certificates. Under the

current rule, the FAR sections

pertaining to the issuance of an

inspection authorization are found in

subpart B of part 65, which pertains

solely to currently certificated

mechanics. With the creation of the new

certificates, the holder of an AMT

certificate or the holder of an AMT(T)

certificate can apply for an inspection

authorization. The FAA, therefore,

proposes to create a new subpart, solely

applicable to the issuance of inspection

authorizations to holders of either AMT

or AMT(T) certificates. The FAA

contends that the retention of the

current regulatory structure for

inspection authorization privileges and

limitations, which is based on the

possession of a single certificate, would

be inconsistent with a certification

structure that provides for two different

types of certificates with different

privileges and limitations.

An inspection authorization holder’s

privileges would be dependent on the

privileges of the type of certificate held

by the individual possessing the

inspection authorization. Under the

proposal, the privileges of an individual

possessing an inspection authorization

and holding a current and valid AMT(T)

certificate with an aircraft rating would

not be any different from the privileges

of the holder of an inspection

authorization possessing a current and

valid mechanic certificate with airframe

and powerplant ratings as specified in

current § 65.95.

An individual possessing an

inspection authorization with an AMT

certificate that has an aircraft rating,

however, would not be permitted to

approve aircraft certificated under part

25 or part 29 for return to service after

the completion of a major repair or

alteration. This individual also would

not be permitted to perform an annual

inspection nor to perform or supervise

an annual inspection on any aircraft

certificated under part 25 or part 29.

The general eligibility requirements

for an individual holding an AMT or

AMT(T) certificate to obtain an

inspection authorization would be the

same as those specified under the

current rule, with the exception that an

individual seeking the more

comprehensive privileges conferred on

the holder of an inspection

authorization with an AMT(T)

certificate would be required to satisfy

all eligibility requirements through the

performance of work on aircraft

certificated under part 25 or part 29, or

on the airframes, aircraft engines,

propellers, appliances, components, or

parts of these aircraft. An individual

intending to obtain these inspection

authorization privileges would be

required to have been actively engaged

in this type of work for 2 years before

application for the authorization and

possess a current and valid AMT(T)

certificate for at least 3 years before

application. Current eligibility

requirements and proposed eligibility

requirements for the issuance of an

inspection authorization to the holder of

a mechanic certificate only require that

the applicant have been actively

engaged in the maintenance of any type

of aircraft for 2 years before the date of

application and hold a current and valid

mechanic certificate for a period of at

least 3 years. Essentially, the proposal

would require that an individual

intending to exercise the approval for

return-to-service privileges of an

inspection authorization with respect to

aircraft certificated under part 25 or part

29 obtain the requisite experience for

the inspection authorization through the

maintenance of aircraft certificated

under these parts. An AMT(T) with an

inspection authorization who does not

meet this requirement but meets the

requirements for the holder of a AMT

certificate with an inspection

authorization would be permitted to

exercise the privileges of the holder of

an AMT certificate with an inspection

authorization.

Renewal requirements would not

change under the proposed rule, with

the exception that an individual

possessing an AMT(T) certificate who

intends to obtain an inspection

authorization and exercise the complete

range of privileges available under the

authorization must perform the requisite

inspections on aircraft certificated

under part 25 or part 29.

Because the inspection authorization

has become the subject of a separate

subpart, references to the inspection

authorization in Subpart A ‘‘ General

have now been included in the

proposed rule. Inclusion of references to

the inspection authorization in this

subpart would not affect any current

privileges or limitations of an inspection

authorization.

Requiring Applicants for the Inspection

Authorization To Complete an

Inspection Authorization Refresher

Course Before Their Initial Application

The proposal would establish a

requirement that all applicants for an

inspection authorization successfully

complete an inspection authorization

refresher course during the 12 months

before application for an inspection

authorization. The current rule does not

impose this requirement. Current

renewal options available to the holder

of an inspection authorization permit

the holder to renew the inspection

authorization indefinitely without

having attended an inspection

authorization refresher course.

Therefore, the holder of a current

inspection authorization may have

never attended an inspection

authorization refresher course.

FAA surveys indicate that

standardization of inspection

procedures and the proper completion

and submission of required
37188 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

documentation are consistent problems

among holders of inspection

authorizations. Successful completion

of an inspection authorization refresher

course before initial application would

ensure that all future holders of an

inspection authorization were

instructed in the uniform interpretation

of regulatory and advisory material

before exercising the privileges of the

inspection authorization.

Expansion of Inspection Authorization

Renewal Options

The proposal would permit the holder

of an inspection authorization to use a

combination of annual inspections,

inspections of major repairs or major

alterations, and complete progressive

inspections to satisfy the renewal

requirements for the inspection

authorization. Such a provision would

give the holder of an inspection

authorization much greater flexibility in

meeting renewal requirements. To

facilitate the combination of these

inspections with other inspection

periods currently designated in months

for the purpose of certificate renewal,

the proposal would change the currently

specified 90-day periods for inspections

to 3-month periods.

Notice No. 94–27 proposed that the

holder of an inspection authorization be

permitted to use participation in current

inspection programs, which are

recommended by the manufacturer, or

other inspection programs established

by the registered owner or operator

under § 91.409(f)(3) or (4), to satisfy

renewal requirements. This proposal is

not being included in this NPRM.

Although the experience gained through

participation in such inspection

programs may be commensurate with

the experience currently accepted to

obtain the inspection authorization

renewal, an inspection authorization is

not required to participate in these

inspection programs. The FAA deems it

inappropriate to permit the holder of an

inspection authorization to use

participation in an inspection program

that does not require an inspection

authorization as a means (and possibly

the sole means) of satisfying inspection

authorization renewal requirements.

Under the current regulation, the

holder of an inspection authorization

may renew the inspection authorization

by attending and successfully

completing a refresher course,

acceptable to the Administrator, of not

less than 8 hours during the 12-month

period preceding the application for

renewal. The previously published

NPRM would permit the holder to

renew an inspection authorization by

attending and successfully completing a

refresher course, or series of courses,

acceptable to the Administrator, of not

less than 16 hours during the proposed

24-month period preceding the

application for renewal. The FAA

considered modifying the previously

published NPRM to permit the holder to

renew the inspection authorization by

successfully completing an 8-hour

course of instruction during the

expanded 24-month renewal period.

Comments made on this proposal by the

ARAC on air carrier/general aviation

maintenance issues, however, indicated

that acceptance of this change would

effectively halve the amount of

recurrent training that the holder of an

inspection authorization would receive

when renewing the inspection

authorization through the use of this

option. After reviewing the ARAC’s

concerns, the FAA has determined that

completion of a 16-hour inspection

authorization refresher course, or series

of courses, acceptable to the

Administrator, during the expanded

renewal period is necessary to provide

a level of recurrent training equivalent

to that currently required of individuals

seeking to renew an inspection

authorization through the use of this

training option. Therefore, this NPRM

retains the language of the earlier

proposal.

Redesignation of the Term ‘‘Repairman’’

In view of the specialized nature of

aviation maintenance tasks performed

by currently certificated repairmen, the

FAA proposes that the term ‘‘aviation

repair specialist’’ replace the term

‘‘repairman’’. The FAA contends that

the term ‘‘aviation repair specialist’’

more accurately reflects the level of

expertise required to maintain today’s

highly complex aviation systems. In

addition, the use of the term ‘‘aviation

repair specialist’’ would serve to

increase the level of professionalism

among aviation maintenance personnel.

Adoption of the term would also be

consistent with the FAA’s policy of

implementing gender-neutral

regulations. The term ‘‘aviation repair

specialist’’ would be used to describe

the three types of aviation repair

specialist certificates that could be

issued under the proposal: (1) the

aviation repair specialist certificate

issued on the basis of proficiency in a

designated specialty area (ARS–I), (2)

the aviation repair specialist certificate

issued on the basis of employment

(ARS–II), and (3) the aviation repair

specialist certificate issued to

experimental aircraft builders (ARS–III).

The aviation repair specialist

certificate issued on the basis of

employment (ARS–II) would be the

equivalent of the current repairman

certificate, and the aviation repair

specialist certificate issued to

experimental aircraft builders (ARS–III)

would be the equivalent of the current

repairman certificate-experimental

aircraft builder.

The aviation repair specialist

certificate would not be issued to

holders of the AMT or AMT(T)

certificate because an AMT or AMT(T)

certificate holder does not require an

aviation repair specialist certificate to

exercise approval for return-to-service

authority. However, the AMT or

AMT(T) may still require additional

training to obtain the necessary

competency to perform work on certain

items and to approve these items for

return to service. Completion of training

equivalent to that required for the

issuance of an aviation repair specialist

certificate in a designated specialty area

(ARS–I) would provide an AMT or

AMT(T) with the qualifications

necessary to perform work in that

specialty area and would also serve as

an indication that an AMT or AMT(T)

possesses the qualifications necessary to

exercise approval for return-to-service

privileges in the specialty area.

Establishment of an Aviation Repair

Specialist Certificate Based on

Proficiency in Designated Specialty

Areas That May Be Issued Independent

of Employment

Currently, an applicant for a

repairman certificate (with the

exception of those issued to

experimental aircraft builders) is

required to possess the ability to

perform the specific task for which he

or she is employed and to obtain the

recommendation of the certificated

repair station, commercial operator, or

air carrier by which that individual is

employed. A repairman is not currently

required to meet any uniform national

standard for the specific discipline in

which the individual performs work.

Extensive study by the Part 65

Working Group has indicated that the

increasingly complex nature of aviation

maintenance requires that an individual

who performs work in certain

specialized and highly technical areas

should meet formal standardized

qualifications. The ARAC concurred

with the findings of the Part 65 Working

Group in this matter and has made this

recommendation to the FAA. The FAA

accepts the ARAC recommendation and

proposes to issue an aviation repair

specialist certificate based on

proficiency in designated specialty

areas. The qualifications for the

issuance of this proposed certificate

would be based on nationally and
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37189

internationally recognized standards

(developed by the aviation maintenance

industry) that the FAA considers

essential for the performance of work in

a highly specialized area. The FAA

currently proposes to issue aviation

repair specialist certificates with ratings

based on proficiency in the areas of

nondestructive inspection (NDI),

composite structure repair, metal

structure repair, and aircraft electronics.

Although the FAA has defined a

number of specialty areas, additional

specialty areas are under consideration

(such as glider and hot air balloon

repair), and new and previously

unknown disciplines also may emerge

as specialty areas as technology

advances. Therefore, additional

certificates and ratings, issued by the

Administrator, that recognize

proficiency in these areas may be

established later.

As a result of meeting these

established qualifications, the proposal

would permit the holder of an aviation

repair specialist certificate issued on the

basis of proficiency in a designated

specialty area (ARS–I) to retain the

certificate independent of employment

by a certificated repair station,

commercial operator, or air carrier.

However, an individual intending to

exercise the privileges of the proposed

ARS–I certificate would only be

permitted to perform those tasks for

which the individual is certificated

while employed by a certificated repair

station, commercial operator, or air

carrier, because approval for return-toservice authority would continue to rest

with the employer, not the ARS–I

certificate holder.

The proposed certificate would be

issued directly to the applicant and

would not be held by an aviation

maintenance organization, as is the

practice with the current repairman

certificate. Therefore, the individual

could leave the employment of any of

these organizations and retain the

certificate. However, the individual

would not be able to exercise the

privileges of the certificate until he or

she had obtained a position with

another certificated repair station,

commercial operator, or air carrier.

Accordingly, an ARS–I who is an

independent contractor to a certificated

repair station, commercial operator, or

air carrier would not be permitted to

exercise the privileges of the certificate.

Because the holder of the proposed

certificate would have demonstrated a

recognized level of proficiency to obtain

the proposed certificate, the FAA

contends that it would be unnecessary

for the applicant to reapply for the

certificate every time the individual

changes his or her place of employment.

Therefore, the certificate would remain

valid until surrendered, suspended, or

revoked.

The proposed ARS–I certificate would

require the completion of an approved

training course or program in the

specialty area sought. This training and

certification would ensure the technical

competency of the individual. It would

no longer be necessary for an employer

to recommend an individual to perform

work similar to that performed for a

previous employer. An individual

would obtain this new certificate by

submitting evidence, acceptable to the

Administrator, that demonstrates

satisfactory completion of an approved

aviation repair specialist training course

for a rating in a designated specialty

area or, before 12 months after the

effective date of the rule, evidence of the

ability to perform those tasks

appropriate to the certificate and rating

sought. Evidence of the ability to

perform tasks appropriate to the rating

sought could consist of a current

repairman certificate with a rating that

requires an applicant to possess a level

of competency equivalent to that

required for the issuance of an ARS–I

certificate in one of the designated

specialty areas (e.g., a repairman

certificate with an NDI rating). However,

the holder of a repairman certificate

who provides evidence of competency

in a specific area of technical expertise

that is not equivalent to that required for

an ARS–I certificate in a designated

specialty area would need to provide

additional evidence to indicate

competency in the designated area. The

FAA also notes that an individual

possessing a mechanic certificate with

an airframe rating would not need to

apply for an ARS–I certificate as the

privileges of the aviation repair

specialist certificate would be

encompassed in the privileges of the

current mechanic certificate.

To ensure that an ARS–I certificate

holder remains qualified to perform the

tasks appropriate to the designated

specialty area in a rapidly changing

aviation maintenance environment, the

proposal would require the holder to

meet the current qualifications and

proficiency requirements for the

issuance of the certificate and rating in

the designated specialty area. This

requirement would be met through

training to a proficiency-based standard

evidenced by demonstrated competency

to perform required tasks, and not

through completion of a specified

number of hours of training. The holder

of both the ARS–I certificate and the

ARS–II certificate also would be

afforded the opportunity to meet this

requirement through participation in

training programs administered by the

part 145 repair station, commercial

operator, or air carrier by which the

individual is employed. Because the

proposed ARS–I certificate would be

issued directly to an applicant, the

proposal also would revise those general

provisions of subpart A to include the

appropriate references to this new

certificate.

Although the FAA considered

establishing a certification structure that

would have eliminated the issuance of

specialized certificates, the FAA

contends that a certification structure

that includes aviation repair specialist

certificates is more appropriate. The

FAA contends that the complex nature

of current aviation maintenance

technology requires the retention and

training of individuals who are highly

trained in technical specialties of a

narrow scope. The retention of such

highly trained individuals ensures the

highest level of safety in the

maintenance of complex components.

The implementation of the proposed

certification structure also ensures the

continued existence of aviation

maintenance personnel who have a

more broad-based level of technical

expertise and are able to assess the

integrity of the various systems and

components within an aircraft and

approve an aircraft for return to service

(AMT and AMT(T)). It also ensures the

continued existence of aviation

maintenance personnel trained in

highly specialized areas of aviation

maintenance (ARS–I, ARS–II, ARS–III).

A certification structure containing a

generalized certificate with approval for

return-to-service privileges and a

certificate indicative of proficiency in

the more technical areas of aviation

maintenance has been retained.

Notification of Change of Address for

the Continued Exercise of Certificate

Privileges

Current § 65.21 requires mechanics

and repairmen to notify the FAA of a

change of permanent address within 30

days. Although the current rule requires

that an airman issued a certificate under

this part provide such a notification, the

airman may, under the current rule,

continue to exercise the privileges of the

certificate even if he or she fails to make

the notification.

Pilots, like other individuals issued

certificates under this part, also are

required to notify the FAA of a change

of their permanent address within 30

days. However, pilots may not continue

to exercise the privileges of the

certificate if they fail to comply with

existing notification requirements.
37190 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

Recent FAA experience in using

current address information records to

provide information of concern to

mechanics has indicated that current

FAA records are inadequate to locate a

significant percentage of certificate

holders. Many of the notices sent to

aviation maintenance personnel were

returned to the FAA and were marked

as being undeliverable. Because the

FAA may periodically need to

disseminate critical safety information

rapidly to all aviation maintenance

personnel, it is extremely important that

the FAA have current address

information for all certificate holders.

The FAA contends that current efforts

to increase the level of professionalism

in the aviation maintenance industry

and to ensure that the FAA can rapidly

notify aviation maintenance personnel

of important safety-related matters

warrant including in the proposal a

provision that would prohibit the holder

of any certificate issued under this part

from exercising the privileges of the

certificate if its holder did not comply

with current notification requirements

upon a change of permanent address.

The FAA contends that, by withdrawing

certificate privileges from a person who

fails to comply with this requirement, a

holder of a certificate issued under this

part will be more diligent in complying

with the essential requirement of

notifying the FAA of his or her current

address.

Testing of AMT Applicants by

Designated Aviation Maintenance

Technician Schools

Under the provisions of current

§ 61.71(b), the FAA permits certain pilot

schools certificated under part 141 to

test pilot applicants on the aeronautical

knowledge and skill required to obtain

certificates issued under part 61 without

further testing by an FAA or FAAdesignated pilot examiner. The FAA

proposes to enact similar provisions for

the testing of aviation maintenance

personnel.

The proposal would permit an

individual who has passed all

applicable knowledge tests in the

prescribed period and who has applied

for an AMT certificate within 90 days

after graduation from certain aviation

maintenance technician schools to be

considered as meeting the specific

experience and competency

requirements for the certificate, without

further testing. Only those aviation

maintenance technician schools

certificated under part 147 and

specifically authorized by the

Administrator to test applicants on the

experience and competency

requirements for the AMT certificate

would be able to conduct the testing

necessary to satisfy the requirements of

the proposal.

The proposal would provide

applicants for an AMT certificate with

an additional means to complete the

required testing for the certificate. It also

would expedite the certification process

for qualified AMT applicants and

reduce testing costs for the applicant.

In its review of the certification

requirements for aviation maintenance

personnel, the FAA also considered

permitting graduates of certain aviation

maintenance schools approved by

Transport Canada to use training

received at those schools toward

completion of the training requirements

for the issuance of an AMT certificate.

The FAA has not included this proposal

in this notice; however, the FAA

contends that such a proposal could be

readily implemented after the

conclusion of a Bilateral Aviation Safety

Agreement (BASA) with Canada.

The FAA specifically solicits

comments on including provisions in

proposed part 66 that would permit

graduates of certain aviation

maintenance schools approved by

Transport Canada to use training

received at those schools toward

completion of the training requirements

for the issuance of an AMT certificate.

Based on the comments received, the

FAA may adopt such provisions in a

final rule.

Removal of Gender-Specific Terms

In accordance with the FAA’s policy

of implementing gender-neutral

regulations and maintaining conformity

with other recently revised certification

regulations that are now gender neutral

and in view of the increased role of

women in the aviation maintenance

profession, the FAA proposes to

eliminate all gender-specific references

that apply to aviation maintenance

personnel from proposed part 66. These

changes are reflected in the proposed

amendment; however, specific changes

are not listed in the section-by-section

analysis.

Editorial Changes

To promote consistency between this

proposed rule and the terminology used

in current regulations, the proposal

requires a number of editorial changes.

Such changes include, but are not

limited to, the use of the term ‘‘airframe,

aircraft engine, propeller, appliance,

component, or part’’ in those instances

where the term ‘‘related appliance or

part’’ is used; inclusion of the terms

‘‘certificate,’’ ‘‘rating,’’ or

‘‘authorization’’ where one or more

terms have been inadvertently omitted;

and a more expansive use of the term

‘‘person.’’ These changes are noted in

the section-by-section analysis and do

not affect the substantive provisions of

the proposed rule unless specifically

noted.

Section-by-Section Analysis

Part 65 Certification: Air Traffic Control

Tower Operators, Aircraft Dispatchers,

and Parachute Riggers

Under the proposal, the title of part 65

would be amended to reflect the

removal of subpart D (Mechanics) and

subpart E (Repairmen) from this part.

The proposed title of part 65 would

specifically list only those airmen

whose certification would continue to

be regulated by this part. The current

title of part 65 would be changed from

‘‘Certification: Airmen Other Than

Flight Crewmembers’’ to ‘‘Certification:

Air-Traffic Control Tower Operators,

Aircraft Dispatchers, and Parachute

Riggers.’’

Section 65.1 Applicability

Section 65.1 currently states that part

65 is applicable to air traffic control

tower operators, aircraft dispatchers,

mechanics, repairmen, and parachute

riggers. Under the proposal, the

certification of all aviation maintenance

personnel would be regulated by part

66. The proposal would revise § 65.1 by

limiting the applicability of this part to

air traffic control tower operators,

aircraft dispatchers, and parachute

riggers.

Section 65.3 [Reserved]

Section 65.3 prescribes the

certification requirements for foreign

mechanics. Because the proposal would

place the certification of aviation

maintenance personnel under part 66,

this section would be removed from part

65 and reserved. An equivalent section,

§ 66.3, is proposed for inclusion in

proposed part 66.

Section 65.11 Application and Issue

Current § 65.11(c) prohibits a person

whose mechanic certificate is

suspended to apply for any rating to be

added to that certificate during the

period of suspension, and current

§ 65.11(d)(2) prohibits a person whose

repairman or mechanic certificate is

revoked from applying for either kind of

certificate for 1 year after the date of

revocation, unless the order of

revocation provides otherwise. Because

the proposal would place the

certification of all aviation maintenance

personnel under proposed part 66, that

portion of § 65.11(c) that refers to the

suspension of mechanic certificates and

§ 65.11(d)(2) in its entirety would be
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37191

removed from part 65. The provisions of

these paragraphs would be included in

proposed § 66.5 (c) and (d).

Section 65.15 Duration of Certificates

Proposed § 65.15 would remove the

reference to the repairman certificate

found in current paragraph (a). As the

provisions of current paragraph (b)

apply only to the repairman certificate,

this paragraph also would be removed.

Its provisions would be found in

proposed § 66.9. The remaining

provisions of current paragraphs (a) and

(c) would be retained in proposed

paragraphs (a) and (b).

Part 65, Subpart D and Subpart E,

§§ 65.71 Through 65.105 [Reserved]

The proposal would completely

remove subpart D (Mechanics),

consisting of §§ 65.71 through 65.95,

and subpart E (Repairmen), consisting of

§§ 65.101 through 65.105, from part 65

and would establish subpart B (Aviation

Maintenance Technicians), subpart C

(Aviation Maintenance Technicians

(Transport)), subpart D (Inspection

Authorizations), and subpart E

(Aviation Repair Specialists) under part

66. The new subparts would be based

on the subparts currently found in part

65.

Part 66 Certification: Aviation

Maintenance Personnel

Under the proposal, a new part 66

prescribing the certification

requirements solely for aviation

maintenance personnel would be

created. Part 66 would include subpart

A (General), subpart B (Aviation

Maintenance Technicians), subpart C

(Aviation Maintenance Technicians

(Transport)), subpart D (Inspection

Authorizations), and subpart E

(Aviation Repair Specialists). Proposed

subpart A (General) would be based on

part 65, subpart A, and modified to

address regulatory concerns applicable

to AMTs, AMT(T)s, and aviation repair

specialists. Proposed subparts B, C, and

D would be based on part 65, subpart D;

and proposed subpart E would be based

on part 65, subpart E. The proposal

would establish the new part under the

title ‘‘Certification: Aviation

Maintenance Personnel.’’

Section 66.1 Applicability

Proposed § 66.1 sets forth the

applicability of part 66. This proposed

section is based on current § 65.1. This

section would limit the applicability of

this new part to AMTs, AMT(T)s,

holders of inspection authorizations,

and aviation repair specialists.

Section 66.3 Certification of Foreign

Aviation Maintenance Personnel

Proposed § 66.3 prescribes the

certification requirements for foreign

AMTs and AMT(T)s. Because the

proposal would not preclude foreign

individuals from obtaining these

proposed certificates, this section would

refer to both subpart B and subpart C,

the proposed subparts that list the

certification requirements for these

certificates. The proposed section is

based on current § 65.3. There are no

substantive differences between

proposed § 66.3 and current § 65.3.

Section 66.5 Application and Issue

Proposed § 66.5 prescribes the

application and issuance procedures for

a certificate and ratings under this part.

This proposed section is based on

current § 65.11. There are no substantive

differences between paragraphs (a) and

(b) of the proposed section and current

§ 65.11, except for the inclusion of a

reference to the inspection authorization

and the replacement of the term

‘‘written test’’ with ‘‘knowledge test’’ in

proposed paragraph (a). Proposed

paragraphs (c) and (d) would differ from

current § 65.11 (c) and (d) by the

removal of references to air traffic

control tower operators, aircraft

dispatchers, and parachute riggers, and

the inclusion of references to AMTs,

AMT(T)s, and aviation repair

specialists. Paragraph (c) of the

proposed rule would include a reference

to aviation repair specialists because the

proposed ARS–I certificate, unlike the

current repairman certificate, would be

issued with ratings based on proficiency

in designated specialty areas.

Section 66.7 Temporary Certificate

Proposed § 66.7 is based on current

§ 65.13 and refers to the issuance of

temporary certificates. This section

would be revised to reflect current

practices by indicating that an

applicant’s qualifications, and not

merely the application and

supplementary documents submitted by

the applicant, would be subject to

review.

Section 66.9 Duration of Certificates

Proposed § 66.9 is based on current

§ 65.15 and establishes the duration of

certificates issued under this part.

Paragraph (a) of proposed § 66.9 would

include the proposed AMT certificate,

AMT(T) certificate, aviation repair

specialist certificate issued on the basis

of proficiency in a designated specialty

area (ARS–I), and aviation repair

specialist certificate issued to an

experimental aircraft builder (ARS–III)

among those certificates that are

effective until surrendered, suspended,

or revoked. The proposed rule corrects

an earlier omission by including

aviation repair specialist certificates

issued to experimental aircraft builders

(ARS–III) among those certificates that

are effective until surrendered,

suspended, or revoked. Proposed

paragraph (b) does not change the intent

of current § 65.15(b) and would state

that an aviation repair specialist

certificate issued on the basis of

employment (ARS–II) remains effective

until the holder is relieved from the

duties for which the holder was

employed and certificated. Proposed

paragraph (c) retains the current

requirement for a holder to return to the

Administrator a certificate that has been

suspended, revoked, or is no longer

effective.

Section 66.11 Display of Certificate

Proposed § 66.11 is based on current

§§ 65.89 and 65.105, which prescribe

the display of mechanic and repairman

certificates. The proposal would

consolidate the certificate display

requirements for all certificates under

one section within part 66. There would

be no substantive changes to current

certificate display requirements.

Section 66.13 Change of Name:

Replacement of Lost or Destroyed

Certificate

Proposed § 66.13 is based on current

§ 65.16 and would revise current

procedures by permitting an airman

who has lost a certificate issued under

part 66 to request a facsimile of the

certificate from the FAA as confirmation

of the certificate’s original issuance.

This proposed section also would allow

any request to the FAA to be made by

facsimile and would permit the FAA to

send directly to the airman a telegram

or facsimile that may be carried by the

airman, for a period not to exceed 90

days, as proof of the original certificate’s

issuance.

Section 66.15 Change of Address

Proposed § 66.15 is based on current

§ 65.21 and would revise current

requirements by prohibiting the holder

of any certificate issued under this part

from exercising the privileges of the

certificate if the holder has not notified

the FAA of a change in permanent

mailing address within 30 days.

Section 66.17 Periodic Registration

Proposed § 66.17 would require that

the holder of an AMT certificate or

AMT(T) certificate notify the FAA of his

or her current mailing address before

the last day of the 12th calendar month

after the effective date of the rule and
37192 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

before the last day of each 48-calendarmonth period thereafter.

The proposal would not require these

certificate holders to comply with this

requirement if the holder has, within

the same 12- or 48-calendar-month

period for which a notification was

required, provided this information to

the FAA through the issuance of a

certificate, rating, inspection

authorization, or airman medical

certificate, or through compliance with

proposed § 66.13 or § 66.15. Any

certificate holder failing to comply with

this requirement would be prohibited

from exercising the privileges of the

certificate until the required notification

had been made.

Section 66.19 Applications,

Certificates, Logbooks, Reports, and

Records: Falsification, Reproduction, or

Alternation; Section 66.21 Tests:

General Procedure; Section 66.23

Knowledge Tests: Cheating or Other

Unauthorized Conduct; Section 66.25

Retesting After Failure; Section 66.27

Offenses Involving Alcohol or Drugs;

and Section 66.29 Refusal To Submit to

a Drug or Alcohol Test

Proposed §§ 66.19, 66.21, 66.23,

66.25, 66.27, and 66.29 are based on

current §§ 65.20, 65.17, 65.18, 65.19,

65.12, and 65.23, respectively. These

sections refer to the falsification,

reproduction, or alteration of

documents; general test procedures;

cheating or other unauthorized conduct

on knowledge tests; retesting after

failure; offenses involving alcohol or

drugs; and the refusal to submit to a

drug or alcohol test. The only

substantive difference between the

proposed sections for part 66 and

current corresponding sections in part

65 is the inclusion of specific provisions

indicating the applicability of these

sections to holders of inspection

authorizations and the replacement of

the term ‘‘written test’’ with ‘‘knowledge

test’’ in proposed §§ 66.23 and 66.25.

Section 66.31 Waivers: Policy and

Procedures

Proposed § 66.31 would describe the

policy and procedures that would

govern the issuance of certificates and

ratings in deviation from the airman

certification rules set forth in proposed

§§ 66.51(b), 66.57, 66.201(b), and

66.203(b). The proposed section would

indicate that the Administrator may

issue certificates and ratings in

deviation from these sections if the

Administrator finds that the holder can

safely exercise the privileges of the

certificate and rating. Requests for

issuance of a certificate or rating in

accordance with this section would be

required to be submitted to the FAA

National Headquarters, Flight Standards

Service.

Part 66, Subpart B Aviation

Maintenance Technicians

The structure of part 66, subpart B, is

based on the current structure of part

65, subpart D. Under the proposed rule,

the title of part 66, subpart B, would be

‘‘Aviation Maintenance Technicians.’’

Section 66.51 Eligibility Requirements:

General

Proposed § 66.51 is based on the

current § 65.71. The language of

proposed paragraph (b) differs from

current § 65.71 by not only requiring an

applicant for an AMT certificate to read,

write, speak, and understand the

English language, as is currently

required, but also by requiring the

applicant to demonstrate this

knowledge by reading and explaining

appropriate maintenance publications

and by writing defect and repair

statements. The proposal also differs

from the current section in that it would

include a provision for the

Administrator to place such limitations

on an applicant’s certificate as are

necessary for the safe maintenance,

preventive maintenance, or alteration of

aircraft if the applicant is unable to meet

any of these requirements because of

medical reasons. The proposal also

would eliminate the issuance of

certificates to individuals who cannot

meet these requirements and are

employed solely outside the United

States by a U.S. air carrier.

The proposal would retain current

requirements to pass all required tests

within 24 months and to comply with

any additional eligibility requirements

for any rating sought.

Section 66.53 Ratings

Proposed § 66.53 would establish that

aircraft and aviation maintenance

instructor ratings would be issued under

subpart B.

Section 66.55 Aircraft Rating:

Knowledge Requirements

Proposed § 66.55 would establish the

knowledge requirements for the aircraft

rating. This proposed section is based

on the knowledge requirements for the

mechanic certificate found in current

§ 65.75. The proposal would revise

these current knowledge requirements

by not only including the current

requirement that the applicant be tested

on the applicable provisions of parts 43

and 91 but by requiring the applicant to

pass a knowledge test that includes

material on all relevant provisions of

this chapter, therefore, expanding the

knowledge required of an applicant.

The proposal also would require the

applicant to pass all knowledge tests (as

opposed to each section) before

applying for the oral and practical tests

for the rating sought unless the

applicant was enrolled in certain

aviation maintenance technician

schools.

Because of the increased use of

computer-based testing, the proposal

would state that a report of the

knowledge test results will be made

available to the applicant upon

completion of the test. Current rules

pertaining to the testing of mechanic

certificate applicants require the FAA to

send the applicant a report of the test.

Section 66.57 Aircraft Rating:

Experience Requirements

Proposed § 66.57 would establish the

necessary experience requirements for

the issuance of an AMT certificate with

an aircraft rating. The experience

requirements for the AMT certificate

with an aircraft rating would be similar

to those found in current § 65.77 for the

mechanic certificate with an airframe

and powerplant rating.

The proposal would permit an

applicant to present either an

appropriate graduation certificate or a

certificate of completion from a

certificated aviation maintenance

technician school to show compliance

with the necessary experience

requirements. For those applicants

seeking to meet AMT experience

requirements through practical

experience, the proposal would change

the current 30 months of experience

required of applicants for a mechanic

certificate with airframe and powerplant

ratings to 5,000 hours for applicants for

an AMT certificate with an aircraft

rating. The approximate full-time

equivalent of 30 months is 5,000 hours.

Because separate airframe and

powerplant ratings will not be issued

under an AMT certificate, the 18-month

experience requirement pertaining to

applicants for a separate rating, which is

found in current § 65.77(a), has not been

included in the proposed section.

Section 66.59 Aircraft Rating:

Competency Requirements

Proposed § 66.59 would establish the

competency requirements for applicants

attempting to obtain an AMT certificate

with an aircraft rating under this part.

This proposed section is based on

current § 65.79. The proposal would

establish a basic competency

requirement for an AMT by requiring

the applicant to demonstrate

competence in performing tasks
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37193

appropriate to the rating sought. The

proposal also would clarify the existing

regulation to ensure that an applicant

passed both an oral and a practical test

appropriate to the rating sought.

Section 66.61 Certificated Aviation

Maintenance Technician School

Students

Proposed § 66.61 is based on current

§ 65.80 and would prescribe the specific

requirements for testing students at

aviation maintenance technician

schools. Proposed paragraph (a) is based

on the current section with no

substantive differences. Proposed

paragraph (b) would permit applicants

who have successfully completed all

applicable knowledge tests and who

apply for an AMT certificate with an

aircraft rating within 90 days after

graduation from certain part 147

aviation maintenance technician

schools (which have been specifically

authorized by the Administrator to test

the applicants on the applicable

competency requirements) to be

considered as meeting all applicable

knowledge, experience, and competency

requirements.

Section 66.63 Aircraft Rating:

Privileges and Limitations

Proposed § 66.63, based on current

§§ 65.81, 65.85, and 65.87 would define

the privileges and limitations of an

AMT certificate holder with an aircraft

rating. Proposed paragraphs (a) and (b)

are based on current § 65.81; however,

the proposal would clarify and expand

the manner in which an AMT may

become qualified to supervise the

maintenance, preventive maintenance,

or alteration of any aircraft, or approve

for return to service any aircraft,

airframe, aircraft engine, propeller,

appliance, component, or part thereof.

In addition to those means specified in

current § 65.81 for mechanics, the

proposal would provide the holder of an

AMT certificate and aircraft rating with

an additional means to qualify for the

exercise of these privileges. The holder

of an AMT certificate would be

permitted to exercise the privileges

mentioned above if the AMT had

received training on the tasks to be

performed or had previously performed

such work under the direct supervision

of an appropriately rated certificate

holder who also had received

appropriate training on the tasks to be

performed.

Additionally, the proposal would

clarify the intent of current § 65.81 by

permitting the holder of an AMT

certificate with an aircraft rating to

exercise the privileges of the certificate

and rating by demonstrating the ability

to perform the work to the satisfaction

of the Administrator. The current

regulation requires actual performance

of the work.

Except for those restrictions imposed

by proposed paragraph (d), an AMT

with an aircraft rating would, under

proposed paragraph (c), retain current

privileges of a mechanic with an

airframe and powerplant rating and

would be permitted to perform the 100-

hour inspection required by part 91.

Proposed paragraph (d)(1) would set

forth limitations on the holder of an

AMT certificate with an aircraft rating.

These limitations currently are not

applicable to the holder of a mechanic

certificate with an airframe and

powerplant rating. The holder of an

AMT certificate with an aircraft rating

would not be permitted to approve for

return to service any aircraft certificated

under part 25 or part 29, except after the

performance of those tasks specified in

paragraph (c) of appendix A to part 43

or after the performance of other tasks

specified by the Administrator.

Proposed paragraph (d)(2) would

prohibit an AMT with an aircraft rating

from performing or supervising a major

repair or major alteration of a propeller

or any repair or alteration of

instruments (other than a horizontalcard liquid-filled compass), unless the

work is being performed for, and is

under the direct supervision and control

of, a repair station certificated under

part 145 or an air carrier conducting

operations under part 121 or part 135.

Proposed paragraph (d)(3) also would

prohibit an AMT with an aircraft rating

from approving for return to service any

aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or part

after completing a major repair or major

alteration, or from approving for return

to service any instrument other than a

horizontal-card liquid-filled compass

after completing any repair or alteration.

In paragraph (d)(4), the proposal

would require that a certificated AMT

understand current instructions for

continued airworthiness and the

maintenance instructions for the

specific operation concerned to exercise

the privileges of the certificate and

rating. Current § 65.81 requires a

mechanic to understand the more

limited current instructions of the

manufacturer and the maintenance

manuals for the specific operation

concerned.

Section 66.65 Aircraft Rating: Recent

Experience Requirements

Proposed § 66.65 would prescribe the

specific recent experience requirements

for an AMT with an aircraft rating. This

proposed section is based on current

§ 65.83. The proposal would permit the

holder of an AMT certificate with an

aircraft rating to satisfy proposed recent

experience requirements by using those

means currently available to the holder

of a mechanic certificate to meet current

recent experience requirements. The

proposal also would permit the holder

of an AMT certificate with an aircraft

rating additional means to maintain the

recent experience required to exercise

the privileges of the certificate and

rating. In addition to the means

currently specified in § 65.83(a), the

proposal would allow the AMT to meet

the recent experience requirements to

exercise the privileges of the certificate

and rating if the person had served

under the supervision of an AMT or

AMT(T), provided aviation maintenance

instruction under an aviation

maintenance training program

acceptable to the Administrator, or

directly supervised other aviation

maintenance instructors providing

aviation maintenance instruction for a

training program acceptable to the

Administrator. The proposal also would

allow the use of any combination of the

proposed and current methods to

maintain recent experience.

In addition to the proposed

requirements set forth in proposed

paragraph (a)(1), proposed paragraph

(a)(2) would require the successful

completion of recurrent training

appropriate to the duties of an AMT if

the individual desires to exercise the

privileges of the certificate and rating

for compensation or hire. This training

may consist of an AMT refresher course,

an inspection authorization refresher

course, or any other course of

instruction acceptable to the

Administrator that is appropriate to the

duties of an AMT. Additionally, an

AMT could satisfy the proposed

recurrent training requirement in the

following manner: through participation

in the required training program of a

certificate holder with a maintenance

and preventive maintenance training

program required under § 121.375 or

§ 135.433 (as specified in proposed

paragraph (a)(2)(ii)) or through

participation in the training program of

a U.S.-certificated repair station that

performs work in accordance with

§ 145.2(a) or conducts a maintenance

and preventive maintenance training

program (as specified in proposed

paragraph (a)(2)(iii)). An AMT also

could satisfy the proposed recurrent

training requirement by providing

aviation maintenance instruction or by

serving as the supervisor of persons

providing aviation maintenance

instruction.
37194 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

Proposed paragraph (b) would not

require all AMTs to complete the new

recurrent training requirements. An

AMT who, within the preceding 24

months, has successfully completed a

requalification course acceptable to the

Administrator, or been found competent

by the Administrator to exercise the

privileges of the certificate, would not

be subject to the proposed training

requirements.

Proposed paragraph (c) sets forth the

limitations on exercising, for

compensation or hire, the privileges of

the AMT certificate with an aircraft

rating. It would permit an AMT who has

met the requirements of proposed

paragraph (a)(1), but not proposed

paragraph (a)(2) or (b), to exercise the

privileges of the certificate and rating,

but not for compensation or hire.

Section 66.67 Aviation Maintenance

Instructor Rating: Additional Eligibility

Requirements

Proposed § 66.67 would set forth the

additional eligibility requirements for

applicants seeking an aviation

maintenance instructor rating. Proposed

paragraph (a)(1) would require an

applicant to possess a current and valid

AMT certificate, with an aircraft rating,

that has been in effect for a total of at

least 3 years. Proposed paragraph (a)(2)

would require an applicant to have been

actively engaged in maintaining aircraft

for at least the 2-year period before the

date of application.

An applicant also would be required,

in proposed paragraph (a)(3), to have

passed a knowledge test on those

subjects pertinent to the exercise of the

privileges of the aviation maintenance

instructor rating. In lieu of passing such

a test within 24 months of application

for the rating, an applicant who could

present evidence of recognized

instructional proficiency, as stated in

the proposed rule, would not be

required to pass the knowledge test for

the rating.

Proposed paragraph (b) would

recognize the proficiency of

experienced, yet noncertificated,

instructors. An applicant who, within

12 months after the effective date of the

rule, could present evidence acceptable

to the Administrator that he or she had

served as an aviation maintenance

instructor or as the supervisor of

aviation maintenance instructors at an

aviation maintenance technician school

certificated under part 147 would not be

required to pass a knowledge test on

instructional proficiency.

Section 66.69 Aviation Maintenance

Instructor Rating: Instructional

Knowledge and Proficiency

Proposed § 66.69 would specifically

list those subjects in which an applicant

for an aviation maintenance instructor

rating would be required to demonstrate

satisfactory instructional knowledge and

proficiency. This material is identical to

that contained in the Fundamentals of

Instruction knowledge test.

Section 66.71 Aviation Maintenance

Instructor Rating: Privileges and

Limitations

Proposed § 66.71 would set forth the

general privileges and limitations of the

AMT certificate with an aviation

maintenance instructor rating.

Section 66.73 Aviation Maintenance

Instructor Rating: Recent Experience

Requirements

Proposed § 66.73 would prescribe the

specific recent experience requirements

for an AMT with an aviation

maintenance instructor rating. An

individual holding this certificate and

rating would not be permitted to

exercise the privileges of the certificate

and rating unless, within the preceding

24 months, the holder had provided 300

hours of aviation maintenance

instruction or had supervised other

aviation maintenance instructors for a

period of 300 hours. The holder also

would meet the proposed recent

experience requirements upon

completion of an AMT refresher course

(or other course of instruction

acceptable to the Administrator) or if

the Administrator had made a

determination that the holder met the

standards prescribed for the issuance of

the certificate and rating.

Part 66, Subpart C Aviation

Maintenance Technicians (Transport)

The structure of part 66, subpart C, is

based on the current structure of part

65, subpart D. Under the proposed rule,

the title of part 66, subpart C, would

become ‘‘Aviation Maintenance

Technicians (Transport).’’

Section 66.101 Eligibility

Requirements: General

Proposed § 66.101 sets for the

eligibility requirements for the proposed

AMT(T) certificate. It would require all

applicants for the AMT(T) certificate to

hold a current and valid AMT certificate

and to comply with any additional

requirements for any rating sought.

Because an applicant for an AMT(T)

certificate would be required to hold a

current and valid AMT certificate, an

applicant would be required to have

complied with proposed § 66.51.

Therefore, these requirements have not

been repeated in the proposed section.

Section 66.103 Ratings

Proposed § 66.103 would establish

aircraft and aviation maintenance

instructor ratings issued under subpart

C.

Section 66.105 Transition to New

Certificates and Ratings

Proposed § 66.105 would establish the

equivalency of the mechanic certificate

with airframe and powerplant ratings

and the proposed AMT(T) certificate

with the aircraft rating. Therefore, the

privileges and limitations of the

proposed AMT(T) certificate with an

aircraft rating would be identical to

those of the current mechanic certificate

with airframe and powerplant ratings.

As the FAA would continue to

recognize mechanic certificates with

either an airframe rating or a powerplant

rating, proposed paragraphs (b) and (c)

would set forth approval for return-toservice limitations on the holders of

these certificates, which are identical to

those found in current part 65.

Section 66.107 Aircraft Rating:

Additional Eligibility Requirements

Proposed § 66.107 would set forth the

additional eligibility requirements for

the issuance of an AMT(T) certificate

with an aircraft rating. An applicant

would be required to successfully

complete: an AMT(T) training program

administered by an approved training

provider; an AMT(T) training program

approved under part 147; or a training

program approved under part 121,

subpart L, or part 135, subpart J.

Training programs provided by a

certificate holder would be required to

meet the training program requirements

specified in paragraph (d) of appendix

A to proposed part 66.

Section 66.109 Aircraft Rating:

Privileges and Limitations

Proposed § 66.109 is based on current

§§ 65.81, 65.85, and 65.87, and would

define the privileges and limitations of

an AMT(T) certificate with an aircraft

rating. Proposed § 66.109 is structurally

similar to proposed § 66.63, which sets

forth the privileges and limitations of

the AMT certificate with an aircraft

rating.

The holder of an AMT(T) certificate

with an aircraft rating would possess all

of the privileges provided to the holder

of the AMT certificate with an aircraft

rating, as set forth in proposed § 66.63.

Proposed § 66.109(d), however, would

not include the limitation placed on the

holder of an AMT certificate with an

aircraft rating found in proposed § 66.63
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37195

that precludes the holder from

approving for return to service any

aircraft certificated under part 25 or part

29.

Section 66.111 Aircraft Rating: Recent

Experience Requirements

Proposed § 66.111 would prescribe

the specific recent experience

requirements for AMT(T)s with an

aircraft rating. This proposed section is

based on current § 65.83 and is

structurally similar to proposed § 66.65.

It would differ from proposed § 66.65 in

that the maintenance, preventive

maintenance, or alterations, which the

AMT(T) with an aircraft rating would be

required to have performed, supervised,

or provided instruction in for at least 6

months within the preceding 24

months, would be required to be on an

aircraft certificated under part 25 or part

29, or on any airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or part

thereof. The proposed recurrent training

requirements would be identical to

those proposed for the AMT. It also

would permit the holder of an AMT(T)

certificate who had not satisfied the

recent experience requirements for an

AMT(T) certificate, but had satisfied the

recent experience requirements for an

AMT certificate, to exercise the

privileges of the AMT certificate.

Section 66.113 Aviation Maintenance

Instructor Rating: Additional Eligibility

Requirements

Proposed § 66.113 would set forth the

eligibility requirements for applicants

with an AMT(T) certificate and aircraft

rating who are seeking an aviation

maintenance instructor rating. The

requirements of proposed § 66.113

would be similar to those established for

an applicant with an AMT certificate

and aircraft rating who is seeking an

aviation maintenance instructor rating

as set forth in proposed § 66.67.

The proposed section would differ

from proposed § 66.67 in that it also

would permit a person possessing an

AMT certificate with an aviation

maintenance instructor rating, who

meets the requirements for the issuance

of an AMT(T) certificate, to be issued an

AMT(T) certificate with an aviation

maintenance instructor rating, upon

application.

Section 66.115 Aviation Maintenance

Instructor Rating: Privileges and

Limitations

Proposed § 66.115 would set forth the

general privileges and limitations of the

AMT(T) certificate with an aviation

maintenance instructor rating.

Section 66.117 Aviation Maintenance

Instructor Rating: Recent Experience

Requirements

Proposed § 66.117 would prescribe

the specific recent experience

requirements for AMT(T)s with an

aviation maintenance instructor rating.

The recent experience requirements set

forth for an AMT(T) with an aviation

maintenance instructor rating would be

identical to those set forth in proposed

§ 66.73 for an AMT with an aviation

maintenance instructor rating. Because

instructional skill is independent of the

type of items on which an AMT(T)

provides instruction, the aviation

maintenance instruction that the

individual would be required to provide

to maintain recent experience, would

not be required to pertain to aircraft

certificated under part 25 or part 29, or

to the airframes, aircraft engines,

propellers, appliances, components, or

parts thereof.

Section 66.119 Aviation Maintenance

Technician (Transport) Training

Providers

Proposed § 66.119 would set forth the

requirements for those persons seeking

approval as AMT(T) training providers.

An applicant for approval as a training

provider would be required to submit a

written request for approval to the

Administrator and to comply with

appendix A to proposed part 66.

Proposed paragraph (b) would only

require a certificate holder operating

under part 121 or part 135, an aviation

maintenance technician school

certificated under part 147, or a

certificated repair station operating

pursuant to § 145.2(a) to request

approval and show that its training

program meets the requirements of

paragraph (d) of appendix A to

proposed part 66.

Part 66, Subpart D Inspection

Authorizations

Proposed part 66, subpart D, would

consolidate into a single subpart those

portions of current part 65 that pertain

to the issuance of inspection

authorizations. Under the proposed

rule, the title of part 66, subpart D,

would become ‘‘Inspection

Authorizations.’’

Section 66.151 Eligibility

Requirements: General

Proposed § 66.151 is based on current

§ 65.91 and would set forth the general

eligibility requirements for applicants

for an inspection authorization.

Proposed paragraph (a) would require

an applicant to meet the requirements of

current § 65.91(c) and would establish

an additional requirement for applicants

to have attended and successfully

completed an inspection authorization

course, acceptable to the Administrator,

of not less than 8 hours of instruction

during the 12-month period preceding

the application. Attendance at such a

course would ensure standardization of

inspection procedures and a more

uniform interpretation of regulatory and

advisory material by holders of the

inspection authorization. The proposal

would permit the holder of an AMT

certificate or an AMT(T) certificate to

obtain an inspection authorization. It

would also require the applicant to have

passed a knowledge test on his or her

ability to inspect according to safety

standards for approving aircraft for

return to service after all repairs and

alterations.

Proposed paragraph (b) would set

forth the requirements for an applicant

seeking to remove the limitation

imposed by proposed § 66.157(b).

Proposed paragraph (b) would require

an applicant seeking to inspect and

approve for return to service any aircraft

certificated under part 25 or part 29

(except those maintained in accordance

with a continuous airworthiness

maintenance program approved under

part 121) to possess an AMT(T)

certificate and to have been actively

engaged, for at least the 2-year period

before application, in the maintenance,

preventive maintenance, or alteration of

aircraft certificated under part 25 or part

29, or of any airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or part

thereof.

Proposed paragraph (c) would retain

the current prohibition against applying

for a retest within 90 days after a

previous testing failure.

Section 66.153 Duration of

Authorization

Proposed § 66.153 would prescribe

the duration of an inspection

authorization. This proposed section is

based on current § 65.92, with two

substantive differences. Under the

proposal, the expiration date of the

inspection authorization would be

extended to the last day of the 24th

month after its issuance. Under the

current regulation, the inspection

authorization expires on March 31 of

each year. Additionally, the proposal

would state that an inspection

authorization would no longer be

effective if its holder does not possess

a current and valid AMT or AMT(T)

certificate.

Section 66.155 Renewal of

Authorization

Proposed § 66.155 would prescribe

the renewal procedures for an
37196 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

inspection authorization and is based on

current § 65.93. The proposed section

would extend the inspection

authorization renewal requirement to

every 2 years so that it would

correspond to the extension of the

duration of the inspection authorization,

as proposed in § 66.153. Applications

for renewal would be required to be

presented to the appropriate FAA office

within 90 days before the date of an

inspection authorization’s expiration.

The proposal would retain current

provisions specifying the renewal

requirements for an inspection

authorization and also would permit the

holder of an inspection authorization to

use a combination of annual

inspections, inspections of major repairs

or major alterations, and progressive

inspections to satisfy renewal

requirements. To facilitate the

combination of these inspections, the

proposal would change the currently

specified 90-day period to a 3-month

period.

Under the current regulation, the

holder of an inspection authorization

may renew the authorization by

attending and successfully completing a

refresher course, acceptable to the

Administrator, of not less than 8 hours,

during the 12-month period preceding

the application for renewal. As the

proposed rule would extend the

duration of the inspection authorization

from 12 months to 24 months, the

amount of time required for the holder

of an inspection authorization to renew

an authorization by using this method,

in lieu of other performance

requirements, would be proportionally

increased to 16 hours. The proposal

would specify that this training could be

accomplished through attendance at an

inspection authorization refresher

course or a series of courses, acceptable

to the Administrator, during the

expanded renewal period. The proposal

recognizes recent developments in

instructional techniques and, through

the acceptance of a series of courses

acceptable to the Administrator, would

permit instructional methods that may

differ from the standard classroom or

lecture format.

Section 66.157 Privileges and

Limitations

Proposed § 66.157 would prescribe

the privileges and limitations of an

inspection authorization. The privileges

of the holder of an AMT(T) certificate

with an inspection authorization are

based on current § 65.95, with no

substantive differences. The privileges

of the holder of an AMT certificate with

an inspection authorization are based on

current § 65.95, with certain distinctions

that reflect the privileges and

limitations of the AMT certificate. The

holder of an AMT certificate with an

inspection authorization would possess

those privileges specified in current

§ 65.95 except that the holder would not

be permitted to inspect and approve

aircraft certificated under part 25 or part

29 for return to service after completion

of a major repair or a major alteration.

The holder of an AMT certificate with

an inspection authorization also would

not be permitted to perform an annual

inspection, or perform or supervise a

progressive inspection, according to

§§ 43.13 and 43.15, on aircraft that have

been certificated under part 25 or part

29.

Part 66, Subpart E Aviation Repair

Specialists

The structure of part 66, subpart E, is

based on the current structure of part

65, subpart D. Under the proposed rule,

the title of part 66, subpart E, would

become ‘‘Aviation Repair Specialists.’’

Section 66.201 Aviation Repair

Specialist Certificates Issued on the

Basis of Proficiency in a Designated

Specialty Area (ARS–I): Eligibility

Proposed § 66.201 would set forth the

general eligibility requirements for an

applicant seeking an aviation repair

specialist certificate issued on the basis

of proficiency in a designated specialty

area (ARS–I). An applicant for this new

certificate would be required to be at

least 18 years of age and demonstrate

the ability to read, write, speak, and

understand the English language by

reading and explaining appropriate

maintenance publications, and by

writing defect and repair statements.

The Administrator, however, could

place such limitations on an applicant’s

certificate as are necessary for the safe

maintenance, preventive maintenance,

or alteration of aircraft if the applicant

is unable to meet any of these

requirements because of medical

reasons.

The applicant also would be required

to present either an appropriate

graduation certificate, a certificate of

completion, or other documentary

evidence acceptable to the

Administrator, that demonstrates the

satisfactory completion of an acceptable

aviation repair specialist training course

or program for a rating in a specialty

area designated by the Administrator.

Before 12 months after the effective date

of the rule, evidence acceptable to the

Administrator of the ability to perform

those tasks appropriate to the certificate

and rating in the designated specialty

area sought, also could be presented.

Section 66.203 Aviation Repair

Specialist Certificates Issued on the

Basis of Employment (ARS–II):

Eligibility

Proposed § 66.203 is based on current

§ 65.101 and would prescribe the

general eligibility requirements for the

aviation repair specialist certificate

issued on the basis of employment

(ARS–II). The language of proposed

paragraph (b) differs from current

§ 65.101 in that it would not only

require an applicant for an aviation

repair specialist certificate to read,

write, speak, and understand the

English language but also would require

the applicant to demonstrate this

knowledge by reading and explaining

appropriate maintenance publications

and by writing defect and repair

statements. The Administrator,

however, could place such limitations

on an applicant’s certificate as are

necessary for the safe maintenance,

preventive maintenance, or alteration of

aircraft if the applicant is unable to meet

any of these requirements because of

medical reasons. The proposal also

differs from current § 65.101 in that it

would eliminate the issuance of

certificates to individuals who cannot

read, write, speak, or understand the

English language and who are employed

solely outside the United States by a

U.S.-certificated repair station, a U.S.-

certificated commercial operator, or a

U.S.-certificated air carrier. This change

corresponds with proposed §§ 66.51 and

66.101, which eliminate the issuance of

AMT and AMT(T) certificates under

similar circumstances.

Proposed paragraph (c) differs from

the current section in that it would

provide a more comprehensive listing of

items on which an applicant could be

qualified to perform maintenance

(aircraft, airframes, aircraft engines,

propellers, appliances, components, and

parts thereof). Proposed paragraph (d)

would change the current reference in

§ 65.101(a)(3) from ‘‘its maintenance

manuals’’ to ‘‘its certificate holder’s

manual’’.

Proposed paragraph (f)(1) would

specify the current 18-month practical

experience requirement in hours instead

of months as set forth in current

§ 65.101(a)(5)(i). The 3,000 hours of

experience specified in the proposal are

approximately equal to the current 18-

month experience requirement.

Section 66.205 Aviation Repair

Specialist Certificates Issued to

Experimental Aircraft Builders (ARS–

III): Eligibility

Proposed § 66.205 is based on current

§ 65.104(a). The proposed section would
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37197

change the term ‘‘repairman certificateexperimental aircraft builder’’ to

‘‘aviation repair specialist certificate

issued to an experimental aircraft

builder (ARS–III).’’ There are no

substantive differences between the

proposed section and current

§ 65.104(a).

Section 66.207 Transition to New

Certificates

Proposed § 66.207 establishes the

equivalency of the proposed ARS–II

certificate with the repairman certificate

specified in current § 65.101, and the

equivalency of the proposed ARS–III

certificate with the repairman certificate

(experimental aircraft builder) specified

in current § 65.104.

Section 66.209 Aviation Repair

Specialist Certificates Issued on the

Basis of Proficiency in a Designated

Area (ARS–I): Privileges and Limitations

Proposed § 66.209 would set forth the

general privileges and limitations of the

aviation repair specialist certificate

issued on the basis of proficiency in a

designated specialty area (ARS–I). The

holder of the certificate would be

permitted to perform or supervise the

maintenance, preventive maintenance,

or alteration of aircraft, airframes,

aircraft engines, propellers, appliances,

components, and parts thereof

appropriate to the designated specialty

area for which the aviation repair

specialist is certificated but only in

connection with employment by a

certificate holder operating under part

121, 135, or 145.

Proposed paragraph (b) would

prohibit the holder from performing or

supervising duties unless the individual

understands the current instructions of

the certificate holder employing the

aviation repair specialist and the

instructions for continued airworthiness

that relate to the specific operations

concerned.

Section 66.211 Aviation Repair

Specialist Certificates Issued on the

Basis of Employment (ARS–II):

Privileges and Limitations

Proposed § 66.211 is based on current

§ 65.103 and would set forth the general

privileges and limitations of the aviation

repair specialist certificate issued on the

basis of employment (ARS–II). Proposed

paragraph (a) differs from the current

section in that it would provide a more

comprehensive listing of items on

which an applicant could be qualified to

perform work (aircraft, airframes,

aircraft engines, propellers, appliances,

components, and parts thereof).

Proposed paragraph (b) is equivalent to

current § 65.103(b).

Section 66.213 Aviation Repair

Specialist Certificates Issued to

Experimental Aircraft Builders (ARS–

III): Privileges and Limitations

Proposed § 66.213 is based on current

§ 65.104(b), with no substantive

changes.

Section 66.215 Aviation Repair

Specialist Certificates Issued on the

Basis of Proficiency in a Designated

Specialty Area (ARS–I): Recent

Experience Requirements

Proposed § 66.215 would set forth

recent experience requirements for

holders of aviation repair specialist

certificates issued on the basis of

proficiency in a designated specialty

area (ARS–I). The holder would not be

permitted to exercise the privileges of

the certificate and rating unless the

holder meets the current qualification

and proficiency requirements for the

issuance of the certificate and rating in

the designated specialty area.

Part 66, Appendix A+Aviation

Maintenance Technician (Transport)

Training Program Curriculum

Requirements

Proposed appendix A to part 66

would set forth the training program

requirements for the AMT(T)

curriculum. It would set forth the

minimum requirements for the form and

content of the training program outline

and would establish minimum training

program requirements. It also would

permit the provision of training in

additional subject areas not specified in

the appendix and would establish

procedures for the revision of an

approved training provider’s training

program. The proposal also would

describe the facilities, equipment,

material, and instructor requirements

necessary to conduct an AMT(T)

training program.

The proposal would describe those

student records that would be required

to be retained by the training provider

and the amount of credit the training

provider could provide to a student for

previous training. It also would require

an approved training provider to furnish

each student with a statement of

graduation upon completion of the

curriculum and, upon request, a record

of training for any portion of the

training program that has been

completed.

The proposed appendix would set

forth notification requirements for

training providers in the event of a

change of ownership, name, or location.

It also would establish standards for the

conduct of instruction provided by

contract or agreement. In addition, the

proposal would set forth specific

periods for the duration of a training

provider’s approval and establish

criteria for cancellation and renewal of

the approval.

Section 147.23 Instructor

Requirements

The proposal would amend current

§ 147.23 to require that an applicant for

an aviation maintenance technician

school certificate and rating(s) provide

the number of instructors who hold

appropriate AMT or AMT(T) certificates

with aviation maintenance instructor

ratings, that the Administrator

determines is necessary to provide

adequate supervision of the students.

Twelve months after the effective date

of the rule, at least 1 AMT with an

aviation maintenance instructor rating,

or 1 AMT(T) with an aviation

maintenance instructor rating, would be

required for every 25 students in each

shop class.

Section 147.36 Maintenance Instructor

Requirements

The proposal would amend current

§ 147.36 to require that each aviation

maintenance technician school, after

certification or addition of a rating,

provide the number of instructors who

hold appropriate AMT certificates with

aviation maintenance instructor ratings

or AMT(T) certificates with aviation

maintenance instructor ratings, that the

Administrator determines is necessary

to provide adequate instruction for the

students. Twelve months after the

effective date of the rule, at least 1 AMT

with an aviation maintenance instructor

rating, or 1 AMT(T) with an aviation

maintenance instructor rating, would be

required for every 25 students in each

shop class.

Paperwork Reduction Act

Proposed § 66.17 contains information

collection requirements that are not

contained in the current rule. As

required by the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)), the

FAA has submitted a copy of this

proposed section to the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) for its

review.

The FAA needs the information to be

collected to determine the number of

active AMT and AMT(T) certificate

holders and to obtain current address

information from these personnel so

that safety-related data can be quickly

distributed to these personnel when

necessary. The FAA estimates that the

additional burden of collecting this

information during the first year of the

proposed rule is 20,000 hours. One year

after the effective date of the proposed
37198 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

rule, this information would be updated

by holders of AMT and AMT(T)

certificates once over a 48-month

period. The estimated burden of

collecting this information would be

reduced to 5,000 hours annually.

The FAA estimates that this proposal

will affect 120,000 certificate holders

during the first year of the proposal and

30,000 certificate holders annually

afterward.

Organizations and individuals

desiring to submit comments on the

information collection requirement

should direct them to the Office of

Information and Regulatory Affairs,

OMB, Room 1235, New Executive Office

Building, Washington, DC 20503;

Attention: Desk Officer for Federal

Aviation Administration. These

comments should reflect whether the

proposed collection is necessary;

whether the agency’s estimate of the

burden is accurate; how the quality,

utility, and clarity of the information to

be collected can be enhanced; and how

the burden of the collection can be

minimized. A copy of the comments

should be submitted to the FAA Rules

Docket.

International Civil Aviation

Organization and Joint Aviation

Regulations

In keeping with U.S. obligations

under the Convention on International

Civil Aviation (ICAO), it is FAA policy

to comply with ICAO Standards and

Recommended Practices to the

maximum extent practicable. The FAA

is not aware of any differences that this

proposal would present if adopted. Any

differences that may be presented in

comments to this proposal, however,

will be taken into consideration.

Regulatory Evaluation Summary

Cost-Benefit Analysis

This section summarizes the full

regulatory evaluation prepared by the

FAA that provides more detailed

estimates of the economic consequences

of this regulatory action. This summary

and the full evaluation quantify, to the

extent practicable, estimated costs to the

private sector, consumers, Federal, State

and local governments, as well as

anticipated benefits. The evaluation was

conducted in accordance with Executive

Order 12866, which directs that each

Federal agency can propose or adopt a

regulation only upon a reasoned

determination that the benefits of the

intended regulation justify the costs.

This document also includes an initial

regulatory flexibility determination,

required by the Regulatory Flexibility

Act of 1980, and an international trade

impact assessment, required by the

Office of Management and Budget.

This document is considered a ‘‘nonsignificant regulatory action’’ under

Executive Order 12866 and, therefore,

has not been reviewed by the Office of

Management and Budget. This

document is also considered nonsignificant under the regulatory policies

and procedures of the Department of

Transportation (44 FR 11034; February

2, 1979).

Costs

This proposed rule would revise the

regulations that prescribe the

certification and training requirements

for mechanics and repairmen. Current

regulations prescribing these

certification requirements do not reflect

the extensive differences in the

maintenance skills required of currently

certificated personnel, the significant

technological advances that have

occurred in the aviation industry, and

the enhancements in training and

instructional methods, that have

affected all aviation maintenance

personnel. The proposed rule would

consolidate and clarify for aviation

maintenance personnel all certification,

training, experience, and currency

requirements in a newly established 14

CFR part 66. This rulemaking would

create additional certificates and ratings,

and would modify the privileges and

limitations of current certificates to

respond more closely to the current

responsibilities of aviation maintenance

personnel. The proposed rule also

would enhance the technical

capabilities of, and increase the level of

professionalism among, aviation

maintenance personnel by establishing

new training requirements.

The total quantifiable cost in second

quarter 1996 dollars was estimated at

between $219 million and $404 million

over ten years (between $153.8 million

and $283.8 million discounted). The

cost range is a function of the estimated

range of affected mechanics. The total

quantifiable costs to all affected

mechanics for obtaining an aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

(AMT(T)) certificate were estimated at

between $146 million and $293 million

over ten years (between $102.5 and

$207.8 million discounted at 7 percent).

The cost of the provision relating to

recurrent training would range between

$73 million and $111 million over ten

years (between $51.3 million and $78.0

million, discounted).

Cost Savings

There are a number of potential

sources of cost savings in the proposal.

Improved training is expected to

increase productivity between about

$238 million and $595 million (between

$167.2 million and $417.9 million,

discounted over ten years). Elimination

of course redundancy in the A & P

curriculum could provide estimated

cost savings between $166 million to

$222 million over ten years (between

$116.6 million and $155.9 million,

discounted). Other changes could add

approximately $18.1 million in cost

savings over ten years ($12.7 million,

discounted). The total potential cost

savings would therefore range between

$422.1 million and $817.0 million total

over ten years (between $296.4 million

and $573.8 million, discounted).

Based upon the low compliance cost

coupled with the potential cost savings,

the FAA concludes that the proposed

rule is cost beneficial.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility

Determination

The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980

(RFA) (Public Law 96–354; September

19, 1980) was enacted by Congress to

ensure that small entities are not

unnecessarily and disproportionately

burdened by government regulations.

The RFA requires agencies to review

rules that may have ‘‘a significant cost

impact on a substantial number of small

entities.’’

All of the major changes to the rules

discussed in this NPRM would affect

mechanics and repairmen, who are

individuals rather than business entities

or government entities. The revisions

that impact maintenance schools would

not exceed the cost-threshold level, as

found in FAA Order 2100.14A,

‘‘Regulatory Flexibility Criteria and

Guidance’’ (September 1986). Therefore,

the FAA has determined that the

proposed revisions would not have a

significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities.

International Trade Impact

The proposed rule would not affect

international trade since the mechanics

affected would not be employed by

firms whose operations are of an

international scale.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

Assessment

This proposed rule does not contain

any Federal intergovernmental or

private sector mandate. Therefore, the

requirements of Title II of the Unfunded

Mandates Reform Act of 1995 do not

apply.

Federalism Implications

The regulations proposed herein will

not have substantial direct effects on the

States, on the relationship between the
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37199

national government and the States, or

on the distribution of power and

responsibilities among various levels of

government. Therefore, in accordance

with Executive Order 12612, it is

determined that this proposal would not

have sufficient federalism implications

to warrant the preparation of a

Federalism Assessment.

Cross-Reference

To identify the location in proposed

part 66 where present regulations (or

portions thereof) pertaining to

mechanics and repairmen would be

found, the following cross-reference list

is provided. (Current §§ 65.1 through

65.23, except for § 65.3, would not be

deleted from part 65 as these sections

would still pertain to those airmen who

would continue to be regulated by that

part.)

Old New

65.1 ............... 66.1

65.3 ............... 66.3

65.11 ............. 66.5

65.12 ............. 66.27

65.13 ............. 66.7

65.15 ............. 66.9

65.16 ............. 66.13

65.17 ............. 66.21

65.18 ............. 66.23

65.19 ............. 66.25

65.20 ............. 66.19

65.21 ............. 66.15

65.23 ............. 66.29

65.71 ............. 66.51 and 66.101

65.73 ............. 66.53 and 66.103

65.75 ............. 66.55

65.77 ............. 66.57

65.79 ............. 66.59

65.80 ............. 66.61

65.81 ............. 66.63 and 66.109

65.83 ............. 66.65 and 66.111

65.85 ............. 66.63 and 66.109

65.87 ............. 66.63 and 66.109

65.89 ............. 66.11

65.91 ............. 66.151

65.92 ............. 66.153

65.93 ............. 66.155

65.95 ............. 66.157

65.101 ........... 66.203

65.103 ........... 66.211

65.104 ........... 66.205 and 66.213

65.105 ........... 66.11

The following list shows where the

proposals contained in this document

can be found in current part 65:

New Old

66.1 ............... 65.1

66.3 ............... 65.3

66.5 ............... 65.11

66.7 ............... 65.13

66.9 ............... 65.15

66.11 ............. 65.89 and 65.105

66.13 ............. 65.16

66.15 ............. 65.21

66.17 ............. New

New Old

66.19 ............. 65.20

66.21 ............. 65.17

66.23 ............. 65.18

66.25 ............. 65.19

66.27 ............. 65.12

66.29 ............. 65.23

66.31 ............. New

66.51 ............. 65.71

66.53 ............. 65.73

66.55 ............. 65.75

66.57 ............. 65.77

66.59 ............. 65.79

66.61 ............. 65.80

66.63 ............. 65.81, 65.85, and 65.87

66.65 ............. 65.83

66.67 ............. New

66.69 ............. New

66.71 ............. New

66.73 ............. New

66.101 ........... 65.71

66.103 ........... 65.73

66.105 ........... New

66.107 ........... New

66.109 ........... 65.81, 65.85, and 65.87

66.111 ........... 65.83

66.113 ........... New

66.115 ........... New

66.117 ........... New

66.119 ........... New

66.151 ........... 65.91

66.153 ........... 65.92

66.155 ........... 65.93

66.157 ........... 65.95

66.201 ........... New

66.203 ........... 65.101

66.205 ........... 65.104

66.207 ........... New

66.209 ........... New

66.211 ........... 65.103

66.213 ........... 65.104

66.215 ........... New

List of Subjects

14 CFR Part 65

Air traffic controllers, Aircraft,

Airmen, Airports, Alcohol abuse, Drug

abuse, Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

14 CFR Part 66

Air safety, Air transportation, Aircraft,

Airmen, Alcohol abuse, Aviation safety,

Drug abuse, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements.

14 CFR Part 147

Aircraft, Airmen, Educational

facilities, Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements, Schools.

The Proposed Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the

Federal Aviation Administration

proposes to amend Chapter I of 14 CFR

as follows:

PART 65—CERTIFICATION: AIR

TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER

OPERATORS, AIRCRAFT

DISPATCHERS, AND PARACHUTE

RIGGERS

1. The heading for part 65 is revised

to read as set forth above.

2. The authority citation for part 65

continues to read as follows:

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

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

45301–45302.

§ 65.1 [Amended]

3. Section 65.1 is amended by

removing paragraphs (c) and (d) and

redesignating paragraph (e) as paragraph

(c).

§ 65.3 [Removed and Reserved]

4. Section 65.3 is removed and

reserved.

5. Section 65.11 is amended by

revising paragraphs (c) and (d) to read

as follows:

§ 65.11 Application and issue.

* * * * *

(c) Unless authorized by the

Administrator, a person whose air traffic

control tower operator certificate or

parachute rigger certificate is suspended

may not apply for any rating to be added

to that certificate during the period of

suspension.

(d) Unless the order of revocation

provides otherwise, a person whose air

traffic control tower operator, aircraft

dispatcher, or parachute rigger

certificate is revoked may not apply for

the same kind of certificate for 1 year

after the date of revocation.

6. Section 65.15 is revised to read as

follows:

§ 65.15 Duration of certificates.

(a) A certificate or rating issued under

this part is effective until it is

surrendered, suspended, or revoked.

(b) The holder of a certificate issued

under this part that is suspended,

revoked, or is no longer effective, shall

return that certificate to the

Administrator.

Subpart D [Removed and Reserved]

7. Part 65, subpart D, consisting of

§§ 65.71 through 65.95, is removed and

reserved.

Subpart E [Removed and Reserved]

8. Part 65, subpart E, consisting of

§§ 65.101 through 65.105, is removed

and reserved.

9. Part 66 is added to read as follows:
37200 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

PART 66—CERTIFICATION: AVIATION

MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL

Subpart A—General

Sec.

66.1 Applicability.

66.3 Certification of foreign aviation

maintenance personnel.

66.5 Application and issue.

66.7 Temporary certificate.

66.9 Duration of certificates.

66.11 Display of certificate.

66.13 Change of name: Replacement of lost

or destroyed certificate.

66.15 Change of address.

66.17 Periodic registration.

66.19 Applications, certificates, logbooks,

reports, and records: Falsification,

reproduction, or alteration.

66.21 Tests: General procedure.

66.23 Knowledge tests: Cheating or other

unauthorized conduct.

66.25 Retesting after failure.

66.27 Offenses involving alcohol or drugs.

66.29 Refusal to submit to a drug or alcohol

test.

66.31 Waivers: Policy and procedures.

Subpart B—Aviation Maintenance

Technicians

66.51 Eligibility requirements: General.

66.53 Ratings.

66.55 Aircraft rating: Knowledge

requirements.

66.57 Aircraft rating: Experience

requirements.

66.59 Aircraft rating: Competency

requirements.

66.61 Certificated aviation maintenance

technician school students.

66.63 Aircraft rating: Privileges and

limitations.

66.65 Aircraft rating: Recent experience

requirements.

66.67 Aviation maintenance instructor

rating: Additional eligibility

requirements.

66.69 Aviation maintenance instructor

rating: Instructional knowledge and

proficiency.

66.71 Aviation maintenance instructor

rating: Privileges and limitations.

66.73 Aviation maintenance instructor

rating: Recent experience requirements.

Subpart C—Aviation Maintenance

Technicians (Transport)

66.101 Eligibility requirements: General.

66.103 Ratings.

66.105 Transition to new certificates and

ratings.

66.107 Aircraft rating: Additional eligibility

requirements.

66.109 Aircraft rating: Privileges and

limitations.

66.111 Aircraft rating: Recent experience

requirements.

66.113 Aviation maintenance instructor

rating: Additional eligibility

requirements.

66.115 Aviation maintenance instructor

rating: Privileges and limitations.

66.117 Aviation maintenance instructor

rating: Recent experience requirements.

66.119 Aviation maintenance technician

(transport) training providers.

Subpart D—Inspection Authorizations

66.151 Eligibility requirements: General.

66.153 Duration of authorization.

66.155 Renewal of authorization.

66.157 Privileges and limitations.

Subpart E—Aviation Repair Specialists

66.201 Aviation repair specialist certificates

issued on the basis of proficiency in a

designated specialty area (ARS–I):

Eligibility.

66.203 Aviation repair specialist certificates

issued on the basis of employment

(ARS–II): Eligibility.

66.205 Aviation repair specialist certificates

issued to experimental aircraft builders

(ARS–III): Eligibility.

66.207 Transition to new certificates.

66.209 Aviation repair specialist certificates

issued on the basis of proficiency in a

designated specialty area (ARS–I):

Privileges and limitations.

66.211 Aviation repair specialist certificates

issued on the basis of employment

(ARS–II): Privileges and limitations.

66.213 Aviation repair specialist certificates

issued to experimental aircraft builders

(ARS–III): Privileges and limitations.

66.215 Aviation repair specialist certificates

issued on the basis of proficiency in a

designated specialty area (ARS–I):

Recent experience requirements.

Appendix A to Part 66—Aviation

Maintenance Technician (Transport)

Training Program Curriculum

Requirements

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

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

45301–45302.

Subpart A—General

§ 66.1 Applicability.

(a) This part prescribes the

requirements for issuing the certificates

listed in paragraph (b) of this section

and any associated rating or inspection

authorization and the general operating

rules for holders of those certificates,

ratings, and inspection authorizations.

(b) The following certificates are

issued under this part:

(1) Aviation maintenance technician.

(2) Aviation maintenance technician

(transport).

(3) Aviation repair specialist.

§ 66.3 Certification of foreign aviation

maintenance personnel.

A person who is neither a U.S. citizen

nor a resident alien is issued a

certificate under subpart B or C of this

part, outside the United States, only

when the Administrator finds that the

certificate is needed for the operation or

continued airworthiness of a U.S.-

registered civil aircraft.

§ 66.5 Application and issue.

(a) Application for a certificate, rating,

or inspection authorization under this

part must be made on a form and in a

manner prescribed by the

Administrator. Each person who is

neither a U.S. citizen nor a resident

alien and who applies for a knowledge

or practical test to be administered

outside the United States or for any

certificate, rating, or inspection

authorization issued under this part

must show evidence that the fee

prescribed in appendix A to part 187 of

this chapter has been paid.

(b) An applicant who meets the

requirements of this part is entitled to

an appropriate certificate, rating, or

inspection authorization.

(c) Unless authorized by the

Administrator, a person whose aviation

maintenance technician certificate,

aviation maintenance technician

(transport) certificate, or aviation repair

specialist certificate is suspended may

not apply for any rating to be added to

that certificate during the period of

suspension.

(d) Unless the order of revocation

provides otherwise, a person whose

aviation maintenance technician

certificate, aviation maintenance

technician (transport) certificate, or

aviation repair specialist certificate is

revoked may not apply for any of these

certificates for 1 year after the date of

revocation.

§ 66.7 Temporary certificate.

A certificate or rating effective for a

period of not more than 120 days may

be issued to a qualified applicant,

pending review of the applicant’s

qualifications and the issuance by the

Administrator of the certificate or rating

for which the application was made.

§ 66.9 Duration of certificates.

(a) An aviation maintenance

technician certificate, an aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

certificate, an aviation repair specialist

certificate issued on the basis of

proficiency in a designated specialty

area (ARS–I), an aviation repair

specialist certificate issued to an

experimental aircraft builder (ARS–III),

or any rating issued under this part is

effective until it is surrendered,

suspended, or revoked.

(b) Unless it is sooner surrendered,

suspended, or revoked, an aviation

repair specialist certificate issued on the

basis of employment (ARS–II) is

effective until the holder of that

certificate is relieved from the duties for

which the holder was employed and

certificated.
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37201

(c) The holder of a certificate issued

under this part that is suspended,

revoked, or no longer effective, shall

return that certificate to the

Administrator.

§ 66.11 Display of certificate.

Each person who holds an aviation

maintenance technician certificate, an

aviation maintenance technician

(transport) certificate, or an aviation

repair specialist certificate shall keep it

within the immediate area where the

person normally exercises the privileges

of the certificate and shall present it for

inspection upon the request of the

Administrator or an authorized

representative of the National

Transportation Safety Board, or of any

Federal, State, or local law enforcement

officer.

§ 66.13 Change of name: Replacement of

lost or destroyed certificate.

(a) An application for a change of

name on a certificate issued under this

part must be accompanied by the

applicant’s current certificate and the

marriage license, court order, or other

document verifying the change. The

documents are returned to the applicant

after inspection.

(b) An application for replacement of

a lost or destroyed certificate is made by

letter to the Department of

Transportation, Federal Aviation

Administration, Airman Certification

Branch, Post Office Box 25082,

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73125. The

letter must—

(1) Contain the name in which the

certificate was issued, the permanent

mailing address (including ZIP Code),

Social Security Number (if any), and

date and place of birth of the certificate

holder, and any available information

regarding the grade, number, and date of

issue of the certificate and the ratings on

it; and

(2) Be accompanied by a check or

money order for $2, payable to the

Federal Aviation Administration.

(c) A person whose certificate issued

under this part has been lost may obtain

a telegram or facsimile from the Federal

Aviation Administration confirming

that it was issued. The telegram or

facsimile may be carried as a certificate

for a period not to exceed 90 days,

pending the receipt of a duplicate

certificate under paragraph (b) of this

section, unless the person has been

notified that the certificate has been

suspended or revoked. The request for

such a telegram or facsimile may be

made by prepaid telegram or facsimile,

stating the date on which a duplicate

certificate was requested, or including

the request for a duplicate and a money

order for the appropriate amount. The

request for a telegraphic or facsimile

certificate should be sent to the office

prescribed in paragraph (b) of this

section.

§ 66.15 Change of address.

The holder of a certificate issued

under this part who has made a change

in permanent mailing address may not,

after 30 days from that date, exercise the

privileges of the certificate unless the

holder has notified, in writing, the

Department of Transportation, Federal

Aviation Administration, Airman

Certification Branch, Post Office Box

25082, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

73125, of the new address.

§ 66.17 Periodic registration.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph

(b) of this section, the holder of an

aviation maintenance technician

certificate or an aviation maintenance

technician (transport) certificate shall,

before the last day of the 12th calendar

month after [date 12 months after the

effective date of the final rule], and

before the last day of each 48-calendarmonth period thereafter, notify, in a

form and manner prescribed by the

Administrator, the Department of

Transportation, Federal Aviation

Administration, Airman Certification

Branch, Post Office Box 25082,

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73125, of his

or her current mailing address.

(b) The holder of an aviation

maintenance technician certificate or an

aviation maintenance technician

(transport) certificate need not comply

with the notification provisions of

paragraph (a) of this section if the

holder has, within the same 12- or 48-

calendar-month period for which a

notification was required in paragraph

(a) of this section—

(1) Been issued a certificate, rating, or

inspection authorization under the

provisions of this part;

(2) Been issued an airman medical

certificate under the provisions of part

67 of this chapter; or

(3) Notified the Department of

Transportation, Federal Aviation

Administration, Airman Certification

Branch, Post Office Box 25082,

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73125, under

the provisions of § 66.13 or § 66.15.

(c) The holder of an aviation

maintenance technician certificate or an

aviation maintenance technician

(transport) certificate issued under this

part, who has not complied with the

requirements of this section may not

exercise the privileges of the certificate

until the notification required by this

section has been made.

§ 66.19 Applications, certificates,

logbooks, reports, and records:

Falsification, reproduction, or alteration.

(a) No person may make or cause to

be made—

(1) Any fraudulent or intentionally

false statement on any application for a

certificate, rating, or inspection

authorization under this part;

(2) Any fraudulent or intentionally

false entry in any logbook, record, or

report that is required to be kept, made,

or used to show compliance with any

requirement for any certificate, rating, or

inspection authorization under this part;

(3) Any reproduction, for fraudulent

purpose, of any certificate, rating, or

inspection authorization under this part;

or

(4) Any alteration of any certificate,

rating, or inspection authorization

under this part.

(b) The commission by any person of

an act prohibited under paragraph (a) of

this section is a basis for suspending or

revoking any airman certificate, rating,

or inspection authorization held by that

person.

§ 66.21 Tests: General procedure.

(a) Tests prescribed by or under this

part are given at times and places, and

by persons, designated by the

Administrator.

(b) The minimum passing grade for

each test is 70 percent.

§ 66.23 Knowledge tests: Cheating or

other unauthorized conduct.

(a) Except as authorized by the

Administrator, no person may—

(1) Copy, or intentionally remove, a

knowledge test under this part;

(2) Give to another, or receive from

another, any part or copy of that test;

(3) Give help on that test to, or receive

help on that test from, any person

during the period that the test is being

given;

(4) Take any part of that test on behalf

of another person;

(5) Use any material or aid during the

period that the test is being given; or

(6) Intentionally cause, assist, or

participate in any act prohibited by this

paragraph (a).

(b) No person who commits an act

prohibited by paragraph (a) of this

section is eligible for any airman or

ground instructor certificate, rating, or

inspection authorization under this

chapter for a period of 1 year after the

date of that act. In addition, the

commission of that act is a basis for

suspending or revoking any airman or

ground instructor certificate, rating, or

inspection authorization held by that

person.
37202 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

§ 66.25 Retesting after failure.

An applicant for a knowledge, oral, or

practical test for a certificate, rating, or

inspection authorization under this part,

may apply for retesting—

(a) After 30 days after the date the

applicant failed the test; or

(b) Before the 30 days have expired if

the applicant presents a signed

statement from an airman holding the

certificate, rating, or inspection

authorization sought by the applicant,

which certifies that the airman has

given the applicant additional

instruction in each of the subjects failed

and that the airman considers the

applicant ready for retesting.

§ 66.27 Offenses involving alcohol or

drugs.

(a) A conviction for the violation of

any Federal or State statute relating to

the growing, processing, manufacture,

sale, disposition, possession,

transportation, or importation of

narcotic drugs, marihuana, or

depressant or stimulant drugs or

substances, is grounds for—

(1) Denial of an application for any

certificate, rating, or inspection

authorization issued under this part for

a period of up to 1 year after the date

of final conviction; or

(2) Suspension or revocation of any

certificate, rating, or inspection

authorization issued under this part.

(b) The commission of an act

prohibited by § 91.19(a) of this chapter

is grounds for—

(1) Denial of an application for a

certificate, rating, or inspection

authorization issued under this part for

a period of up to 1 year after the date

of that act; or

(2) Suspension or revocation of any

certificate, rating, or inspection

authorization issued under this part.

§ 66.29 Refusal to submit to a drug or

alcohol test.

(a) This section applies to an

employee who performs a function

listed in appendix I or appendix J to

part 121 of this chapter directly or by

contract for a certificate holder

operating under part 121 or part 135 of

this chapter, or an operator as defined

in § 135.1(c) of this chapter.

(b) Refusal by the holder of a

certificate issued under this part to take

a drug test required under the

provisions of appendix I to part 121 of

this chapter or an alcohol test required

under the provisions of appendix J to

part 121 of this chapter, is grounds for—

(1) Denial of an application for any

certificate, rating, or inspection

authorization issued under this part for

a period of up to 1 year after the date

of that refusal; and

(2) Suspension or revocation of any

certificate, rating, or inspection

authorization issued under this part.

§ 66.31 Waivers: Policy and procedures.

(a) If the Administrator finds that the

holder can safely exercise the privileges

of the certificate and rating, the

Administrator may issue any certificate

or associated rating, specified under the

provisions of this part, that authorizes

the holder to exercise the privileges and

limitations of the certificate and rating

in deviation from §§ 66.51(b), 66.57,

66.201(b), and 66.203(b).

(b) An application for a certificate and

rating, issued under the provisions of

paragraph (a) of this section, shall be

made on a form and in a manner

prescribed by the Administrator and

must be submitted to FAA

Headquarters, Flight Standards Service,

Aircraft Maintenance Division

(AFS’300), 800 Independence Avenue

SW., Washington, DC 20591.

(c) A certificate or any associated

rating, issued under the provisions of

paragraph (a) of this section, is effective

as specified in the certificate and rating.

Subpart B—Aviation Maintenance

Technicians

§ 66.51 Eligibility requirements: General.

An applicant for an aviation

maintenance technician certificate and

any associated rating must—

(a) Be at least 18 years of age;

(b) Demonstrate the ability to read,

write, speak, and understand the

English language by reading and

explaining appropriate maintenance

publications and by writing defect and

repair statements. If the applicant is

unable to meet any of these

requirements because of medical

reasons, the Administrator may place

such limitations on that applicant’s

certificate as are necessary for the safe

maintenance, preventive maintenance,

or alteration of aircraft;

(c) Comply with the knowledge,

experience, and competency

requirements prescribed for the rating

sought;

(d) Comply with any additional

eligibility requirements specified for the

rating sought; and

(e) Pass all of the prescribed tests for

the rating sought, within a period of 24

months.

§ 66.53 Ratings.

The following ratings are issued

under this subpart:

(a) Aircraft.

(b) Aviation maintenance instructor.

§ 66.55 Aircraft rating: Knowledge

requirements.

(a) Except as specified in § 66.61(a),

each applicant for an aviation

maintenance technician certificate with

an aircraft rating must, after meeting the

applicable requirements of § 66.57, pass

the applicable knowledge tests covering

the construction and maintenance of

aircraft appropriate to the certificate and

rating, the regulations in this subpart,

and the relevant provisions of this

chapter.

(b) Except as specified in § 66.61(a),

each applicant must pass all applicable

knowledge tests before applying for the

oral and practical tests prescribed by

§ 66.59. A report of the knowledge tests

will be made available to the applicant.

§ 66.57 Aircraft rating: Experience

requirements.

Each applicant for an aviation

maintenance technician certificate with

an aircraft rating must present—

(a) An appropriate graduation

certificate or a certificate of completion

from a certificated aviation maintenance

technician school; or

(b) Documentary evidence, acceptable

to the Administrator, of at least 5,000

hours of practical experience with the

procedures, practices, materials, tools,

machine tools, and equipment generally

used in constructing, maintaining, or

altering aircraft.

§ 66.59 Aircraft rating: Competency

requirements.

Each applicant for an aviation

maintenance technician certificate with

an aircraft rating must demonstrate

competency in performing tasks

appropriate to the certificate sought by

passing both an oral and a practical test.

These tests will be based on the subjects

covered by the knowledge tests for the

certificate and rating.

§ 66.61 Certificated aviation maintenance

technician school students.

(a) Whenever an aviation maintenance

technician school certificated under part

147 of this chapter demonstrates to an

FAA inspector that one of its students

has made satisfactory progress at the

school and is prepared to take the oral

and practical tests prescribed by § 66.59,

that student may take those tests during

the final subjects of that student’s

training in the approved curriculum

before meeting the applicable

experience requirements of § 66.57 and

before passing the knowledge tests

prescribed by § 66.55.

(b) An applicant for an aviation

maintenance technician certificate and

rating under this part who has

successfully completed all applicable

knowledge tests is considered to meet
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37203

the knowledge, experience, and

competency requirements prescribed for

the rating sought if the applicant applies

within 90 days after graduation from an

aviation maintenance technician school,

certificated under part 147 of this

chapter, that is specifically authorized

by the Administrator to test applicants

on the competency requirements for the

certificate and rating sought.

§ 66.63 Aircraft rating: Privileges and

limitations.

(a) Except as specified in paragraph

(d) of this section, a certificated aviation

maintenance technician with an aircraft

rating may perform the maintenance,

preventive maintenance, or alteration to

any aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or part

thereof, and any additional duties in

accordance with § 66.157.

(b) Except as specified in paragraph

(d) of this section, a certificated aviation

maintenance technician with an aircraft

rating may supervise the maintenance,

preventive maintenance, or alteration of,

or after inspection, approve for return to

service, any aircraft, airframe, aircraft

engine, propeller, appliance,

component, or part thereof provided the

aviation maintenance technician, has—

(1) Satisfactorily performed the work

at an earlier date;

(2) Demonstrated the ability to

perform the work to the satisfaction of

the Administrator;

(3) Received training acceptable to the

Administrator on the tasks to be

performed; or

(4) Performed the work while working

under the direct supervision of a

certificated aviation maintenance

technician, certificated aviation

maintenance technician (transport), or a

certificated aviation repair specialist,

who has—

(i) Had previous experience in the

specific operation concerned; or

(ii) Received training acceptable to the

Administrator on the tasks to be

performed.

(c) Except as specified in paragraph

(d) of this section, a certificated aviation

maintenance technician with an aircraft

rating may perform the 100-hour

inspection required by part 91 of this

chapter on any aircraft, airframe, aircraft

engine, propeller, appliance,

component, or part thereof, and approve

that aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or part

for return to service.

(d) A certificated aviation

maintenance technician with an aircraft

rating may not—

(1) Approve for return to service any

aircraft certificated under part 25 or part

29 of this chapter except after the

performance of—

(i) Those tasks specified in paragraph

(c) of appendix A to part 43 of this

chapter; or

(ii) Other tasks specified by the

Administrator;

(2) Perform or supervise (unless under

the direct supervision and control of a

repair station certificated under part 145

of this chapter or of an air carrier

operating under part 121 or part 135 of

this chapter)—

(i) A major repair or major alteration

of a propeller; or

(ii) Any repair or alteration of

instruments other than a horizontal-card

liquid-filled compass;

(3) Approve for return to service—

(i) Any aircraft, airframe, aircraft

engine, propeller, appliance,

component, or part thereof after

completion of a major repair or major

alteration; or

(ii) Any instrument other than a

horizontal-card liquid-filled compass

after completion of any repair or

alteration;

(4) Exercise the privileges of the

certificate unless the aviation

maintenance technician understands the

current instructions for continued

airworthiness and the maintenance

instructions for the specific operation

concerned.

§ 66.65 Aircraft rating: Recent experience

requirements.

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs

(b) and (c) of this section, a certificated

aviation maintenance technician with

an aircraft rating may not exercise the

privileges of the aircraft rating unless

the aviation maintenance technician

has—

(1) For at least 6 months within the

preceding 24 months—

(i) Served as an aviation maintenance

technician;

(ii) Served under the supervision of a

certificated aviation maintenance

technician or aviation maintenance

technician (transport);

(iii) Technically supervised other

aviation maintenance technicians;

(iv) Provided aviation maintenance

instruction or served as the direct

supervisor of persons providing aviation

maintenance instruction for an aviation

maintenance technician course or

program acceptable to the

Administrator;

(v) Supervised, in an executive

capacity, the maintenance, preventive

maintenance, or alteration of any

aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or part

thereof; or

(vi) Been engaged in any combination

of paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (a)(1)(v)

of this section; and

(2) Within the preceding 24 months—

(i) Successfully completed an aviation

maintenance technician refresher

course, inspection authorization

refresher course, or other course of

instruction acceptable to the

Administrator and appropriate to the

duties of an aviation maintenance

technician;

(ii) Performed maintenance or

preventive maintenance for a certificate

holder having a maintenance and

preventive maintenance training

program as required under § 121.375 or

§ 135.433 of this chapter;

(iii) Performed maintenance or

preventive maintenance for a U.S.-

certificated repair station that performs

work in accordance with § 145.2(a) of

this chapter or conducts a maintenance

and preventive maintenance training

program; or

(iv) Provided aviation maintenance

instruction, or served as the direct

supervisor of persons providing aviation

maintenance instruction, for an aviation

maintenance training course or program

acceptable to the Administrator in

which instruction is provided in the

maintenance, preventive maintenance,

or alteration of any aircraft, airframe,

aircraft engine, propeller, appliance,

component, or part thereof.

(b) A certificated aviation

maintenance technician who has not

met the requirements of paragraph (a) of

this section may exercise the privileges

of the certificate and rating (including

for compensation or hire) if, within the

preceding 24 months—

(1) The aviation maintenance

technician has successfully completed a

requalification course acceptable to the

Administrator; or

(2) The Administrator has found the

aviation maintenance technician

competent to exercise the privileges of

the certificate.

(c) A certificated aviation

maintenance technician who has met

the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of

this section, but has not met the

requirements specified in paragraph

(a)(2) or (b) of this section may exercise

the privileges of the certificate and

rating, but not for compensation or hire.

§ 66.67 Aviation maintenance instructor

rating: Additional eligibility requirements.

(a) An applicant for an aviation

maintenance technician certificate with

an aviation maintenance instructor

rating must—

(1) Hold a current and valid aviation

maintenance technician certificate, with
37204 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

an aircraft rating, that has been in effect

for a total of at least 3 years;

(2) Have been actively engaged, for at

least the 2-year period before the date of

application, in maintaining aircraft in

accordance with this chapter; and

(3) Within 24 months of the date of

application, pass a knowledge test on

the subjects in which instruction is

required under § 66.69 or, at the time of

application—

(i) Hold a current and valid ground

instructor or flight instructor certificate;

(ii) Present an appropriate graduation

certificate, a certificate of completion, or

other documentary evidence acceptable

to the Administrator, that demonstrates

the award of a degree in education,

vocational education, technical

education, or occupational education

from an accredited institution; or

(iii) Hold a current and valid State

teaching certificate, acceptable to the

Administrator, that requires the holder

to obtain proficiency in the subjects

specified in § 66.69.

(b) Before [date 12 months after the

effective date of the final rule], an

applicant who can present evidence

acceptable to the Administrator, that he

or she has served as an aviation

maintenance instructor, or as the

supervisor of aviation maintenance

instructors at an aviation maintenance

school certificated under part 147 of this

chapter, need not comply with the

requirements of paragraph (a)(3) of this

section.

§ 66.69 Aviation maintenance instructor

rating: Instructional knowledge and

proficiency.

An applicant for an aviation

maintenance technician certificate with

an aviation maintenance instructor

rating must satisfactorily demonstrate

instructional knowledge and proficiency

in the following subjects:

(a) The learning process.

(b) Elements of effective teaching.

(c) Student evaluation and testing.

(d) Course development.

(e) Lesson planning.

(f) Classroom training techniques.

§ 66.71 Aviation maintenance instructor

rating: Privileges and limitations.

A certificated aviation maintenance

technician with an aviation

maintenance instructor rating—

(a) May serve as an aviation

maintenance instructor under the

provisions of §§ 147.23 and 147.36 of

this chapter; and

(b) May only exercise the privileges of

that rating when holding a current and

valid aviation maintenance technician

certificate with an aircraft rating.

§ 66.73 Aviation maintenance instructor

rating: Recent experience requirements.

A certificated aviation maintenance

technician with an aviation

maintenance instructor rating may not

exercise the privileges of that rating

unless within the preceding 24 months

the individual—

(a) Has provided 300 hours of aviation

maintenance instruction;

(b) Has, for a period of 300 hours,

supervised other aviation maintenance

instructors;

(c) Has successfully completed an

aviation maintenance technician

refresher course or other course of

instruction acceptable to the

Administrator and appropriate to the

duties of an aviation maintenance

instructor; or

(d) The Administrator has determined

that the aviation maintenance

technician meets the standards

prescribed in this part for the issuance

of the aviation maintenance technician

certificate with the aviation

maintenance instructor rating.

Subpart C—Aviation Maintenance

Technicians (Transport)

§ 66.101 Eligibility requirements: General.

An applicant for an aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

certificate, must—

(a) Hold a current and valid aviation

maintenance technician certificate with

an aircraft rating; and

(b) Comply with any additional

eligibility requirements specified for the

rating sought.

§ 66.103 Ratings.

The following ratings are issued

under this subpart:

(a) Aircraft.

(b) Aviation maintenance instructor.

§ 66.105 Transition to new certificates and

ratings.

(a) A mechanic certificate with

airframe and powerplant ratings that

was issued before, and was valid on

[date 12 months after the effective date

of the final rule], is equal to an aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

certificate with an aircraft rating and

may be exchanged for such a

corresponding certificate and rating.

(b) The holder of a current and valid

mechanic certificate with an airframe

rating may exercise the privileges

specified in § 66.109; however, the

holder may not approve the powerplant

or propeller of any aircraft certificated

under this chapter and any related

appliance, component, or part thereof,

for return to service.

(c) The holder of a current and valid

mechanic certificate with a powerplant

rating may exercise the privileges

specified in § 66.109; however, the

holder may not approve the airframe of

any aircraft certificated under this

chapter and any related appliance,

component, or part thereof, for return to

service.

§ 66.107 Aircraft rating: Additional

eligibility requirements.

An applicant for an aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

certificate with an aircraft rating must

present an appropriate graduation

certificate, a certificate of completion, or

other documentary evidence acceptable

to the Administrator, that demonstrates

the satisfactory completion of—

(a) An aviation maintenance

technician (transport) training program,

administered by an approved training

provider, that meets the requirements of

appendix A to this part;

(b) An aviation maintenance

technician (transport) training program

approved under part 147 of this chapter

that meets the requirements of

paragraph (d) of appendix A to this part;

or

(c) A training program approved

under part 121, subpart L, or part 135,

subpart J, of this chapter that meets the

requirements of paragraph (d) of

appendix A to this part.

§ 66.109 Aircraft rating: Privileges and

limitations.

(a) Except as specified in paragraph

(d) of this section, a certificated aviation

maintenance technician (transport) with

an aircraft rating may perform

maintenance, preventive maintenance,

or alteration on any aircraft, airframe,

aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or

component part thereof, and any

additional duties in accordance with

§ 66.157.

(b) Except as specified in paragraph

(d) of this section, a certificated aviation

maintenance technician (transport) may

supervise the maintenance, preventive

maintenance, or alteration of, and after

inspection approve for return to service,

any aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or part

thereof, provided the aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

has—

(1) Satisfactorily performed the work

at an earlier date;

(2) Demonstrated the ability to

perform the work to the satisfaction of

the Administrator;

(3) Received training acceptable to the

Administrator on the tasks to be

performed; or

(4) Performed the work while working

under the direct supervision of a

certificated aviation maintenance
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technician, certificated aviation

maintenance technician (transport), or

certificated aviation repair specialist

who has—

(i) Had previous experience in the

specific operation concerned; or

(ii) Received training acceptable to the

Administrator on the tasks to be

performed.

(c) Except as specified in paragraph

(d) of this section, a certificated aviation

maintenance technician (transport) may

perform the 100-hour inspection

required by part 91 of this chapter on

any aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or part

thereof, and approve the aircraft,

airframe, aircraft engine, propeller,

appliance, component, or part for return

to service.

(d) A certificated aviation

maintenance technician (transport) with

an aircraft rating may not—

(1) Perform or supervise (unless under

the direct supervision and control of a

repair station certificated under part 145

of this chapter or of an air carrier

operating under part 121 or part 135 of

this chapter)—

(i) A major repair or major alteration

of a propeller; or

(ii) Any repair or alteration of

instruments, other than a horizontalcard liquid-filled compass;

(2) Approve for return to service—

(i) Any aircraft, airframe, aircraft

engine, propeller, appliance,

component, or part thereof after

completion of a major repair or major

alteration; or

(ii) Any instrument other than a

horizontal-card liquid-filled compass

after completion of any repair or

alteration;

(3) Exercise the privileges of the

certificate unless the aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

understands the current instructions for

continued airworthiness and the

maintenance instructions for the

specific operation concerned.

§ 66.111 Aircraft rating: Recent experience

requirements.

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs

(b) and (c) of this section, a certificated

aviation maintenance technician

(transport) with an aircraft rating may

not exercise the privileges of the aircraft

rating unless the aviation maintenance

technician (transport) has—

(1) For at least 6 months within the

preceding 24 months—

(i) Served as an aviation maintenance

technician (transport) engaged in the

maintenance, preventive maintenance,

or alteration of aircraft certificated

under part 25 or part 29 of this chapter,

or of any airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or part

thereof;

(ii) Served under the supervision of a

certificated aviation maintenance

technician (transport) engaged in the

maintenance, preventive maintenance,

or alteration of aircraft certificated

under part 25 or part 29 of this chapter,

or of any airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or part

thereof;

(iii) Technically supervised other

aviation maintenance technicians or

aviation maintenance technicians

(transport) engaged in the maintenance,

preventive maintenance, or alteration of

aircraft certificated under part 25 or part

29 of this chapter, or of any airframe,

aircraft engine, propeller, appliance,

component, or part thereof;

(iv) Provided aviation maintenance

instruction or served as the direct

supervisor of persons providing aviation

maintenance instruction for an aviation

maintenance training course or program

acceptable to the Administrator, in

which instruction is provided in the

maintenance, preventive maintenance,

or alteration of aircraft certificated

under part 25 or part 29 of this chapter,

or of any airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or part

thereof;

(v) Supervised, in an executive

capacity, the maintenance, preventive

maintenance, or alteration of aircraft

certificated under part 25 or part 29 of

this chapter, or of any airframe, aircraft

engine, propeller, appliance,

component, or part thereof; or

(vi) Been engaged in any combination

of paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (a)(1)(v)

of this section; and

(2) Within the preceding 24 months—

(i) Successfully completed an aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

refresher course, inspection

authorization refresher course, or course

of instruction acceptable to the

Administrator and appropriate to the

duties of an aviation maintenance

technician (transport);

(ii) Performed maintenance or

preventive maintenance for a certificate

holder with a maintenance and

preventive maintenance training

program required under § 121.375 or

§ 135.433 of this chapter;

(iii) Performed maintenance or

preventive maintenance for a U.S.-

certificated repair station that performs

work in accordance with § 145.2(a) of

this chapter or conducts a maintenance

and preventive maintenance training

program; or

(iv) Provided aviation maintenance

instruction or served as the direct

supervisor of persons providing aviation

maintenance instruction for an aviation

maintenance training course or program

acceptable to the Administrator, in

which instruction is provided in the

maintenance, preventive maintenance,

or alteration of aircraft, or of any

airframe, aircraft engine, propeller,

appliance, component, or part thereof.

(b) A certificated aviation

maintenance technician (transport) who

has not met the requirements of

paragraph (a) of this section may

exercise the privileges of the certificate

and rating (including for compensation

or hire) if, within the preceding 24

months—

(1) The aviation maintenance

technician (transport) has successfully

completed a requalification course

acceptable to the Administrator; or

(2) The Administrator has found that

the aviation maintenance technician

(transport) is competent to exercise the

privileges of the certificate.

(c) A certificated aviation

maintenance technician (transport) who

has met the requirements of paragraph

(a)(1) of this section, but has not met the

requirements specified in paragraph

(a)(2) or (b) of this section, may exercise

the privileges of the certificate and

rating, but not for compensation or hire.

(d) The holder of an aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

certificate with an aircraft rating, who

has not met the recent experience

requirements of this section but has met

the recent experience requirements of

§ 66.65 for the holder of an aviation

maintenance technician certificate with

an aircraft rating, may exercise the

privileges of an aviation maintenance

technician certificate with an aircraft

rating until the recent experience

requirements of this section have been

met.

§ 66.113 Aviation maintenance instructor

rating: Additional eligibility requirements.

(a) An applicant for an aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

certificate with an aviation maintenance

instructor rating must—

(1) Hold a current and valid aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

certificate with an aircraft rating that

has been in effect for a total of at least

3 years;

(2) Have been actively engaged, for at

least the 2-year period before the date of

application, in maintaining aircraft in

accordance with this chapter; and

(3) Within 24 months of the date of

application, pass a knowledge test on

the subjects in which instruction is

required under § 66.69 or, at the time of

application—

(i) Hold a current and valid ground

instructor or flight instructor certificate;

or
37206 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

(ii) Present an appropriate graduation

certificate, a certificate of completion, or

other documentary evidence acceptable

to the Administrator, that demonstrates

the award of a degree in education,

vocational education, technical

education, or occupational education,

from an accredited institution; or

(iii) Hold a current and valid State

teaching certificate, acceptable to the

Administrator, that requires the holder

to obtain proficiency in the subjects

specified in § 66.69.

(b) A person who meets the

requirements for the issuance of an

aviation maintenance technician

(transport) certificate with an aircraft

rating and who holds a current and

valid aviation maintenance technician

certificate with aircraft and aviation

maintenance instructor ratings need not

comply with the requirements of

paragraph (a) of this section and will be

issued an aviation maintenance

technician (transport) certificate with

aircraft and aviation maintenance

instructor ratings upon application.

(c) Before [date 12 months after the

effective date of the final rule], an

applicant who can present evidence

acceptable to the Administrator, that he

or she has served as an aviation

maintenance instructor or as the

supervisor of aviation maintenance

instructors at an aviation maintenance

school certificated under part 147 of this

chapter need not comply with the

requirements of paragraph (a)(3) of this

section.

§ 66.115 Aviation maintenance instructor

rating: Privileges and limitations.

A certificated aviation maintenance

technician (transport) with an aviation

maintenance instructor rating—

(a) May serve as an aviation

maintenance instructor under the

provisions of §§ 147.23 and 147.36 of

this chapter; and

(b) May only exercise the privileges of

that rating when holding a current and

valid aviation maintenance technician

(transport) certificate with an aircraft

rating.

§ 66.117 Aviation maintenance instructor

rating: Recent experience requirements.

(a) A certificated aviation

maintenance technician (transport) with

an aviation maintenance instructor

rating may not exercise the privileges of

that rating unless within the preceding

24 months the individual—

(1) Has provided 300 hours of aviation

maintenance instruction;

(2) Has for a period of 300 hours

supervised other aviation maintenance

instructors;

(3) Has successfully completed an

aviation maintenance technician

(transport) refresher course or other

course of instruction acceptable to the

Administrator and appropriate to the

duties of an aviation maintenance

instructor; or

(4) The Administrator has determined

that the aviation maintenance

technician (transport) meets the

standards prescribed in this part for the

issuance of the aviation maintenance

technician (transport) certificate with

the aviation maintenance instructor

rating.

(b) The holder of an aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

certificate with an aviation maintenance

instructor rating who has not met the

recent experience requirements of this

section but has met the recent

experience requirements of § 66.73 for

the holder of an aviation maintenance

technician certificate with an aviation

maintenance instructor rating, may

exercise the privileges of an aviation

maintenance technician certificate with

the aviation maintenance instructor

rating until the recent experience

requirements of this section have been

met.

§ 66.119 Aviation maintenance technician

(transport) training providers.

(a) Except as specified in paragraph

(b) of this section, an applicant for

approval as a provider of an aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

training program specified in § 66.107(a)

must—

(1) Submit a written request for

approval to the Administrator; and

(2) Comply with the requirements of

appendix A to this part.

(b) An applicant for approval as a

provider of an aviation maintenance

technician (transport) training program

that is a certificate holder operating

under part 121 or part 135 of this

chapter, an aviation maintenance

technician school certificated under part

147 of this chapter, or a repair station

that performs maintenance, preventive

maintenance, or alterations under

§ 145.2(a) of this chapter, must comply

with paragraph (a)(1) of this section and

submit evidence acceptable to the

Administrator, that shows the training

program meets the requirements of

paragraph (d) of appendix A to this part.

Subpart D—Inspection Authorizations

§ 66.151 Eligibility requirements: General.

(a) To be eligible for an inspection

authorization, an applicant must—

(1) Hold a current and valid aviation

maintenance technician certificate or

aviation maintenance technician

(transport) certificate;

(2) Have held a current and valid

aviation maintenance technician

certificate or aviation maintenance

technician (transport) certificate for a

total of at least 3 years;

(3) Have been actively engaged, for at

least the 2-year period before the date of

application, in the maintenance of

aircraft certificated and maintained in

accordance with this chapter;

(4) Have a fixed base of operations at

which the applicant may be located in

person or by telephone during a normal

working week but which need not be

the place where the applicant will

exercise inspection authority;

(5) Have available the equipment,

facilities, and inspection data necessary

to properly inspect airframes, aircraft

engines, propellers, or any related

component, part, or appliance;

(6) Pass a knowledge test that

demonstrates the certificate holder’s

ability to inspect according to safety

standards for approving aircraft for

return to service after major and minor

repairs, major and minor alterations,

annual inspections, and progressive

inspections, which are performed under

part 43 of this chapter; and

(7) Successfully complete an

inspection authorization refresher

course acceptable to the Administrator,

of not less than 8 hours of instruction

during the 12-month period preceding

the application.

(b) An applicant intending to inspect

and approve for return to service any

aircraft certificated under part 25 or part

29 of this chapter, except those aircraft

maintained in accordance with a

continuous airworthiness maintenance

program approved under part 121 of this

chapter must—

(1) Hold a current and valid aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

certificate; and

(2) Have been actively engaged, for at

least the 2-year period before the date of

application, in the maintenance,

preventive maintenance, or alteration of

aircraft certificated under part 25 or part

29 of this chapter, or of any airframe,

aircraft engine, propeller, appliance,

component, or part thereof.

(c) An applicant who fails the

knowledge test prescribed in paragraph

(a)(6) of this section may not apply for

retesting until at least 90 days after the

date of the test.

§ 66.153 Duration of authorization.

(a) Each inspection authorization

expires on the last day of the 24th

month after the date of issuance.

(b) An inspection authorization ceases

to be effective whenever any of the

following occurs:

(1) The authorization is surrendered,

suspended, or revoked.

(2) The holder no longer has a fixed

base of operation.
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37207

(3) The holder no longer has the

equipment, facilities, or inspection data

required by § 66.151(a)(5) for issuance of

the authorization.

(4) The holder no longer holds a

current and valid aviation maintenance

technician certificate or aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

certificate, as appropriate.

(c) The holder of an inspection

authorization that is suspended or

revoked shall, upon the Administrator’s

request, return it to the Administrator.

§ 66.155 Renewal of authorization.

(a) To be eligible for renewal of an

inspection authorization for a 2-year

period, an applicant must, within 90

days before the expiration of the

inspection authorization, present

evidence at an FAA Flight Standards

District Office or an International Field

Office that the applicant still meets the

requirements of § 66.151(a)(1) through

(a)(5) and show that, during the current

period that the applicant held the

inspection authorization, the applicant

has—

(1) Performed at least one annual

inspection for each 3 months that the

applicant held the current authority;

(2) Performed inspections of at least

two major repairs or major alterations

for each 3 months that the applicant

held the current authority;

(3) Performed or supervised and

approved at least one progressive

inspection in accordance with standards

prescribed by the Administrator for each

12 months that the applicant held the

current authority;

(4) Performed any combination of

paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this

section;

(5) Successfully completed an

inspection authorization refresher

course or series of courses acceptable to

the Administrator, of not less than 16

hours of instruction during the 24-

month period preceding the application

for renewal; or

(6) Passed an oral test administered by

an FAA inspector to determine that the

applicant’s knowledge of applicable

regulations and standards is current.

(b) An applicant intending to remove

the limitation specified in § 66.157(b)

must present evidence that he or she

still meets the requirements of

§ 66.151(a) and (b) and that the

inspections or maintenance required to

be performed or supervised and

approved under paragraph (a) of this

section involved aircraft certificated

under part 25 or part 29 of this chapter,

or any airframe, aircraft engine,

propeller, appliance, component, or part

thereof.

§ 66.157 Privileges and limitations.

(a) Except as specified in paragraphs

(b) and (c) of this section, the holder of

an inspection authorization with either

a current and valid aviation

maintenance technician certificate or a

current and valid aviation maintenance

technician (transport) certificate may:

(1) Inspect and approve for return to

service any aircraft, airframe, aircraft

engine, propeller appliance, component,

or part thereof after completion of a

major repair or major alteration

performed in accordance with part 43 of

this chapter and technical data

approved by the Administrator.

(2) Perform an annual inspection, or

perform or supervise a progressive

inspection, according to §§ 43.13 and

43.15 of this chapter, on any aircraft and

approve the aircraft for return to service.

(b) The holder of an inspection

authorization with a current and valid

aviation maintenance technician

certificate may not inspect and approve

for return to service any aircraft

certificated under part 25 or part 29 of

this chapter.

(c) The holder of an inspection

authorization with either a current and

valid aviation maintenance technician

certificate or a current and valid

aviation maintenance technician

(transport) certificate may not inspect

and approve for return to service any

aircraft maintained in accordance with

a continuous airworthiness maintenance

program approved under part 121 of this

chapter.

(d) When exercising the privileges of

an inspection authorization, the holder

shall keep it available for inspection by

the aircraft owner and the aviation

maintenance technician or aviation

maintenance technician (transport) who

submit the aircraft, repair, or alteration

for approval (if any), and shall present

it at the request of the Administrator or

an authorized representative of the

National Transportation Safety Board, or

at the request of any Federal, State, or

local law enforcement officer.

(e) If the holder of an inspection

authorization changes his or her fixed

base of operation, the holder may not

exercise the privileges of the

authorization until he or she has

notified, in writing, the FAA Flight

Standards District Office, or

International Field Office, for the area in

which the new base is located, of the

change.

Subpart E—Aviation Repair Specialists

§ 66.201 Aviation repair specialist

certificates issued on the basis of

proficiency in a designated specialty area

(ARS–I): Eligibility.

An applicant for an aviation repair

specialist certificate and rating issued

on the basis of proficiency in a

designated specialty area (ARS–I)

must—

(a) Be at least 18 years of age;

(b) Demonstrate the ability to read,

write, speak, and understand the

English language by reading and

explaining appropriate maintenance

publications and by writing defect and

repair statements. If the applicant is

unable to meet any of these

requirements because of medical

reasons, the Administrator may place

such limitations on that applicant’s

certificate as are necessary for the safe

maintenance, preventive maintenance,

or alteration of aircraft; and

(c) Present either—

(1) An appropriate graduation

certificate, a certificate of completion, or

other documentary evidence acceptable

to the Administrator, that demonstrates

satisfactory completion of an aviation

repair specialist training course or

program for a rating in a specialty area

designated by the Administrator; or

(2) Before [date 12 months after the

effective date of the final rule], evidence

acceptable to the Administrator, of the

ability to perform those tasks

appropriate to the certificate and rating

in the designated specialty area sought.

§ 66.203 Aviation repair specialist

certificates issued on the basis of

employment (ARS–II): Eligibility.

An applicant for an employmentbased aviation repair specialist

certificate (ARS–II) must—

(a) Be at least 18 years of age;

(b) Demonstrate the ability to read,

write, speak, and understand the

English language by reading and

explaining appropriate maintenance

publications and by writing defect and

repair statements. If the applicant is

unable to meet any of these

requirements because of medical

reasons, the Administrator may place

such limitations on that applicant’s

certificate as are necessary for the safe

maintenance, preventive maintenance,

or alteration of aircraft;

(c) Be specially qualified to perform

maintenance on aircraft, airframes,

aircraft engines, propellers, appliances,

components, or parts thereof, that is

appropriate to the job in which that

person is employed;

(d) Be employed in a specific job that

requires those special qualifications, by
37208 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

a certificated repair station or by a

certificated commercial operator or

certificated air carrier, that is required

by its operating certificate or approved

operations specifications to provide a

continuous airworthiness maintenance

program according to its certificate

holder’s manual;

(e) Be recommended for certification,

by his or her employer and to the

satisfaction of the Administrator, as able

to satisfactorily maintain aircraft or

appliances, components, or parts,

appropriate to the job for which the

person is employed; and

(f) Have either—

(1) At least 3,000 hours of practical

experience in the procedures, practices,

inspection methods, materials, tools,

machine tools, and equipment generally

used in the maintenance duties of the

specific job for which the person is to

be employed and certificated; or

(2) Completed formal training that is

acceptable to the Administrator and

specifically designed to qualify the

applicant for the job in which the

applicant is to be employed.

§ 66.205 Aviation repair specialist

certificates issued to experimental aircraft

builders (ARS–III): Eligibility.

An applicant for an aviation repair

specialist certificate issued to an

experimental aircraft builder (ARS–III),

must—

(a) Be at least 18 years of age;

(b) Be the primary builder of the

aircraft to which the privileges of the

certificate are applicable;

(c) Show, to the satisfaction of the

Administrator, that the individual has

the requisite skill to determine whether

the aircraft is in a condition for safe

operation; and

(d) Be a citizen of the United States

or an individual citizen of a foreign

country who has been lawfully admitted

for permanent residence in the United

States.

§ 66.207 Transition to new certificates.

(a) A valid repairman certificate (other

than a repairman certificate issued to an

experimental aircraft builder) is equal to

an aviation repair specialist certificate

issued on the basis of employment

(ARS’II).

(b) A valid repairman certificate

(experimental aircraft builder) is equal

to an aviation repair specialist

certificate issued to an experimental

aircraft builder (ARS–III).

§ 66.209 Aviation repair specialist

certificates issued on the basis of

proficiency in a designated specialty area

(ARS’I): Privileges and limitations.

(a) The holder of an aviation repair

specialist certificate issued on the basis

of proficiency in a designated specialty

area (ARS–I) may perform or supervise

the maintenance, preventive

maintenance, or alteration of aircraft,

airframes, aircraft engines, propellers,

appliances, components, and parts

appropriate to the designated specialty

area for which the aviation repair

specialist is certificated, but only in

connection with employment by a

certificate holder operating under part

121 or part 135 of this chapter or a

repair station certificated under part 145

of this chapter.

(b) The holder of an aviation repair

specialist certificate issued on the basis

of proficiency in a designated specialty

area (ARS–I) may not perform or

supervise duties under the aviation

repair specialist certificate unless the

individual understands the current

instructions of the certificate holder by

whom the aviation repair specialist is

employed and the instructions for

continued airworthiness that relate to

the specific operations concerned.

§ 66.211 Aviation repair specialist

certificates issued on the basis of

employment (ARS–II): Privileges and

limitations.

(a) The holder of an aviation repair

specialist certificate issued on the basis

of employment (ARS–II) may perform or

supervise the maintenance, preventive

maintenance, or alteration of aircraft,

airframes, aircraft engines, propellers,

appliances, components, and parts

thereof appropriate to the job in which

the aviation repair specialist is

employed and certificated, but only in

connection with duties for the

certificate holder by whom the aviation

repair specialist was employed and

recommended.

(b) The holder of an aviation repair

specialist certificate issued on the basis

of employment (ARS–II) may not

perform or supervise duties under the

aviation repair specialist certificate

unless the person understands the

current instructions of the certificate

holder by whom the aviation repair

specialist is employed and the

instructions for continued airworthiness

that relate to the specific operations

concerned.

§ 66.213 Aviation repair specialist

certificates issued to experimental aircraft

builders (ARS–III): Privileges and

limitations.

The holder of an aviation repair

specialist certificate issued to an

experimental aircraft builder (ARS–III)

may perform condition inspections on

the aircraft constructed by the holder, in

accordance with the operating

limitations of that aircraft.

§ 66.215 Aviation repair specialist

certificates issued on the basis of

proficiency in a designated specialty area

(ARS–I): Recent experience requirements.

The holder of an aviation repair

specialist certificate issued on the basis

of proficiency in a designated specialty

area (ARS–I) may not exercise the

privileges of the certificate unless the

holder meets the current qualification

and proficiency requirements for the

issuance of the certificate and rating in

the designated specialty area.

Appendix A to Part 66—Aviation

Maintenance Technician (Transport)

Training Program Curriculum

Requirements

(a) Form of training program outline. An

applicant for approval as a training provider

must submit a training program outline to the

Administrator. The training program outline

may be submitted in paper, electronic, or any

other form that is acceptable to the

Administrator; however, it shall include a

table of contents. The table of contents must

specify those subject areas taught in the

program and the number of curriculum hours

allotted to each subject area.

(b) Content of training program outline.

The training program outline must contain

all of subject area headings specified in this

appendix; however, the headings are not

required to be arranged in the outline exactly

as listed in this appendix. Any arrangement

of headings and subheadings will be

satisfactory provided that the outline

indicates that instruction will be provided in

each subject area for at least the minimum

number of hours specified in this appendix.

Each general subject area of the outline shall

be subdivided in detail, showing the items to

be covered.

(c) Additional subject areas. Any training

provider may include additional subjects that

are not specified in this appendix in the

training program outline; however, the

number of hours allotted to training in each

subject area must be specified. Hourly

requirements devoted to additional subject

areas not specified in this appendix are not

included in the determination of a program’s

compliance with the minimum training

requirements specified in this appendix.

(d) Minimum training program

requirements. Unless approved by the

Administrator in accordance with paragraph

(h) of this appendix, the following subject

areas and classroom hours for each subject

area are considered the minimum training

requirements for an aviation maintenance

technician (transport) training program:

Subject area

Classroom

hours

Advanced electronics ...................... 229

Composites ..................................... 62

Structural repair .............................. 86

Powerplants and systems ............... 58

Safety and environment .................. 69

Publications ..................................... 69
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37209

Subject area

Classroom

hours

Total Hours .............................. 573

(e) Facilities, equipment, and material. An

applicant for authority to conduct a training

program leading to the issuance of the

aviation maintenance technician (transport)

certificate must have the following facilities,

equipment, and materials:

(1) Facilities—Suitable classrooms,

laboratories, and shop facilities, adequate to

accommodate the largest number of students

scheduled for attendance at any one time,

must be provided. Such classrooms,

laboratories, and shop facilities shall be

properly heated, lighted, and ventilated.

(2) Equipment and materials—Suitable

devices for the instruction of each student in

the theoretical and practical aspects of the

subjects contained in the training program

shall be provided. This material may include,

but shall not be limited to, acceptable

textbooks, operations manuals, chalkboards,

calculators, computers, and visual aids.

(f) Instructors. The number of instructors

available for conducting the program of

instruction shall be determined according to

the needs and facilities of the applicant.

However, the ratio of students per instructor

in each shop class may not exceed 25

students per 1 instructor.

(g) Credit for previous training. A training

provider may evaluate an entrant’s previous

training and, where the training is verifiable

and comparable to portions of the training

program, the training provider may, as each

individual case warrants, allow credit for

such training, commensurate with accepted

training practices. Before credit is allowed,

the individual requesting credit must pass an

examination given by the training provider,

which is equivalent to those examinations

given by the training provider for the same

subject in the training program. Where credit

is allowed, the basis for the allowance, the

results of any tests used to establish the

credit, and the total hours credited must be

incorporated as a part of the student’s

records, as specified in paragraph (i) of this

appendix.

(h) Revision of training program. (1) After

initial approval of a training provider, the

training provider may apply to the

Administrator for a revision to the training

program. Requests for the revision of a

training program, which include

modifications to the facilities, equipment,

and material used, or a reduction in the

number of hours of instruction provided to

fewer than the specified minimum

requirements, shall be accomplished in the

same manner established for securing

original approval of the training provider.

Revisions must be submitted in such form

that the revision can be readily included in

the training program outline so that obsolete

portions of the outline can be readily

superseded by the revision.

(2) A modification of the training program,

or a reduction in the number of hours of

training provided to fewer than the specified

minimum requirements, is based on

improved training effectiveness because of

the use of improved training methods and

training aids, an increase in the quality of

instruction, the use of special student entry

requirements, the granting of credit for

previous experience or training, or any

combination thereof.

(3) The list of instructors may be revised

at any time without request for approval,

provided the minimum requirements are

maintained and the local FAA principal

maintenance inspector is notified of the

revision.

(4) Whenever the Administrator finds that

revisions are necessary for the continued

adequacy of the training program, the

training provider shall, after notification by

the Administrator, make any changes in the

training program, that the Administrator

deems necessary.

(i) Student records and reports. Approval

of a training provider may not be continued

unless the training provider keeps an

accurate record of each student, including a

chronological log of all instruction, subjects

covered, examinations, grades, and

attendance records (including a record of the

manner in which missed material was

covered). To retain approval, a training

provider also must prepare and transmit to

the Federal Aviation Administration, not

later than January 31 of each year, a report

containing the following information:

(1) The names of all students graduated,

student attendance records, and student

grades for the program.

(2) The names of all students failed or

dropped, together with school grades and

reasons for dropping.

(3) Upon request, the Administrator may

waive the reporting requirements specified in

paragraphs (i)(1) and (2) of this appendix, for

a training program that is part of an approved

training course conducted under the

following parts or subparts: part 121, subpart

L; part 135, subpart J; or part 147 of this

chapter.

(j) Statement of graduation and records of

training completion. Each student who

successfully completes a training program

shall be given a statement of graduation. Each

student who completes a portion of a training

program shall, upon request, be given a

record of the training completed.

(k) Contracts or agreements. (1) An

approved training provider may contract

with other persons to obtain suitable course

work, curriculum, programs, instruction,

aircraft, simulators, or other training devices

or equipment.

(2) An approved training provider may

contract with another person to conduct any

portion or all of a training program. The

approved training provider may not

authorize that person to contract for the

conduct of the program by a third party.

(3) In all cases, the approved training

provider is responsible for the content and

quality of the instruction provided.

(4) A copy of each contract authorized

under this paragraph shall be retained by the

approved training provider and is subject to

review by the Administrator during the

period of the contract and within 2 years

after the termination of its provisions.

(l) Change of ownership, name, or location.

(1) Change of ownership—Approval of a

training provider may not be continued after

the ownership of the training program has

changed. The new owner must obtain a new

approval by following the procedures

prescribed for original approval.

(2) Change in name—An approved training

provider or program, changed in name but

not changed in ownership, remains valid if

the change is reported within 30 days by the

training provider to the local Flight

Standards District Office.

(3) Change in location—Approval for a

training provider remains in effect even

though the approved training provider

changes location if the change is reported by

the training provider to the local Flight

Standards District Office within 30 days.

Approval may, however, be withdrawn if,

after inspection, the facilities, equipment,

and material at the new location do not meet

the requirements of paragraph (e) of this

appendix.

(m) Cancellation of approval. (1) Failure to

meet or maintain any of the standards set

forth in this appendix for the approval of a

training provider shall be considered a

sufficient reason for discontinuing approval

of the training provider.

(2) If a training provider decides to cancel

its approval voluntarily, the training provider

shall send a letter requesting cancellation to

the Administrator through the local Flight

Standards District Office. The request shall

contain the current letter of approval for the

training provider.

(n) Duration. Unless an approved training

provider is a certificate holder operating

under part 121 or part 135 of this chapter, an

aviation maintenance technician school

certificated under part 147 of this chapter, or

a repair station that performs work under

§ 145.2(a) of this chapter, the authority to

operate a training program shall expire 24

months after the last day of the month in

which the approval was issued. If the

approved training provider is a certificate

holder operating under part 121 or part 135

of this chapter, an aviation maintenance

technician school certificated under part 147

of this chapter, or a repair station that

performs work under § 145.2(a) of this

chapter, the authority to operate a training

program will remain effective for the

duration of the holder’s certificate.

(o) Renewal. Application for renewal of

authority to conduct a training program shall

be made by letter addressed to the

Administrator through the local Flight

Standards District Office at any time within

60 days before the expiration date of the

current approval. Renewal of a training

provider’s approval will depend on the

training program meeting established

standards and the record of the training

provider.

PART 147—AVIATION MAINTENANCE

TECHNICIAN SCHOOLS

10. The authority citation for part 147

continues to read as follows:

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

44702, 44707–44709.

11. Section 147.23 is revised to read

as follows:
37210 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 /Thursday, July 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

§ 147.23 Instructor requirements.

An applicant for an aviation

maintenance technician school

certificate and rating, or for an

additional rating, must provide the

number of instructors, determined by

the Administrator to be sufficient to

provide adequate supervision of the

students, who hold appropriate aviation

maintenance technician or aviation

maintenance technician (transport)

certificates with aviation maintenance

instructor ratings; the instructors shall

be provided after [date 12 months after

the effective date of the final rule], and

shall include at least 1 aviation

maintenance technician with an

aviation maintenance instructor rating

or 1 aviation maintenance technician

(transport) with an aviation

maintenance instructor rating for each

25 students in each shop class.

However, the applicant may provide

specialized instructors who are not

certificated aviation maintenance

technicians or aviation maintenance

technicians (transport) to teach

mathematics, physics, basic electricity,

basic hydraulics, drawing, or similar

subjects. The applicant is required to

maintain a list of the names and

qualifications of specialized instructors

and, upon request, provide a copy of the

list to the FAA.

12. Section 147.36 is revised to read

as follows:

§ 147.36 Maintenance instructor

requirements.

Each certificated aviation

maintenance technician school shall,

after certification or addition of a rating,

continue to provide the number of

instructors that the Administrator

deems sufficient to provide adequate

instruction to the students and who

hold appropriate aviation maintenance

technician or aviation maintenance

technician (transport) certificates with

aviation maintenance instructor ratings,

including after [date 12 months after the

effective date of the final rule], at least

1 certificated aviation maintenance

instructor for each 25 students in each

shop class. The school may continue to

provide specialized instructors who are

not certificated aviation maintenance

technicians or aviation maintenance

technicians (transport) to teach

mathematics, physics, basic electricity,

basic hydraulics, drawing, or similar

subjects.

Issued in Washington, DC, on June 26,

1998.

Ava L. Mims,

Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.

[FR Doc. 98–17589 Filed 7–8–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 65 and 66

[Docket No. 27863; Notice No. 98–5]

RIN 2120–AF22

Revision of Certification

Requirements: Mechanics and

Repairmen

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM); withdrawal.

SUMMARY: This document withdraws a

previously published NPRM (59 FR

42430, August 17, 1994) that proposed

to amend the Federal Aviation

Regulations that prescribe the

certification requirements for mechanics

and repairmen. That NPRM was the

result of the completion of the phase I

review of the certification requirements

for mechanics and repairmen by the

Aviation Rulemaking Advisory

Committee (ARAC), Part 65 Working

Group. Since the publication of that

NPRM, the ARAC completed their phase

II review of the certification

requirements for mechanics and

repairmen. Based on the phase II

review, the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) has developed a

new proposal, published elsewhere in

this separate part of the Federal

Register, that includes many of the

proposals set forth in the previously

published notice and additional

proposals resulting from the completion

of phase II review. In an effort to avoid

confusion in the aviation maintenance

community, and to ensure that adequate

notice and comment are provided, the

FAA has determined that the two

proposals should be reconciled and

consolidated into a single NPRM

containing both sets of proposals.

DATES: The proposed rule published at

59 FR 42430 is withdrawn July 9, 1998.

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: On August

17, 1994, the FAA published Notice of

Proposed Rulemaking No. 94–27 (59 FR

42430) to propose amendments to 14

CFR part 65 and create 14 CFR part 66.

The FAA invited public comment to

this proposal, and the comment period

closed on October 17, 1994. The

proposed rule would revise the

certification requirements for mechanics

and repairmen based on

recommendations from the Aviation

Rulemaking Advisory Committee

(ARAC), Part 65 Working Group, made

after completion of phase I of the FAA

review of the certification requirements

for these personnel.

Since the NPRM was issued, the

ARAC has completed phase II of its

regulatory review of these certification

requirements. Implementation of the

proposals made during phase II of the

ARAC review would cause significant

changes to the format and content of

part 66, as proposed in the previously

published NPRM. The new proposals

would result in the creation of new

subparts in proposed part 66 for the

aviation maintenance technician

(transport) certificate and inspection

authorization, the addition of a separate

rating for aviation maintenance

instructors, and the creation of an

additional aviation repair specialist

certificate.

The creation of part 66, as set forth in

the previously published NPRM,

followed by a series of sweeping

changes to implement the additional

proposals made after the completion of

phase II of the ARAC regulatory review,

would cause unnecessary confusion in

the aviation maintenance community

and hinder the implementation of the

changes. Such changes can be more

easily reconciled before the publication

of a final rule.

Therefore, in an effort to avoid

confusion in the implementation of the

final rule, the FAA has determined that

the changes proposed in Notice No. 94–

27 and the additional changes proposed

as a result of recommendations made at

the completion of phase II of the

regulatory review should be reconciled

and consolidated into a single NPRM

containing both sets of proposals.

Accordingly Notice No. 94–27,

published on August 17, 1994 (59 FR

42430), is withdrawn.

Issued in Washington, DC, on June 26,

1998.

Ava L. Mims,

Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.

[FR Doc. 98–17590 Filed 7–8–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M