On May 21, 2012, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) amending the regulations for repair stations by revising the system of ratings, the repair station certification requirements, and the regulations on repair stations providing maintenance for air carriers. The intent of the announced changes is to modernize the regulations to keep pace with current industry standards and practices. The NPRM addresses three major areas: 1) the system of ratings; 2) the certification requirements; and 3) repair stations providing maintenance for air carriers.
The system of ratings found in Part 145 does not address current technology or industry practices. The system is also not defined clearly and is open to inconsistent interpretation and application. These failings have resulted in repair stations having a variety of ratings to perform the same work. FAA has now proposed that the system of ratings would be reduced from eight ratings to five ratings. The ratings definitions would be revised to clearly indicate the type of work that a repair station is authorized to perform.
FAA is also proposing to amend several areas within subpart B (Certification) of part 145. Changes within this subpart are needed to clarify existing regulatory language. First, the NPRM proposes that FAA can deny an application for a repair station certificate if the applicant previously held a repair station certificate that had been revoked or if the applicant or certain key individuals who would exercise control over the new repair station had materially contributed to the circumstances that resulted in a prior repair station certificate revocation action. Second, FAA is also proposing to clarify the certification requirements in § 145.51(b) on the equipment, personnel, technical data, and housing and facilities that must be in place for inspection at the time of certification or rating approval by the FAA.
Finally, FAA is proposing language to clarify that when a repair station performs work as a maintenance provider to an air carrier, the repair station must perform that work in accordance with the maintenance instructions provided by the air carrier or air operator.
For further questions concerning the FAA’s NPRM, or assistance in formulating comment in response to the FAA’s request, please contact Ronce Almond at (202) 457-7790.