Industry Insights

My Way or the IA
There's a scene in the movie JAWS where the three main characters: Quint, Brody, and Hooper, are discussing their various scars, turning the friendly conversation into a competition. FAA inspectors are like that; we try to outdo one another with our war stories: of slaying aeronautical dragons, going where pilots fear to tread, and other ego-boosting experiences. This article, however, is not an ego-booster.

Let me start at the beginning. I work for the FAA in Washington, DC. Recently, I decided to transfer out to a flight standards district office (FSDO) as part of my career strategy. My mentor, Bill, a tell-it-like-it-is guy strongly recommended that I get my Inspection Authorization (IA) before I move to the field since all my maintenance experience is in major air carrier. He said it would give me a better understanding of the trials of the general aviation (GA) folk who I would be dealing with. Bill felt that I rely on the safety net of being an air carrier inspector in headquarters, funneling all "bug-smasher" issues to the GA-raised inspector two aisles over.

"But Bill," I argued, "I worked heavy jets. I'm a professional mechanic. I know these guys. What could the IA exam possibly teach me?" "The other end of the aviation maintenance business," was his no-nonsense reply. Now how does one qualify for this test? The qualifications are listed in 14 CFR, Part 65, Section 65.91 (c), Inspection Authorization. The local FSDO determines eligibility to take the test and gives written authority to schedule for the exam.

Bill first suggested that I familiarize myself with booklet FAA-G-8082-11A, or the IA Knowledge Test Guide. He also felt that I could stand to relearn Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 21, 43, 45, 65, and 91. Oh, and while I'm at it, check out Advisory Circulars (AC) 39-7C, 43-9C, and 43.9-1E while I am familiarizing myself with parts tags, form 337, and special flight permits.

I committed these items as much to memory as I could. I read through the weight and balance guide, the IA Knowledge Test Guide, and an article on the IA test. I didn't allot myself any time to read through the AC 43-13-1B, but I was sure I was ready. Now, for the three-hour test you are allowed to bring a non-scientific calculator with a clean memory, some pencils, and blank paper. You can use protractors, straightedges, and scales for calculating, and you may also use whatever technical information is provided by the test centre. This does not include an AC 43-13-1B. Let me repeat that: THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE AN AC 43-13-1B!

I drove my CJ-7 to the local airport and found the testing office. There I met my proctor, a kindly older gentleman who could have passed for Yoda without the hair. He smiled and pointed to a computer where he brought up my information. The proctor asked me if I needed anything prior to testing. I just said "no." He then keyed in the start code, and my testing began.

I pulled up the first question, and my head incinerated from the inside out; my exact words being, "What the ... ? Please don't tell me it's like this for the next 49 questions?" I suddenly tasted Humble Pie. I hadn't seen this stuff since A&P school. This isn't what I studied! Compression damage on what kind of spar? I don't remember what an ice box rivet is! What twisted mind thought this test up?!

I ate up every one of my 10,800 seconds, poring over each question five times. I lost practically every last brain cell making certain of my answers until the clock timed out. My kindly proctor, with cruel disregard, clicked a key on my computer and brought up my score. No blindfold ... no last request. The proctor destroyed my pride as easy as a balsa wood airplane being run over by a semi. 52 points out of 100! Imagine the Hindenburg landing in Lakehurst, NJ. Oh, the humanity!

Boys and girls, Uncle Stephen is here to tell you that there are worse things than being proved wrong. One of these is having previously convinced yourself that you were too smart to fail, so why put your all into it. However, nobody, especially me, is that good!

Those of us who came up in the major air carrier ranks have played with the super-zoomie techno-wondrous equipment with digital gauges versus analog. We have engineers and managers who do the heavy research for us; all we have to do is meet the launch window. But real aviation isn't about being spoon fed your assignment. It's knowing how to pull a rabbit out of a hat; it's the pride of seeing a plane fly because of something you did. The mistake I made was forgetting the basics.

To say the least, my respect for the GA mechanic and IA has quadrupled. I will pass the test the next time I take it because I will be prepared! Then I'll have a brand new scar that I cancompete with around the office. But between you and me, I won't tell the other inspectors about this war story until my IA is in hand.

-- By Stephen Carbone