NPRM May Reverse Many Part 145 Provisions

FAA is proposing to amend the regulations for repair stations, by revising the system of ratings and requiring stations to develop a quality assurance program. The recently issued Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes significant changes including requirements for repair stations to establish and maintain a capability list, designate a chief inspector and establish permanent housing for facilities, equipment, materials and personnel. Comments are due March 1. The NPRM comes at a time when FAA is gaining increasing criticism by both the DOT’s Inspector General and the General Accountability Office regarding its inspection and aircraft maintenance oversight, especially for MROs. The Aircraft Electronics Association criticized the NPRM saying it was concerned that the FAA has taken great latitude from the original Repair Station NPRM and the work of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) and proposed to reverse many of the hard fought provisions of the current Part 145 regulation. More