Organization Says FAA's Inability To Meet A Deadline Shouldn't Be Industry's Problem

Perhaps it's the Aircraft Electronics Association's way of telling the FAA, "Failure to meet a deadline on YOUR part should in no way constitute an emergency on OUR part."

The AEA has requested a 60-day extension by the FAA to review and comment on the draft AC 145-RSTM.

This long-awaited Advisory Circular defines the scope and description of the Part 145 Repair Station Training Manual.

AEA says it's performed a preliminary review of the AC and finds numerous issues that are not consistent with the June 21, 1999 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, nor are they consistent with the August 6, 2001 Final Rule, according to Ric Peri, AEA's vice president of government and industry affairs.

The Agency initially promised industry that the AC would be published by August 6, 2001. Having missed that date, AEA feels the Agency is quickly trying to publish the final AC before the fast-approaching FAR 145.163 implementation date of April 6, 2005. AEA contends however, publishing the draft AC for public review and comment on December 22, 2004 with minimalist time-frame of 30 days submits aviation small businesses to an unrealistic and unfair burden.

"The inability of the FAA to meet its deadlines should not be used as justification to burden aviation small businesses with an administrative review and commentary typically used for emergency rulemaking," said Peri.

Because of these issues, AEA dos not support the FAA’s unrealistic 30-day time-frame and has requested the period be extended an additional 60 days.

A copy of the DRAFT Part 145 Training AC may be viewed on the AEA website.

FMI: www.aea.net