FAA Proposes to Designate Authority to Organizations
The FAA has issued a
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that could transform the way
the agency regulates skydiving and other aviation activities. The
FAA is proposing the establishment of an “Organization
Designation Authorization” program, under which the agency
would designate various organizations with the authority to perform
specific regulatory functions on behalf of the FAA.
At its upcoming meeting, the United States Parachuting
Association's (USPA) Board of Directors will consider the
implications for USPA and the skydiving community and develop
USPA’s formal response to the proposal.
An excerpt from the NPRM, who's comment period ends May 20, is
listed below:
The FAA proposes to create an Organization Designation
Authorization (ODA) program. This program would expand the approval
functions of FAA organizational designees; standardize these
functions to increase efficiency; and expand eligibility for
organizational designees, including organizations not eligible
under the current rules.
In addition, as the FAA transitions to the ODA program,
the
agency would phase-out the Delegation Option Authorization
(DOA),
Designated Alteration Station Authorization (DAS), SFAR 36
authorization, and the Organizational Designated
Airworthiness
Representative (ODAR). These actions are necessary to provide the
FAA with a more efficient process to delegate certain tasks to
external organizations. The intended effect of these actions is to
preserve and increase aviation safety.
DATES: Send your comments by May 20, 2004.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments (identified by Docket Number
FAA-2003-16685) using any of the following methods:
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow the
instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your comments
electronically.
The FAA established the
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee
(ARAC) in January 1991 to provide a continuing mechanism to involve
the public in the regulatory process (56 FR 2190, January 22, 1991;
59 FR 9230, February 19, 1993). One subject that ARAC addresses is
aircraft certification procedures (57 FR 39267, August 28,
1992).
On March 29, 1993, the FAA established the Delegation
System
Working Group of ARAC (58 FR 16573) to examine one aspect of
certification procedures. Specifically, the Delegation System
Working Group was tasked with reviewing the current designee
programs to determine what would improve the safety and the quality
and effectiveness of the system. Also, the Working Group was tasked
with recommending to the ARAC new rules, revised rules, and
advisory, guidance, and other collateral materials (including
legislative and training materials).