New FAA Cert Program Will Ultimately Replace DAS System

The Federal Aviation Administration recently certified ARINC Incorporated to issue aircraft STCs and perform STC-related aircraft service and modification work under the FAA’s new Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program.

ARINC’s Aircraft Integration and Modification group -- with operations at Oklahoma City, OK, Colorado Springs, CO, and Scottsdale, AZ -- received its FAA notification in late 2007 and becomes one of the first designated ODA holders in the country.

The FAA intends the ODA program to completely replace its existing DAS (Designated Alteration Station) program by November 2009. Under ODA, ARINC will be able to modify customer aircraft with greater autonomy, and may shorten the process of issuing STCs and performing STC-related work.

New ODA rules allow the FAA to delegate more responsibility to private industry, helping reduce the FAA’s workload while streamlining aircraft certification and inspection. ARINC attended the first ODA training session last year in Oklahoma City.

"This early ODA designation strengthens ARINC’s leadership position in the aircraft modification industry, and will immediately benefit many of our commercial and government customers with improved service and delivery times," stated John F. May, ARINC’s first ODA Administrator. "All of ARINC’s new STC projects from today forward will be performed in accordance with our ODA Procedures Manual. Current customer projects that were started under the DAS Manual will be finished in accordance with DAS Procedures as planned."

ODA rules permit a greater delegation of functions related to engineering, manufacturing, operations, airworthiness, and maintenance. In addition to STC designees, DOA, SFAR36, PC ODAR, PMA ODAR, and Operator/145 ODAR designees will be required to achieve ODA designation by November 2009.

The FAA may issue an ODA as needed to any organization with sufficient facilities, resources, personnel, experience with FAA requirements and procedures, and experience to perform the functions. The organization is named ODA Holder, and one or more specific units of suitably trained and experienced personnel within the organization can perform the delegated work. Thus, ARINC’s STC ODA can cover STC work performed at all three of the company’s aircraft modification facilities. 

ARINC Incorporated, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, provides communications, engineering and integration solutions for commercial, defense and government customers worldwide. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland with regional offices in London and Singapore, ARINC is ISO 9001:2000 certified.

FMI: www.arinc.com