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).

FMI:  www.uspa.org