Sat, Sep 25, 2004
FAA postpones publication of controversial bulletin dealing
with part 135 configuration and maintenance
The Federal Aviation Administration
has postponed for an additional 60 days the controversial handbook
bulletin, HBAW 04-06, that addresses aircraft configuration and
maintenance programs for aircraft operated under Part 135.
Many operators, in order to meet a "nine or fewer passenger seat"
configuration standard, have placarded or otherwise blocked certain
seats to make them unusable. These aircraft are then
generally maintained under 134.411(a)(1) requirements. The
new guidance in HBAW 04-06 would require the physical removal of
these seats, or a switch to the 134.411(a)(2) maintenance
program.
Most operators would be required to obtain a STC for the seat
removal. Using a placard to make a seat unusable by
passengers, even if previously approved by the FAA, would not be
acceptable under this new policy.
Until this delay, operators were
expected to bring the aircraft into conformity with the bulletin
within 30 days. If the operator elected to obtain a STC for
seat removal, that process would have begun within the 30-day
window.
Through discussions with the leadership of FAA's Flight
Standards Service, the NATA has successfully convinced the FAA to
postpone the handbook bulletin's conformity dates.
"We are quite pleased that the FAA has heeded our request to
provide an extension on this handbook bulletin," NATA vice
president of government and industry affairs Eric Byer
stated. "Jim Ballough and his team at Flight Standards have
been working closely with the association and its charter operators
to ensure that a fair and equitable solution can be
reached."
The association has also secured a face-to-face meeting between
its representatives, charter operators and Ballough and his staff
to continue deliberations. "We welcome the opportunity to
demonstrate to the FAA how this handbook bulletin will clearly hit
small business charter operators in the wallet while providing no
true safety benefits," concluded Byer.
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