Industry: Re-write Needed For Proposed FAA Part 145 Re-write

The extended comment period for FAA's proposed Part 145 revamp closed this week, and suffice it to say that industry took its role in the rulemaking process seriously. A final-days rush added about 80 sets of comments to the docket, pushing the total number past 230. 

FAA heard from pretty much every corner of the industry that would be impacted by the rule, including airframe and engine OEMs, major suppliers, big and small independent shops, airlines, unions, associations, and even NTSB.

Getting a consensus from such a large and varied group is tough, but an initial scanning of the comments makes it clear that while most support FAA's effort to modernize and harmonize Part 145, most also have major reservations with FAA's approach, if not the entire proposal.

Two nuggets from two of the groups closest to the center of the repair station world:

• ARSA suggests that FAA take the substantial input now swelling the docket and issue a supplemental NPRM and/or hold public meetings as part of creating the final rulemaking. 
• The Aircraft Electronics Association says it does not the support the proposal as written The association--which calculates that it represents about a quarter of the 4,100 certificated shops covered by the rule--argues that the NPRM "has no correlation to the business models of today’s repair station industry."

Plenty more to come.

Happy Thanksgiving, U.S. readers.

Tags: om99, FAA, 145