Jet Aviation Gets Inspection Authority

Jet Aviation expects to be able to speed installation of interior modifications and avionics upgrades and completion of other jobs now that its Jet Aviation Engineering Services unit has an FAA Designated Airworthiness Representative, or DAR, based at its facility in San Antonio.

"It increases our effectiveness," says Neil Hocker, Jet's new DAR and senior certification engineer, and "definitely decreases the time," especially given lengthening agency backlogs. Installations of such avionics as TCAS and GPS systems, and interior furnishings, can all be accomplished more quickly now that Hocker can perform tasks that used to require the presence of an agency employee. He can also handle structural work.

Having a DAR means Jet can, for all practical purposes, bring agency functions in-house. "I can do the inspections," Hocker says, noting that although he does the groundwork, final approval documents must still be issued by the agency.

Hocker expects to travel extensively, as he'll be needed to issue airworthiness certificates to individual aircraft undergoing work at various Jet Aviation sites. Jet works on airplanes ranging from Cessnas up to Boeing Business Jets and even larger aircraft for heads of state.

Hocker also expects to be involved in issuing import/export certificates for foreign-registered aircraft about to make their first trip to the United States.

He sees his appointment as part of a larger trend by the FAA to pass along some of its authority on routine matters. "I think you'll see more and more of these delegations," Hocker told Show News.

Hocker comes to Jet's 31-employee San Antonio Engineering Services unit, which is based at Kestrel Air Park, some 20 miles north of San Antonio International Airport, from West Star Aviation in Grand Junction, Colo., where he was director of quality and engineering.

By Rich Piellisch