[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 131 (Thursday, July 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 37211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17591]
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 131 / Thursday, July 9, 1998 /
Notices
[[Page 37211]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Proposed Advisory Circulars: 66-XX, Part 66--The New
Certification Regulations for Aviation Maintenance Personnel; 66-XX,
Recurrent Training for Aviation Maintenance Personnel, and 66-XX,
Approval of Aviation Maintenance Technician (Transport) Training
Program Providers
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed advisory circulars (ACs) and
request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests
comments on the following proposed ACs: 66-XX, Part 66--The New
Certification Regulations for Aviation Maintenance Personnel; 66-XX,
Recurrent Training for Aviation Maintenance Personnel, and 66-XX,
Approval of Aviation Maintenance Technician (Transport) Training
Program Providers. The FAA recently has issued a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) titled Revision of Certification Requirements:
Mechanics and Repairmen, published elsewhere in this separate part of
the Federal Register. That NPRM would propose the addition of part 66
of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) and make significant
revisions to the certification and training requirements for aviation
maintenance personnel. The proposed ACs would explain the changes
proposed in the NPRM, provide guidance on complying with the recurrent
training provisions of proposed part 66, and provide information to
organizations seeking approval as aviation maintenance technician
(transport) (AMT(T)) training providers.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 6, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed ACs to: Federal Aviation
Administration, Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Division (AFS-
300), Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591. Comments may be examined
at the above address between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Leslie K. Vipond, AFS-350, Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance
Division, Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration,
800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, telephone (202) 267-
3269.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
A copy of each draft AC may be obtained by contracting the person
named above under For Further Information Contact. Interested persons
are invited to comment on the proposed ACs by submitting such written
data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Commenters should
identify the AC to which comment is being made and submit comments in
duplicate to the address specified above. By separate document
published elsewhere in this separate part of the Federal Register, the
FAA also is inviting interested persons to comment on the NPRM titled
Revision of Certification Requirements: Mechanics and Repairmen. The
FAA will consider comments on this notice and on the NPRM in deciding
the final action of each. All communications received on or before the
closing date for comments will be considered by the FAA before issuing
the final ACs.
Discussion
Current regulations prescribing the certification and training
requirements for aviation maintenance personnel do not reflect the
significant technological advances that have occurred in the aviation
industry, the extensive differences in maintenance skills required of
currently certificated personnel, and recent enhancements in training
and instructional methods. To ensure the regulations governing aviation
maintenance personnel remain consistent with changes in the aviation
environment, the FAA has conducted a multiphase review of the
certification and training requirements that pertain to mechanics and
repairmen. A complete regulatory review of the certification
requirements for these airmen has not been accomplished since the
recodification of the Civil Air Regulations into the Federal Aviation
Regulations on August 10, 1962.
Elsewhere in this separate part of the Federal Register, the FAA
has issued the NPRM titled Revision of Certification Requirements:
Mechanics and Repairmen. The proposed rule would consolidate and
clarify all certification, training, and experience requirements for
aviation maintenance personnel in a newly established 14 CFR part 66.
The proposed rule would create additional certificates and ratings and
would modify the privileges and limitations of current certificates to
respond more closely to the responsibilities of aviation maintenance
personnel. In addition, the proposal would establish new training
requirements that would enhance the technical capabilities of an
increase the level of professionalism among aviation maintenance
personnel. Further, the proposal would provide the FAA with essential
demographic information that could be used to disseminate vital
aviation safety and training information, thereby enhancing aviation
safety. All of the proposals in the NPRM were extensively researched
for the FAA by the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) Part
65 Working Group and based on the ARCA's recommendations.
To provide the public with additional guidance on complying with
the proposed requirements, the FAA has drafted three ACs. AC 66-XX,
Part 66--The New Certification Regulations for Aviation Maintenance
personnel, discusses the new certification and training requirements in
a question-and-answer format. AC 66-XX, Recurrent Training for Aviation
Maintenance Personnel, provides guidance to aviation maintenance
personnel concerning the fulfillment of recurrent training requirements
proposed for holders of aviation maintenance technician (AMT) and
AMT(T) certificates who exercise the privileges of their certificates
for compensation or hire and do not participate in maintenance and
preventive maintenance training programs regulated by 14 CFR part 121,
135, or 145, AC 66-XX, Approval of Aviation Maintenance Technician
(Transport) Training Program Providers, furnishes guidance to assist
persons in obtaining FAA approval as AMT(T) training program providers.
The proposed ACs would become effective only after a final rule
revising the certification requirements for mechanics and repairmen
becomes effective.
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 26, 1998.
Ava L. Mims,
Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 98-17591 Filed 7-8-98; 8:45 am]
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