AMTSociety State of the Industry Address
Actively Engaged
For those of you who are not aware the policy clarifying the definition of “actively engaged” for purposes of Inspection Authorization policy becomes effective Sept. 6, 2011. The FAA views the actively engaged requirement as providing maintenance experience relevant to conducting inspections. Similarly, the two-year period provides the receiving of experience in maintenance performance or supervision necessary to conduct inspections.
“The FAA previously determined involvement solely in an academic environment is not actively engaged. Refresher training attendance alone does not satisfy the requirements.”
To see the explanation in the Federal Register visit http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-04/pdf/2011-19741.pdf.
CFR Title 14: Aeronautics and Space, FAR 65 Subpart D – Mechanics
§ 65.91 Inspection Authorization: FAR 65.91 (c) (1) – (4)
(c) To be eligible for an inspection authorization, an applicant must —
(1) Hold a currently effective mechanic certificate with both an airframe rating and a powerplant rating, each of which is currently effective and has been in effect for a total of at least three years;
(2) Have been actively engaged, for at least the two-year period before the date he applies, in maintaining aircraft certificated and maintained in accordance with this chapter;
(3) Have a fixed base of operations at which he may be located in person or by telephone during a normal working week but it need not be the place where he will exercise his inspection authority;
(4) Have available to him the equipment, facilities, and inspection data necessary to properly inspect airframes, powerplants, propellers, or any related part or appliance;
§ 65.93 Inspection Authorization: Renewal
(a) To be eligible for renewal of an inspection authorization for a two-year period an applicant must present evidence during the month of March of each odd-numbered year, at an FAA Flight Standards District Office or an International Field Office, that the applicant still meets the requirements of §65.91(c) (1) through (4). In addition, during the time the applicant held the inspection authorization, the applicant must show completion of one of the activities in §65.93(a) (1) through (5) below by March 31 of the first year of the two-year inspection authorization period, and completion of one of the five activities during the second year of the two-year period:
(1) Performed at least one annual inspection for each 90 days that the applicant held the current authority; or
(2) Performed at least two major repairs or major alterations for each 90 days that the applicant held the current authority; or
(3) Performed or supervised and approved at least one progressive inspection in accordance with standards prescribed by the Administrator; or
(4) Attended and successfully completed a refresher course, acceptable to the Administrator, of not less than 8 hours of instruction; or
(5) Passed an oral test by an FAA inspector to determine that the applicant's knowledge of applicable regulations and standards is current.
(b) The holder of an inspection authorization that has been in effect:
(1) for less than 90 days before the expiration date need not comply with paragraphs (a)(1) through (5) of this section.
(2) for less than 90 days before March 31 of an even-numbered year need not comply with paragraphs (a)(1) through (5) of this section for the first year of the two-year inspection authorization period.
(c) An inspection authorization holder who does not complete one of the activities set forth in §65.93(a) (1) through (5) of this section by March 31 of the first year of the two-year inspection authorization period may not exercise inspection authorization privileges after March 31 of the first year. The inspection authorization holder may resume exercising inspection authorization privileges after passing an oral test from an FAA inspector to determine that the applicant's knowledge of the applicable regulations and standards is current. An inspection authorization holder who passes this oral test is deemed to have completed the requirements of §65.93(a) (1) through (5) by March 31 of the first year.
Under the new definition, on meeting § 65.91(c)(1) through (4) requirements, refresher training attendance alone does not satisfy those requirements. In addition to AMTSociety’s IA renewal training, you must also comply with the “actively engaged” requirements in FAR 65.91(c)(1)-(4) to meet the requirements of IA renewal.
AMTSociety IA Renewal Consortium Program
Saturday, September 17, 2011, Crimson Technical College, Los Angeles (LLAX)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011, Del Mar College, Corpus Christi, TX (CRP)
Wednesday, October 12, 2011, NBAA, Las Vegas (LAS)
General Aviation Awards
Recipients of the 2011 National General Aviation Awards are Joseph “Joe” Morales (A&P, IA, CFI) of Lakewood, CO, AMT of the Year; Russell John “Russ” Callender, FAA repairman and pilot of Houlton, WI, Avionics Technician of the Year; Vicki Lynn Sherman, MCFI of DeLand, FL, FAASTeam Representative of the Year; and Judy Ann Phelps, MCFI-A of Santa Paula, CA, Certified Flight Instructor of the Year.
Since national FAA representation was noticeably absent because of the shutdown, a plan B for Wednesday evening’s awards presentation at Theater in the Woods was engineered. Valerie Palazzio, Great Lakes Region FAASTeam program manager, and JoAnne Hill, National General Aviation Awards Program Chairman, explained the Industry/FAA Awards program to an audience of approximately 3,000 AirVenture attendees. They outlined the nomination process and encouraged the audience to nominate worthy individuals in the four GA awards categories. They also explained that the program’s expenses and the gifts for the four national winners are provided by the industry’s program supportsers/donors.
In lieu of FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, four previous national award winners, one in each categoty, were recruited to present each 2011 winner with his or her plaque. As 2003 National AMT of the Year, Tom Hendershot presented the plaque to Joe Morales. Al Ingle, 2003 National Avionics Technician of the Year presented to Russ Callender.
The GA Awards Committee hosted a luncheon on Thursday July 23 at EAA that was attended by 65 people. The award recipients received gifts from the industry, including monogrammed jackets from AMTSociety.
International corporate sponsor
Welcome to David Van Den Langenbergh, airworthiness manager for ABELAG Premier Private Jet Services located at the Brussels National Airport, Zaventem, Belgium.
He communicated to Tom Hendershot saying, “Our maintenance department is 95 percent focused on in-house maintenance of the ABELAG fleet. Of course we do support those that are in need on our apron. Since we are the only business jet operator and FBO at the Brussels Airport, we provide AOG support, etc.
“We can share a lot of experience on EASA Part 145 and Part 66 maintenance aspects. Running a Part 145 department in Europe can be a challenge.
“I’m not looking for exposure as a company, just think it is important to be part of the worldwide aviation family.”
Very well stated David, and on behalf of AMTSociety board of directors, we welcome you.
AMTSociety annual golf outing
Please sign up for the annual AMTSociety Scholarship Golf Outing at the Rio Secco Golf Course in Las Vegas, NV, on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011. There are some really great awards, and you’ll be sure to have a good time. Visit www.amtsociety.org to register.
Carol E. Giles retirement
On Wednesday, July 20, 86 former coworkers and individuals from the industry gathered for dinner and a retirement program for a longtime friend and advocate of AMTSociety, Carol E. Giles. After 31 years of service to the FAA in many job assignments, and the last three years as the division manager of the Aircraft Maintenance Division AFS-300 in the Flight Standard Service located in Washington, D.C., Carol has strongly committed to the AMTSociety Scholarship Golf Outing and also the Maintenance Skills Competition in Las Vegas. Thank you for all you have done for the mechanics in the diversified areas Carol, and happy days n your retirement. We will surely miss you.
Thank you all very much for your involvement in AMTSociety.
Stay safe
Tom Hendershot
Scholarship fund donation
Attached is a letter from one of our members where he makes a donation to the Charles E. Taylor Scholarship Fund and tells us about his great friend. This is one way to help us pursue our goal for the education of people in the aviation maintenance/avionics areas.
Please accept the enclosed donation to AMTSociety’s Charles E. Taylor Scholarship Fund. It is given in memory of Gregory Schaffer, a good friend of mine who passed away June 3, 2011 while working in Israel. Greg started out iis aircraft maintenancne career working as a mechanic on B52 bombers while in the Air Force. I worked with him in the ‘70s and ‘80s while we were A&P mechanics at North Central and Republic Airlines. Greg then moved on to start a very successful career at FedEx and put in mre than 25 years there as a mechanic, maintenance representative, and most currently worked in the aircraft acquisition area. Greg touched people all over the world. Here are some excerpts from his guest book:
“I first met Greg in August 1975 when we started at North Central Airlines. I have many great memories of working with Greg on MSP night line for both North Central and Republic. He will truly be missed by everyone who knew him.”
“Greg worked in my group in Airframe Vendor Management at FedEx for many years. He was a dedicated and knowledgeable aviation professional and a great person that was always a pleasure to be around. He will be dearly missed by all of his friends at FedEx.”
“Working with Greg was always a pleasure. Not only was Greg a wonderful co-worker but a dear friend as well. He was always a pleasure to be around.”
“Greg’s dedication and commitment to creating outstanding experiences through his role, along with living the “Purple Promise” each day, are what bind us together now in spirit.”
“Greg was an awesome guy who I truly enjoyed working with. The aviation community has lost a true gentleman and professional.”
As all of us AMTs know, the aviation community is actually a small close-knit group. Greg has touched a lot of us. Aviation has lost a very good person.
Daniel Broten, Instructor, Alabama Aviation Center, Ozark, AL
Corporate Member: Vaughn College
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology was established more than 70 years ago in New Jersey. Now based near LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, NY, it offers degrees in aircraft operations, airport management, airline management, aviation maintenance, electronic engineering technology, aviation maintenance management.
The Aviation Training Institute was created in 2001 which offers the aviation maintenance certificate program. Students can earn their FAA airframe and powerplant certificate in as little as 16 months.
Aviation maintenance training is one of the college’s most popular academic offerings. More than 400 of Vaughn’s total student population of 1,500 were enrolled in the Aviation Training Institute in 2011. Students hone their mechanical skills, working on more than a dozen aircraft ranging from the piston-power Cessna 182, Piper Seneca, and Aztecs to the complexities of turbine aircraft such as King Air.
Vaughn’s Aviation Training Institute offers state-of-the-art nondestructive testing (NDT), enabling students to prepare for real-world problem-solving. In the composites lab, students study both wet lay-up and pre-preg applications of advance composite materials. The proper use of bagging procedures as well as hot bonding repairs are also extensively covered.
The college’s turbine engine test cells provide ample run-up opportunities for students on PT-6s and CJ610s. A newly renovated FAA-authorized Lasergrade test center provides students with all written exams offered by the administration, including the general, airframe and powerplant exams.
Vaughn College has housed a student chapter of AMTSociety since 2009, and the College’s Executive Director of Training, Domenic Proscia, has served on the Aviation Technician Education Council board of directors for more than seven years.
For more information visit www.vaughn.edu or call (719) 429-6600.
