ARSA Gets More Time on New Maintenance “Profession” Guidance

On March 29, ARSA requested an extension of the April 4 comment deadline for draft Advisory Circular (AC) 65-30B, “Overview of the Aviation Maintenance Profession.” In response, the FAA provided an additional 30 days – which would make the new deadline a Saturday, so comments are now due on Monday, May 6 (a two-day bonus provided by the luck of the calendar).

In 2014, the agency had released a previous draft of the AC for comment. ARSA and the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) responded with a completely rewritten version that reflected the industry’s evolution since the 2001 publication of AC 65-30A (see December 2014 update, below). After waiting nearly five years to continue the process, the aviation community can make good on the continuing effort.

“Now that an updated draft has been re-released for comment, it is critical that time be provided to carefully consider this version against not only the agency’s previous effort but also the industry’s,” the association’s extension request said. “ARSA intends to review the current draft and include association members and industry partners in its feedback. Considering how central workforce development planning has become to maintaining the current and future health of the aviation community, more time would allow us to help the FAA produce a cogent and instructive guidance document illustrating the ‘profession.'”

To read the full extension request, click here.

For information on the draft AC, including how to submit comments, click here.