Avionics News May 2013 - 17

product is one that may be used to enhance situational
awareness, but that does not necessarily meet the regulatory requirements of 14 CFR. Certificate holders and
program managers may not use supplementary weather
products to control flight operations. Examples of supplementary weather products include, but are not limited to:
• Experimental weather reporting or forecasting
tools or systems.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
United States
Converting a Repairman Certificate to a
Mechanic Certificate
The following information is from the Federal Aviation Regulations and FAA Order 8900.1.

QUESTION:

How do I convert a repairman certificate to a
mechanic certificate?

ANSWER:

Technically, you cannot convert one certificate to the
other. However, you can qualify for a mechanic certificate
with the experience gained as a repairman.
The general eligibility requirements of § 65.71 for a
mechanic and § 65.101 for a repairman are fundamentally
similar with unique qualification requirements. In addition, an applicant for a mechanic certificate must meet the
knowledge requirements of § 65.75.
It is in experience requirements, as prescribed in § 65.77,
where a repairman may have an edge.
§ 65.77 Experience requirements.
Each applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating
must present either an appropriate graduation certificate or certificate of completion from a certificated
aviation maintenance technician school or documentary evidence, satisfactory to the administrator, of:
a. At least 18 months of practical experience
with the procedures, practices, materials,
tools, machine tools and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining or
altering airframes, or powerplants appropriate to the rating sought; or

•

And weather information obtained outside of
the certificate holder’s/program manager’s system and/or procedures for obtaining weather
information (e.g., via television, public radio or
personal hand-held device).
Note: Supplementary weather products are not
intended for use as a means to comply with the regulatory requirements for aviation weather.

At least 30 months of practical experience
concurrently performing the duties
appropriate to both the airframe and
powerplant ratings.

Where § 65.101 (a) (5) requires that to be eligible for a
repairman certificate, a person must have either at least 18
months of practical experience in the procedures, practices,
inspection methods, materials, tools, machine tools and equipment generally used in the maintenance duties of the specific
job for which the person is to be employed and certificated; or
completed formal training that is acceptable to the administrator and is specifically designed to qualify the applicant for the
job on which the applicant is to be employed.
If a radio repairman has 18 months of experience, then
he or she also has 18 months of experience as required of
a mechanic certificate with an airframe rating. Radios are
an airframe component and within the scope of an airframe
rating. However, there are more tasks and technologies to
an airframe rating than just radios. So in addition to the 18
months of installation and maintenance of radio experience,
the applicant should show practical experience with basic
knowledge and skills with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools and equipment used in aircraft construction, alteration, maintenance and inspection. According
to FAA Order 8900.1, the applicant “must have verifiable
experience in 50 percent of the subject areas listed for the
rating sought.” You can refer to appendices B, C and D of
Part 147 for a list of subject areas in order to be eligible.
Note: The AEA offers “Frequently Asked Questions” to
foster greater understanding of the aviation regulations
and the rules governing the industry. The AEA strives to
ensure FAQs are as accurate as possible at the time of
publication; however, rules change. Therefore information
received from an AEA FAQ should be verified before being
relied upon. This information is not meant to serve as legal
advice. If you have particular legal questions, they should
be directed to an attorney. The AEA disclaims any warranty
for the accuracy of the information provided.
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Avionics News May 2013

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