Avionics News January 2016 - 15
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS United States Certificated Staff The following information is from the Federal Aviation Regulations and Advisory Circular 145-9. QUESTION: Does a repair station need to employ an airframe and powerplant mechanic with an inspection authorization? ANSWER: No. The IA is an authorization needed when working outside of a repair station but isn't necessary when working inside a repair station. Section 43.3 (e) authorized a repair station to perform maintenance, preventive maintenance and alterations as provided in Part 145. And Section 43.7 (c) further authorizes a repair station to approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service after maintenance, preventive maintenance or alteration as provided in Part 145. Section 145.201 (a) (3) authorizes a repair station to approve for return to service any article for which it is rated after it has performed maintenance, preventive maintenance or an alteration in accordance with Part 43. CANADA News & Regulatory Updates New minister of transportation appointed With the federal election in October 2015 completed, a changing of the guard occurred bringing about a new look and feel to the government of Canada. There was a promise of Section 145.201 (c) (2) further states that a repair station may not approve for return to service any article after a major repair or major alteration unless the major repair or major alteration was performed in accordance with applicable approved technical data. Part 145 Subpart D, Personnel, requires that supervisors and individuals with return to service authority "be appropriately certificated as a mechanic or repairman under Part 65." The IA is not a "certificate" but rather an "authorization" to a certificated mechanic. Under Part 65, a certificated mechanic holding an inspection authorization may inspect and approve for return to service any aircraft or related part or appliance (except any aircraft maintained in accordance with a continuous airworthiness program under Part 121 of this chapter) after a major repair or major alteration to it in accordance with Part 43, if the work was done in accordance with technical data approved by the administrator (ยง 65.95 (1)). So, no, there is nothing in the regulations that requires a repair station to have an A&P mechanic with IA authority. At a minimum, the repair station must have a supervisor and persons with return to service authority who are appropriately certificated as a mechanic or repairman under Part 65. However, this does not prohibit any repair station who chooses to set a staffing standard higher than the minimum standards of the regulations to employ an A&P mechanic with IA authority. significant change to the way the government operates - to be more open, to be more inclusive and to promote the programs that will improve the middle class. The new cabinet was introduced, which included a reduction in the number of ministers; however, the role of the transport minister and infrastructure minister was divided between two cabinet ministers. Marc Garneau was appointed the minister of transport. Continued on following page avionics news * january 2016 15