New FAA Cert Program Will Ultimately Replace DAS System
The Federal Aviation Administration
recently certified ARINC Incorporated to issue aircraft STCs and
perform STC-related aircraft service and modification work under
the FAA’s new Organization Designation Authorization (ODA)
program.
ARINC’s Aircraft Integration and Modification group --
with operations at Oklahoma City, OK, Colorado Springs, CO, and
Scottsdale, AZ -- received its FAA notification in late 2007 and
becomes one of the first designated ODA holders in the country.
The FAA intends the ODA program to completely replace its
existing DAS (Designated Alteration Station) program by November
2009. Under ODA, ARINC will be able to modify customer aircraft
with greater autonomy, and may shorten the process of issuing STCs
and performing STC-related work.
New ODA rules allow the FAA to delegate more responsibility to
private industry, helping reduce the FAA’s workload while
streamlining aircraft certification and inspection. ARINC attended
the first ODA training session last year in Oklahoma City.
"This early ODA designation
strengthens ARINC’s leadership position in the aircraft
modification industry, and will immediately benefit many of our
commercial and government customers with improved service and
delivery times," stated John F. May, ARINC’s first ODA
Administrator. "All of ARINC’s new STC projects from today
forward will be performed in accordance with our ODA Procedures
Manual. Current customer projects that were started under the DAS
Manual will be finished in accordance with DAS Procedures as
planned."
ODA rules permit a greater delegation of functions related to
engineering, manufacturing, operations, airworthiness, and
maintenance. In addition to STC designees, DOA, SFAR36, PC ODAR,
PMA ODAR, and Operator/145 ODAR designees will be required to
achieve ODA designation by November 2009.
The FAA may issue an ODA as needed to any organization with
sufficient facilities, resources, personnel, experience with FAA
requirements and procedures, and experience to perform the
functions. The organization is named ODA Holder, and one or more
specific units of suitably trained and experienced personnel within
the organization can perform the delegated work. Thus,
ARINC’s STC ODA can cover STC work performed at all three of
the company’s aircraft modification facilities.
ARINC Incorporated, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group,
provides communications, engineering and integration solutions for
commercial, defense and government customers worldwide.
Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland with regional offices in
London and Singapore, ARINC is ISO 9001:2000 certified.