AEA Disappointed By Congressional Order, But There's Still Time To Work Things Out

The Aircraft Electronics Association expressed 'disappointment' this week with the Congressional order halting FAA certification of new foreign repair stations after August 3... though in the practice, the order shouldn't affect operations in the short term.

AEA tells Aero-News the order comes after the Transportation Security Administration failed to finalize a congressionally-mandated repair station security program. The ban doesn't apply to any applications received prior to August 3, though those apps may be subjected to additional review. According to the AEA:

Renewals of existing Part 145 foreign repair stations will continue as defined in current guidance contained in Order 8900.1.

New applications received prior to August 3, 2008, will be evaluated and processed in accordance with FAA Order 8000.92, "AFS Certification Service Oversight Process (CSOP)." As outlined in Order 8000.92, management will evaluate resources and determine the status. If resources are determined to be available and the status is "green" prior to August 3, 2008, they will be considered "in process" and the certification will continue.

FAA Order 8900.1, Volume 2, Chapter 11, Section 7, "International Field Office Initial Certification of Repair Stations Under the Maintenance Implementation Procedures of a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement," states, in part: "Once the National Aviation Authority of a country covered by a Bilateral Aviation Safety agreement with Maintenance Implementation Procedures determines that the applicant AMO meets their AMO requirements and FAA special conditions, the NAA will recommend FAA certification."

The FAA will continue to accept and process these application packages received prior to Aug. 3, 2008, in accordance with FAA Order 8900.1. Beginning August 4, 2008, these application packages may continue to be received, but the certification process will not proceed.

New applications received after August 3, 2008, for a Part 145 foreign repair station certificate will be placed in Certification Service Oversight Process and will not proceed with certification. A letter explaining why the certification cannot be performed will be sent to the applicant.

"The Aircraft Electronics Association is disappointed in the FAA's actions but understands this action is mandated by Congress and out of the FAA’s jurisdiction," says the organization, which adds it will "continue to work with TSA to resolve the challenges of the Repair Station Security Rule proposal."

The AEA adds that due to the backlog of repair station certifications at the FAA’s international field offices and the current delay in receiving certification, this action should have little or no direct affect on the industry for 12 to 18 months. This timeframe should give the TSA and FAA ample time to resolve the repair station security issues.

FMI: www.aea.net, www.tsa.gov