[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 131 (Thursday, July 9, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 37210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17590]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 65 and 66

[Docket No. 27863; Notice No. 98-5]
RIN 2120-AF22


Revision of Certification Requirements: Mechanics and Repairmen

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This document withdraws a previously published NPRM (59 FR 
42430, August 17, 1994) that proposed to amend the Federal Aviation 
Regulations that prescribe the certification requirements for mechanics 
and repairmen. That NPRM was the result of the completion of the phase 
I review of the certification requirements for mechanics and repairmen 
by the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC), Part 65 Working 
Group. Since the publication of that NPRM, the ARAC completed their 
phase II review of the certification requirements for mechanics and 
repairmen. Based on the phase II review, the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) has developed a new proposal, published elsewhere 
in this separate part of the Federal Register, that includes many of 
the proposals set forth in the previously published notice and 
additional proposals resulting from the completion of phase II review. 
In an effort to avoid confusion in the aviation maintenance community, 
and to ensure that adequate notice and comment are provided, the FAA 
has determined that the two proposals should be reconciled and 
consolidated into a single NPRM containing both sets of proposals.

DATES: The proposed rule published at 59 FR 42430 is withdrawn July 9, 
1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie K. Vipond (AFS-350), Continuous 
Airworthiness Maintenance Division, Flight Standards Service, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20591; telephone (202) 267-3269.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 17, 1994, the FAA published Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking No. 94-27 (59 FR 42430) to propose amendments to 
14 CFR part 65 and create 14 CFR part 66. The FAA invited public 
comment to this proposal, and the comment period closed on October 17, 
1994. The proposed rule would revise the certification requirements for 
mechanics and repairmen based on recommendations from the Aviation 
Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC), Part 65 Working Group, made after 
completion of phase I of the FAA review of the certification 
requirements for these personnel.
    Since the NPRM was issued, the ARAC has completed phase II of its 
regulatory review of these certification requirements. Implementation 
of the proposals made during phase II of the ARAC review would cause 
significant changes to the format and content of part 66, as proposed 
in the previously published NPRM. The new proposals would result in the 
creation of new subparts in proposed part 66 for the aviation 
maintenance technician (transport) certificate and inspection 
authorization, the addition of a separate rating for aviation 
maintenance instructors, and the creation of an additional aviation 
repair specialist certificate.
    The creation of part 66, as set forth in the previously published 
NPRM, followed by a series of sweeping changes to implement the 
additional proposals made after the completion of phase II of the ARAC 
regulatory review, would cause unnecessary confusion in the aviation 
maintenance community and hinder the implementation of the changes. 
Such changes can be more easily reconciled before the publication of a 
final rule.
    Therefore, in an effort to avoid confusion in the implementation of 
the final rule, the FAA has determined that the changes proposed in 
Notice No. 94-27 and the additional changes proposed as a result of 
recommendations made at the completion of phase II of the regulatory 
review should be reconciled and consolidated into a single NPRM 
containing both sets of proposals.
    Accordingly Notice No. 94-27, published on August 17, 1994 (59 FR 
42430), is withdrawn.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 26, 1998.
Ava L. Mims,
Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 98-17590 Filed 7-8-98; 8:45 am]
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