[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 112 (Tuesday, June 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32390-32392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11260]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee--New Task

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of new task assignment for the Aviation Rulemaking 
Advisory Committee (ARAC).

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SUMMARY: The FAA assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee a 
new task to: Review and recommend revisions to certain requirements for 
operation of aviation maintenance technician schools. This notice is to 
inform the public of this ARAC activity.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ferrin Moore, Aircraft Maintenance 
Division, AFS-301, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-3809, e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 32391]]

Background

    The FAA established the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee to 
provide advice and recommendations to the FAA Administrator on the 
FAA's rulemaking activities with respect to aviation-related issues. 
This includes obtaining advice and recommendations on 14 CFR Part 147--
Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools.
    In order to develop such advice and recommendations, the ARAC may 
choose to establish working groups to which specific tasks are 
assigned. Such working groups are comprised of experts from those 
organizations having an interest in the assigned tasks. A working group 
member need not be representative of the full committee. The Aviation 
Maintenance Technician Schools Curriculum and Operating Requirements 
Working Group is a new working group that is being established by the 
ARAC.
    A review of General Accounting Office Report GAO-03-317, dated 
March 2003, indicates a need to update the curriculum requirements for 
aviation mechanics. Currently, FAA certificated Aviation Maintenance 
Technician Schools must offer a curriculum that addresses each of the 
subject areas described in 14 CFR, Part 147, Appendices B, C, and D. 
Each subject area must be taught to the level prescribed, and as 
defined in 14 CFR, Part 147, Appendix A. In addition, Sec.  147.21(b) 
of Part 147 mandates the number of teaching hours devoted to each group 
of subject areas (General, Airframe, and Powerplant). These hours are: 
General--400, Airframe--750, Powerplant--750. A total of 1,900 hours is 
needed for a combined Airframe and Powerplant curriculum. In addition, 
the FAA has issued exemptions to aviation maintenance technician 
schools enabling the schools to substitute experience required in Sec.  
65.77 for subject hours. Section 65.75(a) prescribes, in pertinent 
part, that applicants must pass a written test after meeting the 
experience requirements of Sec.  65. 77. Section 65.77 also requires 
applicants to complete training and present an appropriate graduation 
certificate or certificate of completion from a certificated aviation 
maintenance technician school before being eligible to take the written 
test for a certificate or rating.

Task

    (1) The working group is tasked to evaluate Sec. Sec.  147.21 and 
147.31 and appendices A through D of 14 CFR Part 147, and make 
recommendations to ARAC that would enable the AMT schools to meet the 
needs of their clientele more effectively. The working group is tasked 
to recommend revisions to 14 CFR Part 147 to contain some basic, 
consistent, requirements. The objective is to provide an easier means 
to keep current training curricula, training criteria, and hours of 
training, while remaining within the minimum requirements outlined in 
Sec. Sec.  147.21 and 147.31, and appendices A through D of 14 CFR Part 
147.
    As part of its task, the working group will review available 
information about general curriculum requirements and specific 
operating rules for attendance and enrollment, tests, and credit for 
prior instruction or experience that could be applicable to meeting the 
requirements of Sec. Sec.  147.21 and 147.31 and appendices A through D 
of 14 CFR Part 147.
    (2) In addition, the working group is tasked to evaluate and 
incorporate, as appropriate, revisions granted by exemption to 
Sec. Sec.  65.75(a) and 65.77 of 14 CFR Part 65. The working group 
should consider the appropriateness of modifying Sec.  65.75(a) to 
allow students enrolled in Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician 
Schools to take the Aviation Mechanic written tests after completing 
the corresponding portion of the curriculum, but before meeting the 
experience requirements of Sec.  65.77. Section 65.77 prescribes, in 
pertinent part, that each applicant for a mechanic certificate or 
rating must present either an appropriate graduation certificate or a 
certificate of completion from a certificated aviation maintenance 
technician school or documented evidence, satisfactory to the 
Administrator before certification. The FAA has issued grants of 
exemption to allow students to take equivalency tests for the aviation 
maintenance airframe and aviation maintenance powerplant ratings 
certification. The FAA agreed with the petitioners that testing 
immediately after completing a course is academically sound. ARAC will 
make recommendations to the FAA, as appropriate, for revising these 
requirements and associated guidance material.
    Schedule: Required completion is no later than 9 months after the 
first working group meeting or June 30, 2008, whichever occurs first.

ARAC Acceptance of Task

    ARAC accepted the task and assigned the task to the Aviation 
Maintenance Technician Schools Curriculum and Operating Requirements 
Working Group, which is being formed and will be managed by the 
Executive Committee of ARAC. The working group serves as staff to ARAC 
and assists in the analysis of assigned tasks. ARAC must review and 
approve the working group's recommendations. If ARAC accepts the 
working group's recommendations, it will forward them to the FAA. The 
FAA will submit the recommendations it receives to the agency's 
Rulemaking Management Council to address the availability of resources 
and priority within its rulemaking program.

Working Group Activity

    The Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools Curriculum and 
Operating Requirements Working Group must comply with the procedures 
adopted by ARAC. As part of the procedures, the working group must:
    1. Recommend a work plan for completion of the task, including the 
rationale supporting such a plan for consideration at the next 
Executive Committee meeting of ARAC held following publication of this 
notice.
    2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed 
recommendations before proceeding with the work stated in item 3 below.
    3. If proposed rule changes are recommended, provide supporting 
economic and other required analyses. If new or revised requirements or 
compliance methods are not recommended, a draft report stating the 
rationale for not making such recommendations; and
    4. Provide a status report at each Executive Committee meeting of 
the ARAC.

Participation in the Working Group

    The Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools Curriculum and 
Operating Requirements Working Group will be composed of technical 
experts having an interest in the assigned task. A working group member 
need not be a representative or a member of the Aviation Rulemaking 
Advisory Committee. Membership of the working group will have broad 
experience in developing curriculum and operating requirements for 
maintenance technician schools. The working group may organize, 
oversee, guide and monitor activities and progress of subject matter 
experts as needed to accomplish the task assigned. The working group 
chair and the FAA representative will select the membership for the 
working group, with concurrence of the Executive Committee of ARAC and 
the FAA. Subject matter experts will address individual issues and will 
be invited to present their views and positions for consideration by 
the working group. This allows for an optimum working group size with

[[Page 32392]]

appropriate representation to achieve informed consensus and foster 
successful completion of the task. This may also allow the 
participation of a large number of cross-functional subject matter 
experts. The working group members should have the appropriate subject 
matter knowledge, broad maintenance curriculum development experience 
and responsibility within their organization and authority to represent 
their respective part of the aviation community.
    If you have expertise in the subject matter and wish to become a 
member of the working group, write to the person listed under the 
caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT expressing that desire. 
Describe your interest in the task and state the expertise you would 
bring to the working group. We must receive all requests by July 17, 
2007. The Executive Committee and the FAA will review the requests and 
advise you whether or not your request is approved.
    If you are chosen for membership on the working group, you must 
represent your aviation community segment and actively participate in 
the working group by attending all meetings, and providing written 
comments when requested to do so. You must devote the resources 
necessary to support the working group in meeting any assigned 
deadlines. You must keep your management chain and those you may 
represent advised of working group activities and decisions to ensure 
that the proposed technical solutions don't conflict with your 
sponsoring organization's position when the subject is presented to the 
Executive Committee for approval. Once the working group has begun 
deliberations, members will not be added or substituted without the 
approval of the Executive Committee, FAA and the working group chair.
    The Secretary of Transportation determined that the formation and 
use of the ARAC is necessary and in the public interest in connection 
with the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law.
    Meetings of the Executive Committee of ARAC are open to the public. 
Meetings of the Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools Curriculum and 
Operating Requirements Working Group will not be open to the public, 
except to the extent individuals with an interest and expertise are 
selected to participate. The FAA will make no public announcement of 
working group meetings.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 1, 2007.
Pamela Hamilton-Powell,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. E7-11260 Filed 6-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P