The FAA today published notice delaying the effective date of its controversial rewrite of Part 145 requiring that repair stations have an approved training program. The original effective date was April 5, 2005. The effective date of the final rule is now April 6, 2006. The FAA wanted to receive and review more comments on its proposed guidance material for repair stations to use in developing their training programs. Also, repair stations need more time between when the guidance material is finalized and the effective date of the final rule.
On a side note, the FAA also indicates that the delay will work to the benefit of repair stations who also approved under European Commission rules to work on European-registered aircraft. The European Aviation Safety Agency now requires those repair stations to meet the repair station manual supplement requirements of EC 2042. According to the FAA, “implementing the Sec. 145.163 training program and EASA supplement to repair station manuals by April 6, 2005 would impose a significant burden on the repair station industry as well as the FAA.”
For further information regarding the delay or the final rule, contact Mr. Herbert E. Daniel, Aircraft Maintenance Division, General Aviation and Repair Station Branch (AFS-340), Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591; facsimile (202) 267-5115; e-mail Herbert.E.Daniel@faa.gov or by telephone at (202) 267-3109; or Mr. Dan Bachelder, AFS-340, at the address or facsimile listed above or e-mail Dan.Bachelder@faa.gov or by telephone at (202) 267-7027.
