AA Safety Team | Safer Skies Through Education New Part 147 Regulations, Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools

Published May 24, 2022
Notice Number: NOTC2403
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2022 Digital Issue

On December 27, 2020, Congress enacted the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which contained the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act (the Act). Section 135 of the Act directed the FAA to publish interim final regulations to establish requirements for issuing aviation maintenance technician school (AMTS) certificates and ratings and general operating requirements for holders of such certificates. The improvements provided by the interim final rule (IFR) will help educate the future aviation maintenance workforce and meet the demands of the evolving aviation community. Under the new rule, AMTS will revise their curriculum and incorporate technical training that aligns with the mechanic airman certification standards.

The IFR was published in the Federal Register on May 24, 2022. The new regulations will be effective on September 21, 2022. AMTS must continue to conduct training operations to meet the currently effective Part 147 regulations, until 9/21/2022.

The interim final rule, containing the new regulations and preamble, can be found in the rulemaking Docket here: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FAA-2021-0237
FAA-S-ACS-1, Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Airman Certification Standards, dated November 1, 2021, incorporated by reference into Part 65 and Part 147, can be found at www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing and in the rulemaking docket referenced above.

FAA-S-8081-26B, Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Practical Test Standards, dated November 1, 2021, incorporated by reference into Part 65, can be found at www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing and in the rulemaking docket referenced above.

Guidance Information: The revised Advisory Circular AC 147-3C, Certification and Operation of Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools, is available in the rulemaking docket referenced above and here:

Before September 21, 2022: https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs/afs_ac/

After September 21, 2022: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/

The Office of Safety Standards, Aircraft Maintenance Division (AFS-300), has developed Notice N8900.616, Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools (AMTS) New Regulations and OpSpecs.

The notice announces the revisions to operations specifications (OpSpecs) and related guidance regarding the IFR and contains instructions for GA Safety Assurance office personnel to ensure all Part 147 AMTS meet the new regulations upon September 21, 2022, the effective date of the IFR.

The notice is directed at FAA personnel who have responsibilities related to Part 147 AMTS.

All Part 147 certification and surveillance guidance sections in FAA Order 8900.1 have been revised. Prior to September 21, 2022, these sections are made available through this notice.

This notice is available on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) website at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_notices, and the Dynamic Regulatory System at https://drs.faa.gov.

After September 21, 2022, the revised Part 147 guidance will be published in Order 8900.1 and available in the Dynamic Regulatory System at https://drs.faa.gov.

To access frequently asked questions, select this link. https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2022/May/FAQ.pdf

For more information, contact FAA Office of Safety Standards, Aircraft Maintenance Division at 202-267-1675, or 9-AWA-AFS-300-Correspondence@faa.gov