Airmen certification: Aviation maintenance personnel; certification, training, experience, and currency requirements; withdrawn,

[Federal Register: July 9, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 131)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 37210]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr09jy98-24]

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.

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DATES: The proposed rule published at 59 FR 42430 is withdrawn July 9, 1998.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. 98-17590Filed7-8-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-M