Streamlining Bilateral Guidance
September 29, 2026
Update: On Sept. 28, the FAA confirmed cancellation of AC 145-11A, Repair Station Guidance for Compliance with the Safety Agreement between the United States and the European Union.
August 18, 2026
ARSA agrees that the FAA should cancel Advisory Circular (AC) 145-11A, Repair Station Guidance for Compliance with the Safety Agreement between the United States and the European Union. The association learned in August of the agency’s interest and coordinated with the Aircraft Electronics Association to share support.
The agency’s reasons for canceling the AC needs to apply to all guidance that relates to bilateral compliance: The MAG/MIP associated with each bilateral should be the guidance that industry and the agencies are to follow. Producing more documents related to international compliance is redundant and inefficient.
“Reliance on the MAG as the single source of guidance promotes greater clarity, consistency, and harmonization for certificate holders operating under the agreement,” the agency said.
ARSA and AEA encouraged the FAA to continue eliminating all redundant guidance in all its forms. Reviewing the DRS, the following ACs should be assessed:
AC 21-24A: Extending a Production Certificate to a Facility Located in a Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement Country
AC 43-10C United States—Canadian Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement Maintenance Implementation Procedures
AC 61-144: Issuance Process for Pilot Certificates in Accordance with the Implementation Procedures for Licensing as Part of the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement Between the FAA and the Swiss FOCA
AC 145-11A: Repair Station Guidance for Compliance with the Safety Agreement between the United States and the European Union
By focusing compliance instructions in the official documents associated with the agreement, the FAA can provide for the same consistency sought by eliminating the AC related to the U.S./European agreement.
What guidance documents do you use on bilateral issues? Click here to tell ARSA.
Other updates on bilateral oversight...
1/8/25 - New Bilateral Oversight Guidance for ASIs
Jan. 8, 2025
The FAA has announced an amendment to Order 8900.1, Vol. 6, Chap. 9, Sec. 27 clarifying procedures for aviation safety inspectors (ASIs) who oversee domestic repair stations holding foreign certificates under bilateral aviation safety agreements (BASAs) between the FAA and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), the United Kingdom (UK) CAA, and/or the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC).
Among other things, the updated Sec. 27:
- Provides background on the purposes of BASAs and related Maintenance Implementation Procedures (MIP) and Maintenance Annex Guidance (MAG).
- Describes the various prerequisites ASIs must meet prior to conducting oversight, including FAA electronic Learning Management System (eLMS) course requirements specific to each of the BASAs.
- Explains the interrelationship between ASIs, the FAA Flight Standards Service (AFS) General Aviation Group (AFS 340), and the partnering civil aviation authority, identifying FAA coordinators as primary points of contact between AFS and the foreign CAA and explaining how policy issues and proposed changes to the MIP and MAG are elevated within AFS.
- Details procedures for auditing a repair station pursuant to a MIP.
The Order directs ASIs to use Sec. 27 in conjunction with the applicable MAG between the United States and foreign country, but reminds them the MAG supersedes the order if the two documents conflict.
Similar guidance related to oversight of U.S. repair stations with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval is found at FAA Order 8100 Vol. 6, Chap. 9, Sec. 24. Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) guidance is in Sec. 22.
For updates specific to the U.S./EU bilateral agreement, visit arsa.org/mag.
For updates specific to the U.S./Canada bilateral agreement, visit arsa.org/faa-tcca-mip.
More from ARSA
Streamlining Bilateral Guidance
September 29, 2026 | Categories:
Act Now, ARSA News & Updates, Design & Production, EASA, FAA, Maintenance, Press Releases, Regulatory
Update: On Sept. 28, the FAA confirmed cancellation of AC 145-11A, Repair Station Guidance for Compliance with the Safety Agreement between the United States and the European Union.
August 18,…Read More
