ARSA, ATEC Capitalize on Update to O’Brien Awards
January 28, 2015
On Jan. 21, ARSA and the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) submitted joint comments on FAA Draft Advisory Circular (AC) 65-25F, “William (Bill) O’Brien Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards Program.”
The O’Brien Awards
Through the William (Bill) O’Brien Awards Program, the FAA recognizes eligible technicians who receive and businesses that promote professional development. The program was founded in 1991 to create an incentive for AMT employees and employers to participate aggressively in maintenance training courses.
Updating AC 65-25
The agency’s purpose for updating the AC was to provide a general overview of the program and direct potential participants online for further information. To ARSA and ATEC, the update represents an opportunity to improve the document in other ways. Most notably:
- Adding part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technical Schools (AMTSs) to the list of acceptable instruction or course providers. Individuals should be encouraged to take refresher courses from these FAA-controlled institutions. For their part, the schools should have an incentive to provide classes (and many do as IA renewal seminars) that do not meet the definition of “college level course” in the AC.
- Removing the three-employee requirement from eligible companies. Any company that engages in aviation services should be supported by this program, no matter the size.
To view the entire submission, including a suggested version of the AC with red-lined changes, please click here.
More from ARSA
On Demand Workshop – Administrative Agencies
July 28, 2026 | Categories:
ARSA News & Updates, ARSA Works, FAA, Maintenance, Operations, Regulatory, Training
The recording of ARSA’s special workshop overviewing the construction and authorities of American administrative agencies is now available on demand. The resource was presented to FAA personnel as part of…Read More
Push Congress to Invest in Skills Training
ARSA members with U.S. facilities are encouraged to support a Business Leaders United letter to support a letter from employers with U.S. facilities urging congressional leaders to invest in skills…Read MoreConvincing FAA of its D&A Authority
July 28, 2026 | Categories:
Act Now, ARSA News & Updates, ARSA Works, Aviation Policy, Drug and Alcohol, EASA, FAA, Legislative, Operations, Press Releases, Regulatory, Rulemaking
As the FAA reported at the 2026 FAA/EASA International Safety Conference in June, the agency’s Drug Abatement Division continues its work on implementation guidance for new drug and alcohol testing…Read More
