On July 13, ARSA hosted an online listening session to discuss the repair specifications AC. The recording of that session is available to all registrants. For those who could not attend the live session but would like access to the recording, please click here.
ARSA has been working for years to develop comprehensive, cohesive and coordinated guidance on developing, approving (if necessary), using and maintaining maintenance and alteration specifications. In other words, let’s create a standard process for maintenance providers to develop alternative repair and modification instructions to those fashioned by the design approval holders. The effort is equivalent in scope to obtaining “complete” sets of instructions essential to continued airworthiness required by the plain language of section 21.50(b) (see the fruits of the association’s effort on obtaining instructions for continued airworthiness by clicking here).
In 2007, ARSA introduced AC 43.XX in an effort to get “multiple” major repairs approved—the result instead was the appointment of “repair specification” designated engineering representatives and AC 21-47.
In its latest efforts to provide comprehensive processes for independently developing maintenance information, the association has teamed with Airlines for America (A4A) and other trade groups. The effort will culminate in methodologies associated with maintaining or altering completed, general aviation, non-pressurized aircraft represented by Advisory Circular (AC) 43-210 (now supposedly applicable to a much wider range or repairs and alterations), AC 120-77 for air carrier developed information and AC 43-XX for “shop” maintenance data used by the vast majority of repair stations.
ARSA and A4A are reviewing AC 120-77; the effort started with a webinar listening session, followed by a comprehensive review of the document, gathering and disseminating comments among the industry participants and will culminated in an undated version of the AC.
A similar effort will be made with AC 43-XX; please review and make comments on the draft document, then join the July 13 Online Listening Session for an open discussion of its purpose and content, provide tracked changes/comments for potential incorporation and join the final discussion before the document is submitted to the agency.
How to get involved:
(1) Download the draft AC 43-XX document:
Click here to download the draft AC.
(2) Use “tracked changes” to make comments/suggestions/edits.
(3) Return your edited version as an attachment to arsa@arsa.org.
July 28, 2008
On July 28, ARSA sent the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) two documents for the agency’s consideration addressing the use of maintenance and/or alteration specifications. ARSA suggested changes to Order 8300.14, “Repair Specification Approval Procedures”, which was previously issued in December 2007 but is currently pending implementation due to further consideration by the FAA. In addition, ARSA drafted an Advisory Circular (AC) providing guidance on development and approval of maintenance and/or alteration specifications.
Since that time, FAA has reissued a new version of Order 8300.14 for comment.
A copy of ARSA’s draft AC may be found here.
A copy of ARSA’s draft Order may be found here.
ARSA’s letter to the FAA may be found here.
The FAA’s rewrite of Order 8300.14 may be found here.
