Aircraft Maintenance Technology

NOV-DEC 2013

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ARSA OUTLOOK Keep it Straight All parties need to be straight about the roles and responsibilities set forth by the government; then the parties need to be upfront about the result of the work needed vs. that which can and will be performed. W By Sarah MacLeod Sarah MacLeod is executive director of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), an organization she helped found more than 25 years ago. 20 hen a mechanic with equipment, and data available from the a powerplant and/or company. Indeed, a repair station has to airframe rating from make the same determination; it will do so the Federal Aviation using knowledgeable technicians, some of Administration (FAA) which will hold either mechanic or repairworks on an aircraft for a fixed based men certificates. operator (FBO), the company might receive In other words, while the pilot is ultipayment but the individual is responsible mately responsible for operating an airto the government for what was accomworthy aircraft, s/he won't be able to do so plished. On the other hand, if the FBO without the help of the FBO. The FBO needs holds a repair station certificate, the comknowledgeable employees, whether individpany will be responsible to the government ual mechanics or repair station personnel, for the work of its employees, including working within the parameters of parts 43, certificated mechanics 65, and/or 145. Neither the or repairmen. While an pilot nor the company can Under the FAA rules, the FBO may be commercially perform corrective actions responsible to the owner/ without a certificate from maintenance provider operator for any work the FAA. Additionally, is only responsible for expected or completed, neither a repair station nor the work it performed, the FAA will look to the a mechanic can do everycertificate holder for the thing on every aircraft. not for any and all proper performance of Under the FAA rules, work that needs to be that work. the maintenance provider accomplished. It is extremely important is only responsible for that the owner/operator, the work it performed, FBO, and its mechanics not for any and all work understand their roles and obligations. An that needs to be accomplished. The owner/ owner/operator (usually a pilot) is responoperator is responsible for ensuring all work sible for operating an airworthy aircraft. That necessary to keep the aircraft airworthy has condition can be determined and maintained been or is accomplished. by reviewing the airworthiness limitations When the parties work together, things and maintenance records as well as flying are wonderful; the FBO and its people are the aircraft within its design parameters. praised to the skies. When things go wrong, If something goes wrong, that same party everyone involved in the process can get a should be able to describe the problem in black-eye merely because the expectations enough detail that a knowledgeable techniof the parties were misunderstood. All parcian can figure out whether the problem can ties need to be straight about the roles and be fixed. responsibilities set forth by the government; The FBO without a repair station certifithen the parties need to be upfront about the cate must understand that it is dependent result of the work needed versus that which upon its certificated mechanics to determine can and will be performed. AMT the extent and nature of the work needed and whether or not the individual can comFor more information visit www.arsa.org. plete the actions with the housing, facilities, November/December 2013 Aircraft Maintenance Technology • www.AviationPros.com • www.AMTSociety.org

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