Two Forward, One Backward

We all love to bash the FAA, if for no other reason than the agency is so...bashable. Still, our favorite aviation agency also has done a few things right over the years. Its owner-produced parts policy, which allows owners to fabricate comparable but unobtainable components, is a good example. Recently, two other examples of the FAA doing something right came to light, even after initial signs were that it wouldn’t. Sadly, another example arose which, if implemented, appears to be a step backward. The first right item involves inspector authorization (IA) renewals. The IA designation to a technician’s airframe and powerplant certificate means he or she can return to service aircraft after their annual inspection is completed.

Key Takeaways:

• The FAA made positive revisions to its policies, including clarifying the definition of "actively engaged" for Inspector Authorization (IA) renewals to be more inclusive and permitting flight instruction in single-control airplanes under specific conditions.
• Conversely, the FAA has changed its aeronautical charting policy, now requiring aggregators to purchase early access (17 days before effective date) to digital chart data, which was previously available for free download, potentially hindering competition and impacting the industry it helped create.

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