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 two positive regulatory changes by clarifying the "actively engaged" definition for Inspector Authorization (IA) renewals to include part-time activity, and by revising FAR 91.109 to permit flight instruction in single-control aircraft under specified conditions.
• Conversely, the FAA took a step backward by restricting free access to aeronautical chart data, making it available only 24 hours (down from 17 days) before its effective date, which is expected to negatively impact third-party aggregators and competition in electronic chart publishing.

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