IA Renewal Requirements
Reference:
FAA Order 8300.10 Vol. 2, Chapter 26 Evaluate Inspection Authorization
FAA Order 8300.10 Vol. 2, Chapter 27 Evaluate Inspection Authorization
http://www.airworthy.org/IAHome.htm
Definitions:
Maintenance means: inspection, overhaul, repair, preservation, and the replacement of parts.
Actively engaged means: involved in maintaining real aircraft and parts. "Actively engaged" actively engaged in maintaining" requires that a person be participating, occupied, or employed in inspecting, overhauling, repairing, preserving, or replacing parts on aircraft, in connection with teaching or otherwise.
Activity Report is merely a means: of providing evidence of the information supplied in Item 10 ("Basis for Renewal") of Form 8310-1. Included in the report should be a listing of all pertinent information regarding the aircraft inspected, repaired or altered by the mechanic since the last renewal application was filed.
ELIGIBILITY
The ASI shall establish the applicant eligibility before allowing the applicant to test. None of the requirements of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 65, § 65.91 can be waived by the ASI.
The applicant must:
1. Hold a current mechanic's certificate, with airframe and powerplant ratings.
2. Certificate that has been in effect for at least three years.
3. The applicant must have been actively engaged in maintaining certificated aircraft for at least the two-year period before applying.
NOTE
"Section 65.91(c)(1) now requires that the applicant hold "a currently effective mechanic certificate with both an airframe rating and a powerplant rating, each of which is currently effective AND HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY IN EFFECT for not less than the three year period immediately before the date of application." (Emphasis added.) March 14, 1978, AGC-25
4. There must be a fixed base of operation at which the applicant can be located in person or by telephone.
5. This base need not be the place where the applicant will exercise the inspection authority.
6. The applicant must have available:
a. The equipment.
b. Facilities, and.
c. Inspection data necessary to conduct proper inspection of airframes, powerplants, propellers, or any related part or appliance. This data must be current IAW CFR 43.13.
The applicant must pass the IA knowledge test, testing the ability to inspect according to safety standards for approval constituting return to service an aircraft, related part, or appliance after major repairs, major alterations, annual, and progressive inspections performed under 14 CFR part 43. There is no practical test required for an IA.
Renewal of Inspection Authorization
To be eligible for renewal of an inspection authorization for a one-year period an applicant must present evidence at an FAA Flight Standard District Office during the month of March that he still meets the requirements of Section 65.91(c)(1) through (4), and by showing that during the current period that he held the inspection authority. He must show :
(1) Has performed at least one annual inspection for each 90 days that he has held the current authority;
(2) Has performed inspections of at least two major repairs or major alterations for each 90 days that he held the current authority; or
(3) Has performed or supervised and approved at least one progressive inspection in accordance with standards prescribed by the Administrator.
Application for renewal may be required to comply with following:
1. Complete FAA form 8610-1, Mechanic's Application for Inspection Authorization, in duplicate; and
2. Show evidence of meeting the requirements of CFR 65.93(a).
Meeting the requirements of CFR 65.93(a) does not mean that the applicant has to meet all five (5) of the listed requirements. To be eligible for renewal of an inspection authorization for a one-year period, the applicant must show evidence of having performed four annual inspections during the 365-day period prior to renewal date to be able to qualify for renewal. The same logic applies for major repairs and alterations. However, the number of annual inspections, major repairs and alterations performed cannot be mixed simply because the 14 CFR section does not provide for such combinations.
Mixing annual inspections, major repairs, and alterations is not permissible.
NOTE
An inspection program required under 14 CFR part 91, § 91.409(e) is not acceptable as IA activity. Partial inspections such as phases or events on more than one aircraft are not acceptable as activity. A progressive inspection is a complete inspection on one identified aircraft.
Successful completion of an eight-hour refresher course, acceptable to the Administrator, during the 12-month period preceding the renewal application.
The refresher course must contain subjects directly related to aircraft maintenance, inspection repairs, and alterations. In addition, some non-technical subjects, such as human factors or professionalism as they relate to aviation maintenance personnel, may be acceptable. The raining must not be used to promote a new or existing product.
The instructional requirements of CFR 65.93(a)(4), may be met by accumulating at least 8 hours of maintenance training. Each course or seminar must be at least one hour long and completed in the 12-month period between April 1 and March 31 prior to inspection authorization renewal.
Each person who intends to use 8 hours of instruction to meet 14 CFR 65 section 65.93(a)(4) must provide proof of attendance for instruction received at the time of renewal. Acceptable proof of attendance consists of a Certificate of training or similar document showing:
a. The name of the course
b. Name of attendee
c. Course identification number assigned by the RSPM A/W
d. Expiration date
e. Description of the course content
f. Time in hours
g. The date
h. Location
i. Course instructor's name and affiliation.
The proof of attendance should be reviewed by inspectors at renewal time to ensure that both:
a. The training organization and the IA have met the appropriate requirements.
b. The training organization must keep a list of all attendees for a period of two (2) years.
c. This list must be provided by the training organization to FSDO inspectors upon request.
Passing of an oral test given by an Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI) to ensure that the applicant's knowledge of regulations and standards is current. Reference 14 CFR 65 section 65.93(a)(5).
NOTE
If the applicant applies for renewal at an office other than the jurisdictional office, the receiving office should withhold renewal until the applicants activities can be verified.
Duration of an IA
An IA expires March 31, of each year and ceases to be effective whenever either of the following occur:
1. The authorization is surrendered, suspended, or revoked. When this occurs, the inspector shall request the holder to return the authorization, FAA Form 8310-5.
2. A holder fails to meet the renewal requirements of Title 49 CFR 65 section 65.91(c)(1) through (4).
Privileges of an IA
When operating away from the district office having geographic responsibility, the IA holder should notify the district office in the area where the work will be performed, before exercising the authorization. The IA holder should submit FAA Form 337 to the local office where the work was performed.
An IA holder who changes the fixed base of operation may not exercise the privilege of the authorization before notifying the district office or international field office for the area where the new base is located. This notification must be in writing.
1