Newly issued FAA Notice 8900.66 outlines the requirements of agency personnel responsible for monitoring, conducting, and overseeing revised certification testing procedures for aviation maintenance technicians.
Recently the FAA issued its final rulemaking overhauling aviation maintenance technician school and testing regulations under FAR Parts 65 and 147. As a component of this overhaul, the agency is replacing the practical test standards (PTS) with airman certification standards (ACS), as the basis for obtaining maintenance certification.
The FAA said the ACS, which adds task-specific knowledge and risk management elements, will result “in a comprehensive presentation that integrates the standards for what an applicant must demonstrate to pass the written, oral, and practical tests for a certificate or rating."
To allow each school to train its students under the curriculum aligned with the ACS, the FAA used the PTS as the testing standard until July 31. Starting August 1, the FAA began using the ACS to conduct mechanic certification tests.
The FAA notice contains an overview of the regulatory changes, guidance for the agency and other personnel in applying those changes, and how to manage special circumstances that arise during the regulatory transition process.