Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2014-2015 - 29

The owners/operators understand the value-added benefits
of using a repair station. They also understand the
value-added benefits of the dealer network and the training
that comes with the award of dealership.

they utilize AEA members' services, are potential
members, and benefit from the message of
standardization and consistency in regulatory
interpretation . I also was in London promoting
the AEA Safety Management System program
with our European beta test site . The two-day
training included discussions and follow-up with
the European Aviation Safety Agency subjectmatter expert on human factors in maintenance .
Why? Because the more the AEA SMS solution
is accepted throughout Europe, the easier it is
to implement for the entire AEA membership .
During the same week, I presented a paper at
an international aviation forum in London on the
international acceptance of supplemental type
certificates . Why? It promotes standardization and
consistency in regulatory interpretation, as well as
the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement between
the U .S . and EU . The AEA considers this to be a
value-added benefit to the membership .
This leads me to the catalyst for this particular
column - the AEA's participation in local FAA
safety programs . A member recently asked
the question, why does the AEA participate in
local FAA programs labeled as IA training? The
short answer is to promote standardization and
consistency in regulatory interpretation, as well
as promote the AEA with local and regional FAA
representatives . The balance we are faced with is
promoting consistency in the regulations without
necessarily promoting the audience or the A&P

(airframe and powerplant) with inspection authority .
But the avionics industry relies on the IA for many
of the airframe alterations as well as avionics -
electrical and avionics - powerplant interfaces .
One of the first challenges I faced after joining
the AEA staff was enhancing the relationship
between the avionics industry and the independent
A&P . Many avionics shops face unfair competition
from independent maintenance businesses without
the infrastructure or cost of a repair station . For
what it's worth, the maintenance repair stations
face the same unfair competition .
But for the record, according to the regulations, a
certificated mechanic may perform or supervise the
maintenance, preventive maintenance or alteration
of an aircraft or appliance, or a part thereof, for
which he or she is rated excluding any repair to,
or alteration of, instruments (§ 65 .81(a)) . So yes,
radios are within the scope of the mechanic's
airframe rating, while instrument repair is not .
This is step one . Step two is the A&P may not
approve for return to service any aircraft following
maintenance unless he or she has satisfactorily
performed the specific work at an earlier date
under the direct supervision of a certificated and
appropriately rated mechanic, or a certificated
repairman .
So generally speaking, while radios are within
the mechanic's airframe rating, they seldom
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Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2014-2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2014-2015