TAINABILITY consultation or supervision. But the interpretation went further. It indicated that the phrase “readily available, in person, for consultation” meant that certified technicians would no longer be able to exercise judgment on tasks that could be left to the trainee for later inspection and sign-off. Rather, they would have to be physically present at all times as the work was being done. According to Mike Busch of the well-known Savvy Aviation online maintenance information provider, “For many of us in the aviation community, this is a wrongheaded policy change. It could make ownerassisted annuals, owner-performed maintenance, and the training of apprentice mechanics difficult or impossible at a time when we are already facing a severe mechanic shortage.” Busch also said that forcing fulltime, in-person supervision that isn’t always necessary removes the long-standing flexibility that enabled licensed mechanics “to determine how best to ensure the work is done properly.” Joining AOPA’s advocacy on the issue, Busch wrote a formal letter to the FAA Regulation Law Division, cosigned by A&P/IAs, shop owners and instructors, asking for a reconsideration of the ruling. The letter requests that the FAA “return to the practical commonsense interpretation we’ve relied on for decades.” 6 AVIATION VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 04, ISSUE 03
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