MARPA Member Wencor: Latest Company to Receive ODA Authority From FAA!

MARPA member Wencor is the latest company to receive ODA authority from the FAA.

ODA, or Organization Designation Authorization, is the standard process by which companies are delegated FAA authority to perform ministrial tasks like data approval and issue of airworthiness authorization forms.  Under Wencor’s recent delegation, Wencor designees and manufacturing and engineering employees will perform delegated tasks for the FAA, including signing supplements approving new PMAs.

Companies like Wencor are taking their old delegations, like ODAR, DAS and SFAR 36, and combining them into single ODA units that harmonize the FAA interface through a single Administrator and according to a standard set of rules.  Wencor, for example, has had Designated Manufacturing Inspection Representatives (DMIRs) since 1991 and has had Organizational Designated Airworthiness Representative (ODAR) privileges since 2002.

“This latest delegation highlights the FAA’s confidence in our fabrication and inspection system as well as our designees, engineers and inspectors,” said K. Dick Vaughn, ODA Lead Administrator.

MARPA has been recommending to its members that they convert to ODA if they have other delegations (several forms of delegation sunset next month in November, 2009).  We have also recommended that members without delegated privileges consider developing ODA systems in order to streamline their compliance and approval processes. Under the ODA delegation, Wencor will be able to review and approve data associated with its own designs, oversee testing to ensure the products meet airworthiness standards, and sign its own airworthiness authorizations.

“Wencor customers will benefit because the ODA delegation will allow us to reduce administrative delays and thus accelerate the development of the PMAs they have requested,” explained Russ Adamson, Wencor President.

In accordance with ODA requirements, Wencor will regularly monitor, audit and report on delegated activities to the FAA.  A staff of experienced and qualified designees, engineers, inspectors and administrators comprise the ODA Unit. These approved representatives, or “ARs” have been approved through the FAA-approved system to perform the ODA delegated functions.