If you are an aircraft parts manufacturer that obtains raw materials, fasteners or wires from outside the United States, then the new aluminum, copper and steel tariffs may affect you. Last week, the President issued a Proclamation, “Strengthening Actions Taken to Adjust Imports of Aluminum, Steel, and Copper into the United States.” That proclamation imposes … Continue reading
When a company known as an “OEM” violates the FAA production approval rules, it is important for the industry to take notice. The industry is filled with PMA companies that strive for compliance perfection on a daily basis. A recent FAA unapproved parts notice (“UPN”) issued against Safran Cabin highlights the importance of obtaining PMAs … Continue reading
The Administration has pledged to reduce the regulatory burden and MARPA responded. We identified three special focus areas that reduce unnecessary burdens and increase safety. On April 3, the DOT published a Federal Register Notice entitled “Ensuring Lawful Regulation; Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs.” This notice sought public comment to aid the administration in its … Continue reading
Is it permissible to add the TC/PC-holder’s part number to a PMA part (as a part of the PMA holder’s approved design)? Continue reading
The FAA has clarified the PMA marking requirements as they apply to PMA drawings. The clarification opens up a new mechanism for companies to streamline their processes. Continue reading
A PMA applicant must assigns a part number to the PMA part. The nature of that part number was a topic of discussion at a recent industry meeting, the 2011 Gorham Conference. The discussion focused on the extent to which a PM Apart can resemble (or not resemble) the OEM part number for the OEM corollary part. Continue reading
PMA applicants will still need to identify at least one eligible installation in their PMA applications. Because installation eligibility is an element of the application for PMA, it is likely (at present) to remain as an element published in the PMA supplement. Continue reading
I’ve received some recent questions about the eligibility marking on PMA parts. This requirement to mark eligibility on PMA parts was removed by a recent rule change, but compliance with the the rule change is not authorized until April 2011. This poses a challenge for current PMA applicants who may be faced with the choice of delaying a PMA application until after April 2011 in order to take advantage of the new (more limited) marking requirements. Obviously, delay is not a preferred approach, because it delays the benefits to the industry that the PMA part would represent. In this article, we examine the regulatory basis for the change, as well as one possible way to address the impending change in the the marking requirements in a way that maintains compliance while also permitting the part to easily take advantage of the marking changes that take effect in April 2011. Click on the article title to read the entire article. Continue reading
How do you mark and identify PMA parts that are designed to interface with (or attach to) TSOed articles. And how do you identify them on the PMA supplement? This is a challenging issue because the current rules anticipate PMA parts being installed on PC products (not on TSOA articles). This article tackles the identification issue based on existing FAA guidance. Click on the article title to read the entire article. Continue reading
The FAA has released a schedule for their training programs on the new Part 21 regulations. Continue reading
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