FAR Training for FAA Repair Stations
FAR Training for FAA Repair Stations
When I am called in to help a Repair Station it is usually because they are in trouble with the FAA. The reason, 98% of the time is that the Repairmen are not familiar with the FARs. In a repair station it is imperative to follow the "Repair Station Manual". Every repair Station has one and is required to follow it. Every person in the organization MUST have a working knowledge of the FARs! The FARs establish the parameters within which the operation runs. There is a hierarchical pyramid of responsibility and authority that MUST be maintained to ensure stability, consistency, and predictability in the system. You can find my article “FAA Repair Station Roadmap” under Articles. In a Repair Station it is imperative to follow the "Repair Station Manual" RSM. The Repair Station MUST have a RSM that is written so that each person required to follow the procedures can easily use it. It contains the FARs that describe the facilities, operations and procedures to be used for the maintenance, preventive maintenance and alteration of aircraft. It also outlines the regulatory responsibilities of each employee.
When done “WRONG” the FAA fines for FAR violations are magnified for Repair Stations over individuals usually ten times! (Ref. FAA Order 2150-3) Not knowing the FARs can be costly!
Having owned and operated FAA Repair Stations for over 30 years, and consulted with numerous others, I can attest to the fact that the majority of Repair Station personnel are more ignorant of the FARs than they should be. When I am called in to help a Repair Station it is usually because they are in trouble with the FAA. It is usually the result of a routine FAA inspection, or the response to a customer complaint requiring the FAA to investigate. Should the FAA discover a finding of a FAR violation, they will issue a Letter of Investigation (“LOI”) requiring a corrective response. If the violation involves a safety concern, the LOI may include a monetary penalty or fine in addition to any corrective action. Repair Station violations result mainly from not following their FAA accepted Repair Station Manual (“RSM”) and/or the Repair Station Quality Control Manual (“QCM”). Additionally, the FAA can find that the non-compliance resulted in a safety risk to the operator or the public. The fines can be massive, and can also result in the suspension or revocation of not only the Repair Station certificate, but individuals certificated within the Repair Station. An 8-hour Training Seminar is well worth it!