The FAA, in coordination with the EASA, has issued a Flight Standards Notice to Aviation Safety Inspectors with oversight responsibility for U.S. repair stations that hold EASA Part 145 certificates. This notice confirms that a repair station can inspect and approve for return to service any new part within its ratings that does not meet the MAG CHG 6 documentation provisions stipulating such inspections are to be handled like other maintenance activities. The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) is developing a procedure that its members can use to accomplish the inspections. The notice also confirms that the implementation date for the new parts documentation provisions of MAG CHG 6 is October 1.

“This is a fine step,” said Sarah MacLeod, ARSA’s executive director, noting that the FAA’s confirmation of a repair station’s right to approve a part for return to service is on a long list of the association’s victories related to the MAG’s requirements. ARSA has worked to “smooth” implementation of the MAG’s parts documentation requirements since September. The association’s leadership has mitigated far costlier burdens on production approval holders and repair stations that must comply with these new requirements after October 1.

MacLeod cautioned that the industry continues to wait for further clarification regarding what parts will be grandfathered. ARSA has asked the EASA to adopt a reasonable definition of "grandfathered inventory."