Aviation Maintenance Education & Part 147 Change Is Coming Raymond Thompson Western Michigan University President - ATEC AABI Winter Meeting, February 2013 ATEC Presentation

Operating Under Part 147 FAA approved AMTS programs are governed by CFR Part 147. ◦ General operating rules ◦ Instructor and facility qualifications ◦ Minimum curriculum topics and levels ◦ Minimum hours of general (400), airframe (750), and powerplant (750) content AABI February ATEC Presentation

147 Issues Time is equated to knowledge – sitting for 1900 hours makes one qualified Distance learning may not be done Insufficient guidance for principals and interpretation varies widely Onerous attendance requirements The minimum curriculum has been once (1992) since initial rulemaking in 1970 AABI February ATEC Presentation

147 Issues New DOE rules defining credit hours appear to make programs with federal approval or required licensure to be considered ‘clock hour’ rather than credit hour. ◦ I.E. 37 contact hours per credit hour versus 30 per credit under a non-clock hour program. The rule is cumbersome and costly AABI February ATEC Presentation

Change Is Coming June 2007 – Part 147 ARAC convened. Recommendations submitted in December ◦ Updated curriculum and move out of rule ◦ Allow distance education ◦ Shifting of hours ◦ Utilize operating specifications ◦ Training for PMI’s ◦ Updated guidance and advisory information AABI February ATEC Presentation

ATEC & the Part 147 Working Group FAA and industry have: ◦ Written the operating specifications  Includes moving the curriculum topics into an OpSpec ◦ Written the new guidance ◦ Submitted recommended content for PMI training to AFS-500 ◦ Submitted changes to the PTS to AFS-600 AABI February ATEC Presentation

ATEC & the Part 147 Working Group ◦ Written the draft criteria and guidance for distance education and currently beta testing ◦ Written new AC 147 language and FAQ’s ◦ Proposed (in detail) the maintenance training review board ◦ Currently getting input on the new minimum curriculum from Industry and schools AABI February ATEC Presentation

And….. Eliminating the 1900 hour requirement and replacing it with credit and performance- based outcomes AABI February ATEC Presentation 1900

Change Is Coming These are major potential changes in how the FAA will control and oversee schools Schools can develop innovative ways to deliver the content without having to add ‘extra’ to meet the hour requirement We see great potential for cost savings and higher student interest AABI February ATEC Presentation

How Are We Getting This Done? The Aviation Technician Council (ATEC) has slowly built a relationship of helping schools and the FAA work better together ◦ Mediate disputes ◦ Provide opportunity for the FAA and schools to interact in a positive manner ◦ As the ‘voice’ of AMTS’ we were the natural go-to group to work this issue  1-3 meetings per year in DC with the FAA AABI February ATEC Presentation

How Are We Getting This Done? Finding a ‘champion’ in AFS-300 (Steve Douglas) Building a solid team of ATEC-FAA Delivering what was asked in a quality manner Persistence and patience (in large doses) Willingness to compromise by both sides AABI February ATEC Presentation

How Are We Getting This Done? ATEC will take on the MTRB role for the FAA Fostering a growing understand within AFS-300 of the role of accreditation in the delivery of a quality program Actively supporting the FAA mission and saving their resources – and ensuring the voice of schools is heard Is this an opportunity for AABI? AABI February ATEC Presentation

Moving Forward What role should groups like UAA and AABI play in driving change? ◦ Both entities have roles How can we leverage 147 success and connections to help with pilot certification? ◦ Part 61 and 65 certification is not comparable AABI February ATEC Presentation

Thank You For Your Attention. Questions? Raymond Thompson Ryan Goertzen AABI February ATEC Presentation