80 FR 72404 - Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 223 (November 19, 2015)

This action extends the comment period for an NPRM published on October 2, 2015. In that document, the FAA proposes to amend the regulations governing the curriculum and operations of FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools. These amendments would modernize and reorganize the required curriculum subjects in the appendices of the current regulations. They would also remove the course content items currently located in the appendices and require that they be placed in each school's operations specifications so they could more easily be amended when necessary. The amendments are needed because the existing curriculums are outdated, do not meet current industry needs, and can be changed only through notice and comment rulemaking. These amendments would ensure that aviation maintenance technician students receive up-to-date foundational training to meet the demanding and consistently changing needs of the aviation industry. This extension is a result of a joint request from Aviation Technical Education Council (ATEC), Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Airlines for America (A4A), Aviation Suppliers Association (ASA), Helicopter Association International (HAI), Modification And Replacement Parts Association (MARPA), National Air Carrier Association (NACA), National Air Transport Association (NATA), Regional Airline Association, STEM Education Coalition (STEM), and University Aviation Association (UAA) (collectively, the ``Petitioners'').

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 223 (Thursday, November 19, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72404-72405]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29505]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 147

[Docket No.: FAA-2015-3901; Notice No. 15-10]
RIN 2120-AK48


Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for an NPRM published 
on October 2, 2015. In that document, the FAA proposes to amend the 
regulations governing the curriculum and operations of FAA-certificated 
Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools. These amendments would 
modernize and reorganize the required curriculum subjects in the 
appendices of the current regulations. They would also remove the 
course content items currently located in the appendices and require 
that they be placed in each school's operations specifications so they 
could more easily be amended when necessary. The amendments are needed 
because the existing curriculums are outdated, do not meet current 
industry needs, and can be changed only through notice and comment 
rulemaking. These amendments would ensure that aviation maintenance 
technician students receive up-to-date foundational training to meet 
the demanding and consistently changing needs of the aviation industry. 
This extension is a result of a joint request from Aviation Technical 
Education Council (ATEC), Aeronautical Repair Station Association 
(ARSA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Airlines for 
America (A4A), Aviation Suppliers Association (ASA), Helicopter 
Association International (HAI), Modification And Replacement Parts 
Association (MARPA), National Air Carrier Association (NACA), National 
Air Transport Association (NATA), Regional Airline Association, STEM 
Education Coalition (STEM), and University Aviation Association (UAA) 
(collectively, the ``Petitioners'').

DATES: The comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking 
published on October 2, 2015 (80 FR 59674), is extended. Send comments 
on or before February 1, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2015-3901 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room 
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket 
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments 
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts 
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 
of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical questions concerning 
this action, contact Robert Warren, Aircraft Maintenance Division, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-1711; email 
[email protected]. For legal questions concerning this action, 
contact Edmund Averman, Office of the Chief Counsel (AGC-210), Federal 
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20591; telephone (202) 267-3147; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA continues to invite interested persons to take part in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views about the 
NPRM we issued on October 2, 2015 (part 147, Aviation Maintenance 
Technician Schools (80 FR 59674)(October 2, 2015). The most

[[Page 72405]]

helpful comments will reference a specific portion of the NPRM, explain 
the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data.

Background

    On October 2, 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
issued Notice No. 15-10, Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools (80 FR 
59674) (October 2, 2015) (``NPRM''). The comment period for the NPRM 
ends on December 31, 2015.
    By letter dated October 26, 2015, the Petitioners jointly asked the 
FAA to extend the NPRM's comment period by 90 days. The Petitioners 
believe that, with the additional time requested, the aviation industry 
and its partners in technical education will help the FAA develop a 
rule that supports schools, aids students at the beginning of a 
rewarding career, and serves an important growing industry.
    The FAA recognizes the NPRM's contents are significant and complex 
and that a ninety-day comment period may not be sufficient. However, 
the FAA believes that a 90 day extension, for a total of 180 days, is 
excessive. We have determined that an additional 30 days will be enough 
for potential commenters to collect the cost and operational data 
necessary to provide meaningful comments to the NPRM (for a total of 
120 days from October 2, 2015). Absent unusual circumstances, the FAA 
does not anticipate any further extension of the comment period for 
this rulemaking.

Extension of Comment Period

    In accordance with 14 CFR 11.47(c), the FAA has reviewed the 
petition submitted by the Petitioners for an extension of the comment 
period to the NPRM. The FAA finds that the petitioners have a 
substantive interest in the proposed rule, and that an extension of the 
comment period for Notice No. 15-10 is consistent with the public 
interest, and that good cause exists for granting this extension.
    Accordingly, the comment period for Notice No. 15-10 is extended 
until February 1, 2016.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 16, 2015.
Lirio Liu,
Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2015-29505 Filed 11-18-15; 8:45 am]
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