The FAA has revised and created a new FAA Form 8610, dividing it up into three separate applications:

• FAA Form 8610-1: Mechanic’s Application for Inspection Authorization. 
• FAA Form 8610-2: Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application – Mechanic and Parachute Rigger.
• FAA Form 8610-3: Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application – Repairman. 

In addition to separating the forms, major changes include:

• Block-by-block form completion instructions for applicants are included in the supplemental information pages of each form.
• Informational text added to various blocks on the form to assist the applicant in entering the appropriate information.
• The Pilot Bill of Rights Written Notification of Investigation to airmen is included in the supplemental information of each form.
• A statement for acknowledgement of receipt of the PBR Written Notification of Investigation to airmen is included within the applicant’s certification section(s) of each form. 

​The new forms are available on the FAA website at www.faa.gov/forms. More information about the revision is available in the recently published Notice 8900.651.

In November 2022, the FAA knowledge test contractor, PSI, notified third-party test centers that fee reimbursements for FAA knowledge tests would be significantly cut in the new year. Since testing rate caps are set by contract (between PSI and the FAA), the change, which went into effect on Jan. 1, effectively reduced the already narrow profit margin for third-party testing centers by about 65 percent.

PSI oversees more than 750 testing centers, many of those are third-party FAA knowledge test providers maintained by educational institutions and small business. The contractor asserts that the changes are necessary due to increased costs associated with operational security and to ensure "all centers providing the same proctored testing services [are] treated equally and operate under a level playing field, which has not been the case to date.”

Given that third-party providers administer a significant majority of FAA knowledge tests, the new fee structure is expected to create substantial financial hardship and ultimately result in a stoppage of service at many third-party testing centers, especially those run by small businesses.

Concerned about the impact on knowledge test accessibility, a coalition of aviation organizations, including ATEC, asked for a delay to the fee structure change--PSI subsequently denied that request. In its response, PSI stated that the decision was made "only after extensive analysis to mitigate against any potential risks." While PSI recognized the change would drive some third-party test centers to discontinue offering testing services, it also claimed that the closures "would not have a material impact on either access or availability of testing to any individual."

After requests for a copy of the FAA-PSI contract and a singular list of all FAA knowledge testing centers (so industry can assess the impact the fee structure change has had on capacity) were also denied, ATEC went to its membership to gather its own data in support of future advocacy efforts.

Ninety-one of the 192 FAA-certificated aviation maintenance technician schools responded to the survey, which was sent to primary contacts on Feb. 2. Preliminary findings suggest:

• More than half of all A&P schools have an FAA knowledge testing center on their campus. Of those, nearly all of those (90%) are managed by the part 147 school as a third-party testing provider.
• Even given the change in reimbursement, only one respondent indicated its testing center would definitely close as a result of the fee change. Respondent comments suggest that despite operating at a loss, the testing center would continue operations as a vital service to its students.
• One third of respondents reported that PSI's change in testing fee reimbursement resulted in a reduction in testing capacity in their area, either through test center closures, reduced hours, or seat reductions. Programs also reported a reduction in area testing centers of around 10 percent, since Jan. 1.
• Fifteen percent of respondents stated that PSI's decision greatly impacted students' access to testing, 40 percent stated the decision somewhat impacted their student's access to testing.

If your program has not submitted a response (or you are not sure), you can submit a response here. The first question requests your A&P school name so that duplicates can be reconciled.

Stay tuned...

​ATEC sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, asking the government agency to add a list of aviation maintenance programs to the Department’s STEM Designated Degree Program List. The letter follows an earlier effort to education the While House on the issue.

While some Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes utilized by A&P programs are already included on the list, the CIP codes most often used for aviation maintenance programs are absent. The trade association argued that FAA-certificated programs have as much, if not more, STEM-related content than a number of other disciplines DHS designates as STEM.

The U.S. Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows foreign nationals holding an F1 student visa to obtain employment, while in school or directly after graduation, for up to 12 months. Students that earn a degree designated as a DHS “STEM field of study” may apply for a 24-month STEM OPT Extension, allowing an international student to work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.

The change would effectively give foreign national A&P students more opportunity for experience in the U.S., and provide  a steady flow of new entrants to support the aviation industry, which could lead to further employer-based extensions through another visa program.

The DHS designation is targeted at degree programs, but non-degree programs could also benefit from "trickle down" effects since many state-based and funding programs use federal STEM CIP designations as the basis for their own criteria. The effort will also spring board similar initiatives targeted at Department of Labor STEM designations.

The DHS List is updated periodically with no particular timetable set for the next revision. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit a letter of support for the request. A letter template can be downloaded in a Word format, below.