ATEC Advances Legislative Priorities Ahead of Fly-In

With ATEC members preparing to meet with policymakers during the upcoming Fly-In, presented by American Airlines, and public comment now open on ATEC’s petition to expand early FAA testing eligibility, the Council is advancing legislative priorities aimed at removing barriers across the aviation maintenance workforce pipeline.

The recent Government Accountability Office recommendation that the FAA convene industry stakeholders and aviation experts to assess early mechanic testing pathways further underscores the need for action.

ATEC’s priorities address challenges across education, testing, certification, and employment pathways so more individuals can enter and advance through the aviation maintenance workforce efficiently.

• Fully fund the FAA aviation workforce development grant program.
  The 2026 Pipeline Report identifies growing enrollment alongside persistent instructor shortages and barriers to training, testing, certification, and employment pathways. Congress authorized $20 million annually through fiscal year 2028 but has funded only two years below authorized levels, while a $13 million fourth-round award remains pending. ATEC urges full annual appropriations, prompt distribution, and a predictable grant cycle.
• Advance early aviation maintenance certification pathways.
  Pre-certification programs—including Choose Aerospace and part 147 partnerships offering dual enrollment, articulated credit, and FAA-aligned instruction—connect students to training and careers. Sections 405 and 414 of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act call for earlier engagement and fewer pathway barriers. ATEC urges support for petition FAA-2026-9274, which would enable qualified ATEC Credential holders to take the FAA mechanic General knowledge test early, and for policies that promote school-district, community, and part 147 partnerships nationwide. The FAA is accepting public comments on the petition through Sept. 23. ATEC has developed comment templates for industry and part 147 stakeholders to make it easier to voice support.
• Reappoint industry partners to advance airman certification and regulatory reforms.
  Section 406 of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act directs the FAA to collaborate with industry to maintain and improve airman certification standards. Terminated committee appointments have stalled this work and mandates addressing mechanic testing barriers under Section 405 and military transition pathways under Section 426. ATEC urges Congress to press DOT to promptly restore industry participation and keep these safety and workforce initiatives on schedule.
• Expand access to FAA mechanic testing.
  Thirty-six percent of aviation maintenance technician schools cite insufficient DME access as a certification barrier. Although active DMEs increased from 254 to 275, they administered a record 14,838 original-issue mechanic tests, increasing the average workload per examiner by 18%. ATEC urges Congress to direct the FAA to expand and geographically target DME appointments, especially in DME deserts where A&P school graduates exceed available testing capacity.
• Support and fund modernization of the airman certification system for aviation mechanics.       Unlike other airmen, mechanic applicants rely on paper forms, duplicate submissions, pen-and-ink entries, physical mail, and manual reviews, causing preventable errors and delays. ATEC urges Congress to direct and fund the FAA to incorporate mechanic certification into IACRA or a comparable secure platform, enabling electronic processing of applications, approvals, test results, temporary certificates, and certification files.

As ATEC brings these priorities to policymakers during the Fly-In, members and other aviation education stakeholders also have an immediate opportunity to support progress on early testing. Comments on ATEC’s petition are due Sept. 23.