ATEC and Industry Partners Submit Recommended Updates to Mechanic ACS

ATEC and five industry partners have submitted a proposed revision to the FAA’s Mechanic Airman Certification Standards (ACS), advancing recommendations to improve clarity, reflect current maintenance practices, and support consistent training and evaluation.

The submission brings together the Aeronautical Repair Station Association, Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, Airlines for America, Aviation Technician Education Council, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, and Vertical Aviation International.

For ATEC members, the ACS shapes both certification testing and the training that prepares applicants for it. The proposed changes address how instructors, students, and examiners interpret and apply the standards, with an emphasis on clearer expectations and stronger connections among Knowledge, Risk Management, and Skill elements.

The recommendations would:

• Clarify expectations through more precise, measurable language.
• Improve organization by reducing duplication and placing Skill elements in the appropriate system-specific subjects.
• Strengthen safety and risk management through consistent treatment of hazards, human factors, and maintenance decisions.
• Clarify standards that apply throughout the ACS, including regulatory compliance, maintenance performance, safety, and professional conduct.
• Introduce Competency Domains describing professional behaviors and work practices that support training and evaluation without creating separate test elements.

The proposal reflects more than a year of work by an ATEC-convened volunteer working group of educators, designated mechanic examiners, technicians, and other industry experts. It builds on earlier recommendations submitted by Airlines for America and draws on input from its Maintenance Training Network and research conducted by Clemson University in partnership with ATEC, supported by NASA.

ATEC continued the revision effort after the FAA’s Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee and its associated working groups were disbanded in summer 2025. The coalition has offered to participate in recurring working sessions with the FAA to explain the recommendations, address questions, and support further revisions.

The recommendation does not change current certification or part 147 program regulatory requirements. Schools can nevertheless use it as a resource to strengthen learning objectives, course organization, and assessment practices while continuing to meet applicable requirements. ATEC will keep members informed as the FAA’s review progresses.

Join us at the ATEC Annual Conference in Wichita this spring for a deeper look at the recommendations and practical ways to use them to improve your programs and courses while maintaining regulatory compliance. Watch for registration to open later this month.

Visit ATEC’s ACS webpage to download the recommendation.