ATEC, ARSA Capitalize on Update to O’Brien Awards

On Jan. 21, ATEC and the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) submitted joint comments on FAA Draft Advisory Circular (AC) 65-25F, “William (Bill) O'Brien Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards Program.”

The O’Brien Awards
Through the William (Bill) O’Brien Awards Program, the FAA recognizes eligible technicians who receive and businesses that promote professional development. The program was founded in 1991 to create an incentive for AMT employees and employers to participate aggressively in maintenance training courses.

Updating AC 65-25
The agency’s purpose for updating the AC was to provide a general overview of the program and direct potential participants online for further information. To ATEC and ARSA, the update represents an opportunity to improve the document in other ways. Most notably:

(1)  Adding part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technical Schools (AMTSs) to the list of acceptable instruction or course providers. Individuals should be encouraged to take refresher courses from these FAA-controlled institutions. For their part, the schools should have an incentive to provide classes (and many do as IA renewal seminars) that do not meet the definition of “college level course” in the AC.

(2)  Removing the three-employee requirement from eligible companies. Any company that engages in aviation services should be supported by this program, no matter the size.

To view the entire submission, including a suggested version of the AC with red-lined changes, please click here.