In a memo dated Feb. 10, the FAA issued a deviation to inspector guidance eliminating qualification parameters requiring Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME) applicants to “concurrently” exercise the privileges of a mechanic certificate while teaching at an AMTS.

Order 8900.2A, ch. 6, sec. 1, para. 1(a)(3) precludes the most experienced instructors from appointment because of the inability, either due to personal time restrictions or school policy, to pursue part-time employment while instructing at an AMTS.
​
ATEC requested the deviation in a Jan. 22 letter to the agency (see previous story), where the council maintained that the “immediacy” requirement creates an undue restriction without providing an increase in safety, and disqualifies many current DME and otherwise excellent applicants.
​
The agency did not adopt ATEC’s suggestion that inspector guidance be tied directly to similar requirements found in the regulation; specifically, § 65.83(a). Under that section, an AMTS instructor may satisfy recent experience requirements so long as the administrator deems that person “able to do that work.”
​
To see more from ATEC on this issue, click here.

On Jan. 22, ATEC submitted a letter requesting a deviation to experience requirements for Designated Mechanic Examiners (DME) found in Order 8900.2A. The overly restrictive language has created difficulties for those seeking and renewing DME designations across the country. Although the agency plans to release new inspector guidance (Draft Order 8000.95 CHG 2) this summer that will alleviate some concerns, many of the most experienced AMTS instructors will be ineligible for designation until then.
To see more from ATEC on this issue, click here.

On Oct. 9, ATEC submitted comments on Draft Order 8000.95 CHG 2. The Order sets forth proposed revisions to the FAA’s Designee Management Policy.

ATEC’s board met with FAA officials in September to discuss the most vexing issues regarding the appointment of Designated Mechanic Examiners (DMEs) and the administration of the A&P exams. With regard to the appointment issue, current inspector guidance (i.e., Order 8900.2A) provides DME qualifications that eviscerate the DME corps by removing virtually every AMTS instructor’s eligibility for designation. Draft Order 8000.95, which will eventually replace DME provisions in Order 8900.2A, resolves some of these issues.

Under the new draft order, AMTS instructors with five years’ experience are qualified. Current language in Order 8900.2A providing that an AMTS instructor concurrently exercise the privileges of a mechanic certificate has been eliminated. This revision is essential to ensuring there are enough DMEs across the country and will hopefully facilitate appointment of new designees.

The remainder of ATEC’s comments focuses on the recentness of past experience prior to designation and the inability to examine more than one A&P applicant at a time. The council has taken the position that if a DME applicant has the requisite experience (e.g., five years performing maintenance under a part 145 certificate, exercising the privileges of a mechanic certificate or giving instruction at a part 147 school), it should not matter whether three of those years were immediately before designation.
​
The Order is expected to go into effect early 2016.