The FAA has opened the public comment period on ATEC’s petition to allow eligible Choose Aerospace students to take the FAA Aviation Mechanic General written knowledge test.
ATEC filed the petition last month to create an early testing opportunity for students who complete the Choose Aerospace Aviation Maintenance Curriculum, receive an instructor endorsement, and pass the proctored ATEC General Aviation Maintenance Credential exam.
Currently, completing the Choose Aerospace curriculum at a school without a part 147 certificate does not, by itself, make students eligible to take the General knowledge test. If approved, the exemption would allow eligible students to demonstrate their foundational knowledge while it is fresh and complete an FAA testing milestone as they continue on pathways toward A&P schools, employment, and apprenticeships.
For part 147 programs, the proposed pathway could provide an additional measure of incoming students’ foundational knowledge and support consideration of transfer credit, credit for prior learning, or advanced placement, where appropriate. For industry, passing results could help employers assess foundational knowledge and training readiness as students pursue supervised maintenance experience and continue toward mechanic certification.
ATEC is encouraging members and other aviation maintenance stakeholders to submit comments in support of the petition. Two draft comment templates are available to make submitting comments easier: one for industry support and one for part 147 program support.
To submit:
- Download and customize the appropriate template. Remove bracketed instructions and any examples that don’t apply.
Download the Industry Support Comment Template
Download the Part 147 Program Support Comment Template
- Open the FAA comment form for docket FAA-2026-9274.
- Upload or paste your comment. You can submit a letter on organizational letterhead as an attachment, or copy the body of your letter and paste it directly into the comment form.
- Complete the required fields, review, and submit by September 23, 2026.
Public Comment Open on ATEC’s Early FAA Testing Petition
The FAA has opened the public comment period on ATEC’s petition to allow eligible Choose Aerospace students to take the FAA Aviation Mechanic General written knowledge test.
ATEC filed the petition last month to create an early testing opportunity for students who complete the Choose Aerospace Aviation Maintenance Curriculum, receive an instructor endorsement, and pass the proctored ATEC General Aviation Maintenance Credential exam.
Currently, completing the Choose Aerospace curriculum at a school without a part 147 certificate does not, by itself, make students eligible to take the General knowledge test. If approved, the exemption would allow eligible students to demonstrate their foundational knowledge while it is fresh and complete an FAA testing milestone as they continue on pathways toward A&P schools, employment, and apprenticeships.
For part 147 programs, the proposed pathway could provide an additional measure of incoming students’ foundational knowledge and support consideration of transfer credit, credit for prior learning, or advanced placement, where appropriate. For industry, passing results could help employers assess foundational knowledge and training readiness as students pursue supervised maintenance experience and continue toward mechanic certification.
ATEC is encouraging members and other aviation maintenance stakeholders to submit comments in support of the petition. Two draft comment templates are available to make submitting comments easier: one for industry support and one for part 147 program support.
To submit:
Download the Industry Support Comment Template
Download the Part 147 Program Support Comment Template
Categories
Most Recent Posts