Congress Introduces Legislation for Maintenance Training

Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives issued bipartisan, bicameral legislation that, if signed into law, would modernize long-outdated maintenance training regulations and better aid the education community in supporting America’s growing aviation industry.

The Promoting Aviation Regulations for Technical Training(PARTT) 147 Act would direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) toreplace current training requirements with a new, community-drafted regulationthat would establish a performance-based oversight system. Under the new law,aviation maintenance technician schools certificated and governed by Title 14Code of Federal Regulations part 147, would have the flexibility to teach contentthat is reflective of today’s high-tech environment.

Senators James Inhofe, Tammy Duckworth, Jerry Moran, ShellyMoore Capito and Representatives Don Young and Cheri Bustos are originalco-sponsors of the PARTT 147 Act.

“Innovation in the aviation and aviation maintenanceindustries has led to safer and more efficient aircraft. However, outdatedregulations have prevented schools from implementing modern curriculum to teachstudents the skills necessary to maintain and repair modern, sophisticatedaircraft,” Inhofe said. “I am proud to introduce this legislation today whichwould empower schools with the flexibility to teach core curriculum reflectiveof the technical advances happening across the aviation and aerospace industry,would reduce restrictive government regulations, and would ensure schools aregraduating successful students into productive mechanics on the flight line ormaintenance floor.”

“When it comes to transportation, Alaska’s unique geographycan present many challenges. Aviation is one of the most important means oftraveling our state, and the demand for air travel requires a strong workforceof both aviators and the mechanics who support them,” said Young. “Current FAAregulations mandate a particular curriculum for maintenance technicians, butthis curriculum has not been meaningfully updated in more than five decades.The PARTT 147 Act is a fix that is long overdue.”

“The new regulation would be a game changer for aviationprograms,” said Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics Director of CampusOperations and ATEC President Gary Hoyle. “Industry has been asking for anupdated regulation for 15 years. It is past time for our community to be giventhe opportunity and flexibility to create programs that better meet demand forhighly-skilled technical personnel. We applaud the leadership and willingnessof our congressional representatives to further escalate the issue and providelong-awaited relief from prescriptive requirements.”