Avionics News May 2014 - 17

Database, which is maintained by the
University of North Dakota. Pilots
who submit their data will be able to
review information for their own flights
through the NGAFID; however, a pilot
may not access another pilot's data.
Additionally, the FAA will not have
access to this data while it contains
information identifying a pilot.
De-identified data will be regularly
transferred to ASIAS. In this de-identified state, the data cannot be linked to
the specific pilot, aircraft or flight. This
de-identified data is then aggregated
and used by the ASIAS community for
safety purposes only.
For the period of this project, data
will be collected voluntarily from the
GA community in the area surrounding
Phoenix, Ariz. Volunteers who are based
within a 40 nautical mile ring surrounding Phoenix Sky Harbor International
Airport will be sought to participate in
the demonstration project. Additional
information also can be found at www.
GAJSC.org.
The FAA recognizes that it is important to promote the voluntary submittal of data during the demonstration
project. Therefore, according to the
FAA, none of the data that is being collected during this demonstration project
will be accessed or otherwise used for
any enforcement activities. Should an
accident or incident occur involving
a participant or non-participant in the
demonstration project, standard FAA
policy for accident or incident investigation will apply. Any data collected will
derive solely from routine investigation
procedures. No data that is voluntarily
submitted in connection with the demonstration project will be accessed for
an accident or incident investigation.
The ASIAS for GA Demonstration
Project will be in effect for one year.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
United States
Class Ratings
The following information is from the Federal Aviation Regulations
(14 CFR Part 145) and FAA Order 8900.1.

QUESTION:
Can a new repair station receive a class rating?

ANSWER:

Yes. It is perfectly appropriate for a radio and/or instrument repair station to hold a class rating. And especially, anyone who already holds a
class rating should not surrender it for a replacement "limited rating" without significant forethought.
Section 145.59 Ratings states, "The following ratings are issued under
this subpart." Then, section 145.59 goes on to list among other classes,
Radio classes 1-4 and Instrument classes 1-4.
In Volume 2, Chapter 11 of FAA Order 8900.1, paragraph 2-1220
explains that normally, the FAA will not issue a class rating on an initial
certification. All new applications should receive a limited rating until the
repair station performs enough work to establish a representative number
of make and models that would qualify the repair station for a class rating.
The order further explains that the PI should exercise discretion when
using the term "representative number," as this will vary with the type
of application and the depth and complexity of the work performed. An
applicant would normally receive an airframe Class 4 rating after demonstrating the ability to maintain one of each make in that class (i.e., Boeing
747, Airbus A300 or McDonnell Douglas MD-11). An accessory, radio or
instrument class rating would differ from the airframe rating because of
the various makes/models of valves, radios, instruments and other articles
that are very similar in design and function. The issuance of a class rating
would be at the discretion of the applicant and agreeable to the ASI when
the applicant has demonstrated the capability to maintain several different
articles.
There is, however, no guidance that encourages a PI to resend a previously issued class rating simply because the repair station no longer "performs" maintenance on a representative number of articles. However, the
repair station must have met the requirement for housing, facilities, equipment, tools, technical data and personnel for all work performed by them.
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Avionics News May 2014

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