IA Renewal

It’s Your Choice On How To Renew, So Make The Best Of It

The purpose of this article is to help clarify the renewal process for Inspection Authorizations. As with anything

there are pros and cons. Last March the FAA passed a change in the renewal process, we are no longer required to

renew our Inspection Authorizations every year. To save time and money as far as the FAA budget goes, IA’s will

renew their Inspection Authorizations every two years, on odd numbered years. This change blind sided most of us,

including me. Once announced, I got busy to find out what this really meant to me as an Inspection Authorization

holder. When I got through with the research, I was blown away by the fact that the only change would be that my Authorization

would be renewed every two years instead of every year. This part sounds good, but don’t get too excited

yet. There is more to the story! As far as the requirements for renewal each year, nothing has changed. Under section

65.93 (c) (1) (5), you still have to "Qualify" for "EACH" preceding 12 calendar month period to be eligible to renew

your Authorization at the two year interval. To “Qualify” everyone knows that you can renew strictly on activity, having

signed off on at least 4 Annuals each year, having signed off on 8 Major Repairs and/or Alterations, 1 Progressive Inspection,

attend an approved Renewal Course or everyone’s favorite, "The Delightful Oral with the FAA". If you didn’t

“Qualify” by March 31 of that calendar year, you would not be able to exercise the privilege of using your Inspection

Authorization after that date and would be in Violation of Far 65.93 if you did.

Remember what’s important here — to renew!!!! You must meet renewal requirements by the end of the Calendar

year "EACH YEAR" (March 31) or you blew it. So, when you take a good look at this "2 Year Renewal Thing”

nothing has changed as far as renewal requirements for us, other than submitting the paperwork and getting renewed

every Odd Numbered year. So, my suggestion to you is to act as if nothing has changed and continue to fill out your

Renewal paperwork (FAA form 8610-1, not required but I recommend it) with your activity documented and/or continue

to attend the approved courses and stash your paperwork in a safe place so you can have it readily available at renewal

time. Remember, if you can’t find it or produce it at renewal time, you’ve got a Big Problem! For further information

on this refer to AMT Magazines April 2007 article by Bill O’Brien on page 24.

Now that we’ve gotten all that out of the way, let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of how you

renew. By renewing your Inspection Authorization by activity alone, I believe you will miss out on one very important

thing! Continuing Education. This shows us what is happening in the field and industry!!!! That is where the Approved

Renewal Seminars come into play! Most ask themselves, why should I pay money and spend a full 8 hour day sitting

in a classroom listening to people talk and lecture when I already qualify to renew by activity??? To that I answer- For

the knowledge and updating of what we have learned in the past year from our own mistakes and successes and that

of others, that’s why. The FAA Approved Seminars strive to keep you updated on upcoming changes. Changes that

have already taken place and are in effect, whether it is regulations, processes, Airworthiness Directives, Improper

Maintenance techniques, log book sign-offs, paperwork changes and what caused the most accidents last year. Renewal

through Seminars shares with you All of the combined errors, misjudgments, proper uses that are shared by

your fellow IA's. Instead of just acquiring the knowledge you gained last year through qualified activity, you now can

acquire so much more from your fellow IA’s as discovered by them, Industry and the FAA. Let’s face it; "SAFETY" is

the key word and focus behind the Seminars. It is your decision on how to renew. Think about being in a seminar with

150 to 200 IA’s with individual experience levels ranging from being an IA for 1 year to 40 years. Just think of how

much combined experience that is in one room that you now have access to just by being there!!!! It’s your choice on

how to renew, so make the best of it.

Lucky Louque, Air Salvage of Dallas

Lucky’s Corner