Field Approval Update
Notice Number: NOTC3975

Field Approval Update



In June of 2011, the FAA Aircraft Engineering Division and Aircraft Maintenance Division issued Change 159 to FAA Order 8900.1 which changed the types of alterations Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) could approve using the field approval process.

Certain alterations which were historically field approved at the Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) level were reclassified as requiring a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). Flight Standards and the Aircraft Engineering Division developed this guidance to address concerns that aircraft being modified and/or repaired under the field approval process meet their certification criteria and that the field approval process is applied in a standardized manner.

Due to the suggestions made from the Alaskan Region, Headquarters leadership has re-evaluated FAA Order 8900.1 and developed a web-based field approval job aid to assist in determining field approval eligibility.

Beta testing of the web-based field approval job aid began on July 17, 2012 and the job aid is slated to be implemented in roughly thirty days if beta testing proves successful (note: the web based job aid is for reference only at this point) . [1]

Our first impression of the job aid is that it is a substantial improvement to the field approval guidance which will be welcomed by the general public. The job aid would return many proposed field approvals back to their pre-June 2011 status.

FAA Headquarters has requested that all public questions, comments and recommendations concerning the job aid be consolidated into one response from the Alaskan Region. The public should send all feedback to [email protected] and we will consolidate and forward the comments to FAA Headquarters for consideration.

Alaskan Region Flight Standards and the Anchorage Aircraft Certification Office will continue to work with the aviation community in Alaska. We understand that questions may arise, so please feel free to call either your assigned Principal Inspector or the Anchorage ACO.