WASHINGTON - A Federal Aviation Administration and industry working group is creating an airman certification standard (ACS) that will replace current mechanic testing guidance. The purpose of the ACS is to ensure applicants, educators and evaluators understand knowledge and performance expectations throughout the what applicants are expected to know, consider, and do during the certification process.
A draft ACS, dictating general knowledge and skill testing standards, is available for industry comment.
The draft standards document was created over the course of several weeks and is a compilation of the current general practical testing standard (FAA-S-8081-26A), the general knowledge test guide (8082-3A), the FAA “oral and practical test generator”, and the 2009 part 147 aviation rulemaking advisory committee recommendation.
“The working group is taking on a project that is long overdue,’” said Crystal Maguire, ATEC’s executive director. “The mechanic test needs to be fixed, and it’s great that government and industry can work together to create the best possible product for students, educators and industry.”
Once the ACS is complete, test questions and projects will be reviewed to ensure consistency with new test standards; items not in line with the ACS will be revised or discarded.
The steps taken to create the draft ACS is memorialized in the May and June working group meeting minutes; those seeking additional information on the inclusion or exclusion of particular subject areas should reference those minutes or contact a member of the working group.
Comments and recommendations for working group consideration should be submitted to [email protected] by July 8.
ATEC is a partnership of over 150 FAA-certificated training schools across the country. The council is dedicated to fostering aviation maintenance education and providing industry with skilled labor. To learn more, visit http://www.atec-amt.org/.
