FAA Recognizes AET Certification

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Key Takeaways:

  • The FAA now recognizes ASTM NCATT's Aircraft Electronics Technician (AET) certification as qualifying formal training for obtaining a repairman certificate.
  • This change, a result of a petition by the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA), simplifies the application process for avionics technicians.
  • To qualify, individuals must hold the AET certification and complete one of four specific ASTM NCATT endorsements.
  • Previously, applicants for a repairman certificate needed 18 months of practical experience or other FAA-approved formal training.
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ASTM’s National Center for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies (NCATT) Aircraft Electronics Technician (AET) certification can now qualify as formal training for issuance of a repairman certificate, according to a recent FAA letter. The letter (PDF) was sent in response to an October 2018 petition by the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA). To meet the educational requirement with AET certification, individuals must also complete one of four ASTM NCATT endorsements.

“The AEA spent the better part of the last 15 years working with ASTM’s NCATT to design, develop and promote a nationally recognized certificate for the avionics and electronics community,” said AEA President and CEO Paula Derks. “This industry standard for the certification of aircraft electronics technicians is now recognized by the FAA, simplifies the application process for a repairman certificate and was accomplished without the burden of rulemaking.”

To be eligible for a repairman certificate under 14 CFR 65.101, a person must have either 18 months of practical experience or have completed formal training “specifically designed to qualify the applicant for the job.” Additional requirements include age, job-specific qualifications, language and an employer recommendation. ASTM is an international organization that develops voluntary consensus standards for a wide range of industries. ASTM, which is headquartered in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, also offers certification programs, technical training and proficiency testing.

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