Modernizing 50-Year-Old Aviation Maintenance Training Regulations

On December 11, 2019 members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives issued bipartisan, bicameral legislation that, if signed into law, would modernize long-outdated maintenance training regulations and better aid the education community in supporting America’s growing aviation industry.

The Promoting Aviation Regulations for Technical Training (PARTT) 147 Act (S.3043/H.R.5427) would direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to replace current training requirements with a new, community-drafted regulation that would establish a performance-based oversight system. Under the new law, aviation maintenance technician schools certificated and governed by Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 147, would have the flexibility to teach content that is reflective of today’s high-tech environment.

Jared Britt, director of global aviation maintenance training for Southern Utah University's Aviation Program and chairman of the Legislative Committee for Aviation Technician Education Council, is driving changes not only at SUU, but in technician schools around the country.

"As SUU nears the completion of our AMT program, we are excited to be apart of these monumental changes coming to the technician training community," said Britt. "Our program is designed to be unique, and it took a lot of work by us and support from our friends at ATEC to ensure we could build such a unique program that will service the aviation industry globally and in Southern Utah."

“The new regulation would be a game changer for aviation programs,” said Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics Director of Campus Operations and ATEC President Gary Hoyle. “Industry has been asking for an updated regulation for 15 years. It is past time for our community to be given the opportunity and flexibility to create programs that better meet demand for highly-skilled technical personnel. We applaud the leadership and willingness of our congressional representatives to further escalate the issue and provide long-awaited relief from prescriptive requirements.”

For the last four years, Britt has managed under FAR Part 141 and SUU also recently obtained our FAR Part 145 Repair Station Certification. Britt is familiar with the media and available for an interview. Simply visit his profile.