29 September 2014

FAA Says Aircraft Mechanics Must Retake Exams

From the Alaska Dispatch News:

According to a formal notice issued last month by the Federal Aviation Administration, all individuals holding mechanic certificates with airframe or powerplant ratings (or both) who were tested by Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME) Marty James Simmons of Anchorage must be re-examined. Simmons' DME designee status was terminated after investigators conducted interviews with "numerous" airframe and powerplant mechanics who received testing from him. The interviews presented compelling evidence raising doubts as to the adequacy of the testing, according to the agency. FAA investigators determined there was "reasonable basis to question whether airmen who received a certificate from Marty Simmons possess the qualifications to hold their certificates."

There were 151 total mechanics affected by the termination of Simmons' DME designation -- approximately 60 of them in Alaska.
... All aircraft the affected mechanics have worked on previously are not affected by this re-examination process. Only if the affected mechanics fail to respond to the letters or subsequently fail their re-examination will they suffer a certificate action that affects their ability to perform work on aircraft.

Oops?

2 comments:

Rob said...

Better to be safe then sorry. As a aircraft maintenance tech. every time you sign your name on any paperwork you better have done your job right as lives depend on it. You can't pull over to the shoulder when flying at 1,000 to 10,000 feet.

Rev. Paul said...

You mean small planes can't hover?

Srsly, any mechanic worth his salt should have no problem re-taking the exam, other than the probable inconvenience.