ARSA Request on Maintenance Release for Components

ARSA recently requested the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to resolve an issue facing companies that hold both FAA and EASA part 145 certificates. The question was whether these entities may issue an EASA or FAA-only maintenance release for components when the design has been approved by only one agency.

In an unusually swift response, the FAA took only ten business days to deliver the bad news. The agency refused to allow a repair station to add a component to its FAA capabilities list without first obtaining an FAA design approval, essentially killing the idea of an EASA or FAA-only maintenance release.

A copy of ARSA’s letter requesting the EASA/FAA-only maintenance release may be found here.

A copy of FAA’s letter denying our request may be found here.