Parts Manufacturer Approval - 2009 Rule Change

2009 Rule Change

The FAA published a significant revision to the U.S. manufacturing regulations on October 16, 2009. This new rule eliminates some of the legal distinctions between forms of production approval issued by the FAA, which should have the effect of further demonstrating the FAA's support of the quality systems implemented by PMA manufacturers. Specifically, instead of having a separate body of regulations for a PMA Fabrication Inspection System (FIS), as was the case in prior regulations, the PMA regulations now include a cross reference to the 14 C.F.R. § 21.137, which is the regulation defining the elements of a quality system for all production approval holders. In practice, all production approval holders were held to the same production quality standards before the rule change - this will now be more obvious in the FAA's regulations. Accomplishing this harmonization of standards was an important goal of the Modification and Replacement Parts Association (MARPA).

The new rule becomes effective April 16, 2011. The FAA's FAQ on Part 21 states that PMA quality systems will be evaluated for compliance by the FAA during certificate management activity after the compliance date of the rule.