Federal Register #FAA-2026-6671

FAA Proposes Replacing Mechanic Inspection Authorization with Inspection Rating

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), part of the Department of Transportation, is proposing a regulatory change affecting certificated mechanics: - The FAA plans to replace the current Inspection Authorization (IA) with a new Inspection Rating (IR) on mechanic certificates - The IR will provide the same privileges as the IA but will not require periodic renewal or have an expiration date - Mechanics must hold both airframe and powerplant ratings for at least three years to be eligible - Mechanics must maintain records of recent experience activities annually to exercise IR privileges - A 24-month transition period is provided for current IA holders to convert to IR, with a six-month grace period for compliance - No products, equipment, or OEMs are being procured as this is a regulatory change - The proposal aims to streamline certification, reduce administrative burden, and maintain safety standards - No vendors or commercial suppliers are named or involved in this action

Description

The FAA proposes to amend regulations for certificated mechanics by replacing the inspection authorization with an inspection rating on a mechanic's certificate, similar to existing airframe and powerplant ratings. The inspection rating would carry the same privileges and limitations as the inspection authorization but would not require renewal or have an expiration date. Certificated mechanics with inspection ratings would be required to complete rolling recent experience activities independently to exercise their privileges. These changes aim to streamline the process, increase FAA efficiency, reduce paperwork, and save hours for safety missions.

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