Stage: Final Publications

Regulatory Agency Final Publications

FAA Memo AIR-600-18-6F0-DM04 Deviation to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order 8000.372A, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Designated Airworthiness Representatives (DAR) for UAS Certification at UAS Test Sites, for FAA managing specialist and designee applicant training requirements.

This deviation changes the training requirements required by FAA Order 8000.372A for
Manufacturing Aviation Safety Inspectors assigned to manage designees and for new DAR
applicants seeking authorization to issue Special Airworthiness Certificates for UAS.

FAA InFO18012 MMEL/MEL Relief for Items Installed Through STC

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidance requires that components, systems, or appliances installed on an aircraft under an STC be included in the MMEL before approval for inclusion in an operator’s MEL is allowed. Before inclusion in the MMEL, the Flight Operations Evaluation Board (FOEB) must evaluate an STC for such relief. The STC holder/applicant should request an FOEB evaluation as early as possible during the certification process. The STC applicant or aircraft operator involved in the certification of an STC should submit a request for MMEL relief in accordance with the FOEB MMEL Agenda Coordination Process. Refer to MMEL Policy Letter 109 for additional information.
In accordance with existing guidance, operators seeking to obtain MEL relief for components installed through an STC would either contact their principal inspectors (PIs) or the STC holder, or contact the Aircraft Evaluation Group (AEG) directly. Subsequently, upon application, the FOEB would then evaluate the STC and determine if MMEL/MEL relief is suitable. If relief is granted, the FOEB would revise the MMEL by listing that specific STC in the appropriate section. Once the STC is listed in the MMEL, operators may then revise their MELs to include that specific STC and exercise relief for that component, upon MEL approval from the principal operations inspector (POI).
Additionally, an aircraft manufacturer, operator, STC holder, or Industry Focal may initiate a subsequent request for a revision to an existing MMEL, in order to evaluate and incorporate STC relief.
An aircraft operator that seeks MEL relief for a new item installed on its aircraft not currently listed in the MMEL may also contact the STC holder for MMEL relief support. The STC holder or operator who seeks MMEL relief will contact the responsible AEG to begin the FOEB process.