5-1135 EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS. Section
65.77 requires the applicant to have documented practical experience in maintaining airframes and/or powerplants . At least 18 months of practical experience is required for the appropriate rating requested. For a certificate with both ratings, the requirement is for at least 30 months experience concurrently performing the duties appropriate to both ratings. If the 30 months concurrently performing the duties appropriate to both ratings has not been met, then calculate each rating separately using the 18-month requirement for each.
A.
The practical experience must provide the applicant with basic knowledge of and skills with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment used in aircraft construction, alteration, maintenance, and inspection.
B. With exception to the JSAMTCC A&P certification program experience gained from the military,
work as an airframe or powerplant mechanic or work on an experimental amateur-built aircraft will be evaluated on its own merits to determine whether it fulfills the experience requirements. When evaluating military experience, aviation safety inspector’s (ASI) and ASTs are not to accept military occupational specialty (MOS) or Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC) “carte blanche” as qualifications to accepting experience of §
65.77 . Even though the MOS suggest authorization for either the airframe, powerplant , or both the A&P certificates, the inspector will only endorse FAA Form 8610-2, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application, after ensuring, by a thorough interview and detailed review of records, that the person qualifies under §
65.77 .
C. An applicant is not expected to be highly proficient in overhauls, major repairs, or major alterations in the minimum 18 months experience.
D. Powerplant tests will include questions and projects on propellers that must be completed successfully regardless of the applicant’s experience.
E. In evaluating documented part-time practical aviation mechanic experience,
an equivalent of 18 months (or 30 months) based on a standard 40-hour workweek is acceptable. The months need not be consecutive. A standard workweek has 8 hours per day for 5 days per week, thus totaling 40 hours per week and approximately 160 hours per month.
