Many of our cosmetic interior replacement parts are currently in the process of being FAA approved and that approval process has been ongoing for some time. Yes, the FAA wants all parts to be approved no matter how insignificant their purpose and even though (as in our case) - all of the parts are made from the same approved materials. Until very recently, there hasn't been any deadline or other factors that have required accelerating the approval process. Unfortunately, a competitor decided to file a complaint against us to the FAA and the FAA has responded in the only way that they can - by the book. At this time we have no choice but to comply with their requests - hence the notice on our website.
We already have full FAA-PMA approval for a number of our parts and we would like to encourage you to visit our catalog and look for the FAA-PMA Approved status next to those parts that we have approval for. We are now working overtime to accelerate the approval process (which is basically a paperwork excercise) and we expect to have full approval of all of our parts by mid-summer 2002! In the meantime, we ask for your patience and understanding until we complete the approval process. We intend to emerge from this fiasco stronger than ever and we hope that you will not let a competitor that can't compete with us in terms of quality succeed in damaging our reputation.
You may wish to consult your mechanic to request a field approval for the installation of any part in your aircraft that does not carry an FAA-PMA approval. We have included excerpts of some of the relevant FARs pertaining to aircraft maintenance below. You can read the full text of the FARs at the FAA's website or at the Landings.Com website.
Section 43.3: Persons authorized to perform maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alterations.
(b) The holder of a mechanic certificate may perform maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alterations as provided in Part 65 of this chapter.
(c) The holder of a repairman certificate may perform maintenance and preventive maintenance as provided in Part 65 of this chapter.
(d) A person working under the supervision of a holder of a mechanic or repairman certificate may perform the maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alterations that his supervisor is authorized to perform, if the supervisor personally observes the work being done to the extent necessary to ensure that it is being done properly and if the supervisor is readily available, in person, for consultation. However, this paragraph does not authorize the performance of any inspection required by Part 91 or Part 125 of this chapter or any inspection performed after a major repair or alteration.
(g) The holder of a pilot certificate issued under Part 61 may perform preventive maintenance on any aircraft owned or operated by that pilot which is not used under Part 121, 129, or 135.
(5) The items of preventive maintenance authorized by this section are those listed in paragraph (c) of appendix A of this part.
Section 43.7: Persons authorized to approve aircraft, airframes, aircraft engines, propellers, appliances, or component parts for return to service after maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration.
(b) The holder of a mechanic certificate or an inspection authorization may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service as provided in Part 65 of this chapter.
(f) A person holding at least a private pilot certificate may approve an aircraft for return to service after performing preventive maintenance under the provisions of §43.3(g).
Section 43.13: Performance rules (general).
(b) Each person maintaining or altering, or performing preventive maintenance, shall do that work in such a manner and use materials of such a quality, that the condition of the aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance worked on will be at least equal to its original or properly altered condition (with regard to aerodynamic function, structural strength, resistance to vibration and deterioration, and other qualities affecting airworthiness).
FAR 43, Appendix A: Major Alterations, Major Repairs, and Preventive Maintenance
(c) Preventive maintenance. Preventive maintenance is limited to the following work, provided it does not involve complex assembly operations:
(11) Repairing upholstery and decorative furnishings of the cabin, cockpit, or balloon basket interior when the repairing does not require disassembly of any primary structure or operating system or interfere with an operating system or affect the primary structure of the aircraft.