NDT Qualifications for General Aviation Maintenance Personnel

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aircraft manufacturers have adopted industry standards used for training, qualification, and certification of personnel performing nondestructive tests on general aviation aircraft. This can result in higher maintenance costs for the customer, increased aircraft down time, and loss of income for the airframe and powerplant (A&P) technician. In some cases, it is hard to find someone who is technically qualified and competent to do the prescribed inspections. This paper proposes a modification to the current system which would allow A&P technicians to perform necessary nondestructive tests on general aviation aircraft.