Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

The FAA has issued a stay on a <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-09-24/faa-interpretation-disallows-remote-mx-supervision">legal interpretation</a> that would have required supervising aircraft mechanics to observe apprentices closely enough to intervene if needed, according to the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA).
Referred to as the Moss Interpretation, the response was from an FAA lawyer to a request for clarification by Little Rock, Arkansas Flight Standards District Office manager Jonathan Moss. His request sought to determine whether it is legal for mechanics to supervise non-licensed technicians remotely—for example, via streaming video calls or similar technology.
The response to the request disallowed that remote supervision capability but then went further to define the meaning of “in person” when a supervising mechanic is overseeing a non-licensed technician’s activities, such as an apprentice performing work under the supervision of a licensed technician. According to the legal interpretation, “in person” means essentially that the supervisor be watching the non-licensed technician closely enough to intervene if something was done incorrectly.
Supervised work has been long accomplished safely with the supervisor observing as needed, sometimes closely and also often from elsewhere in the facility or even in a different location.&nbsp;This is a long-standing practice in aviation and an important capability for training new technicians and helping non-licensed personnel log the time needed to qualify to take the written and practical tests for the FAA mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant (A&amp;P) ratings.
ARSA and 15 other aviation organizations asked the FAA to suspend the interpretation, following a request for reconsideration submitted to the FAA by Savvy Aviation. The group’s letter to the FAA noted: “The only time a mechanic or repairman should be subject to enforcement is if the supervision was insufficient to determine the work was performed correctly. To presume that result before the work is approved for return to service is beyond the plain language of the regulations that allows the certificated person to determine the amount and extent of supervision required.”
On October 15, the FAA <a href="https://arsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Moss-Interp-Stay_AGC-200.pdf">responded</a> to the group and Savvy Aviation. “This letter is to inform you that the FAA is issuing a stay of the legal Interpretation of 14 CFR § 43.3(d) dated September 3, 2024, while the agency reviews its policies and regulatory options. This stay does not represent a conclusion on the contents of that interpretation and will be effective until such time as the agency issues new or supplemental guidance.”

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