The Assistant Principal Maintenance Inspector (APMI) serves as a full assistant to a Principal Inspector for United CMO, performing the full range of certification, surveillance, and inspection duties for assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, and designees. Has program responsibility to ensure that assigned organizations meet Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) with respect to maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alteration programs.
Duties
A. Technical Administration
Ensures assigned organization is properly and adequately organized, staffed, and equipped. Establishes and conducts adequate training programs, maintains record keeping systems, and facilities and ensures procedures meet all regulatory requirements.
Chairs joint FAA and industry meetings. Maintains regular contact with organizations assigned and coordinates with top management officials. Requires or directs correction of any deficiencies/discrepancies and refuses or withdraws approval if they cannot be resolved.
Develops maintenance program requirements through participation on maintenance review boards. Coordinates minimum equipment list (MEL) approvals with the principal operations inspector.
Responsible for conducting enforcement investigations and preparation of final reports and recommendations on disposition. Performs or supervises emergency suspension of certificates or cancellation of operations specifications.
Conducts investigations of public complaints, congressional inquiries, and aircraft incidents and accidents. Coordinates with other inspectors for the accomplishment of non-routine air carrier surveillance.
Assists Principal Inspector in the planning and implementation of certificate holders surveillance via usage of the appropriate safety system.
B. Certification
Responsible for initial and ongoing certification of air carriers, aircraft, airmen, and air agencies. Evaluates requests to operate under conditions not previously specified in the airworthiness portion of the operations specifications and approves/disapproves requests providing additional conditions and limitations as needed. Provides guidance to the assigned air carrier in the development of required maintenance manuals and record keeping systems. Reviews and determines adequacy of manual associated with airworthiness programs and revisions and ensures manuals and revisions comply with regulatory requirements, prescribe safe practices, and furnish clear and specific instructions governing airworthiness programs. Approves operations specifications and amendments.
Determines if the maintenance facilities being established or contract arrangements entered into by for the purpose of overhaul work, major repairs, alterations, and other maintenance are satisfactory. Reviews changes and negotiates with air carrier management to resolve problems. Evaluates an operator’s proposed reliability programs for compliance with national policies. Advises operator of deficiencies and required changes. Approves/disapproves reliability programs. Determines if the air carrier’s training programs meet the requirements of 14 CFR, is compatible with the airworthiness program, is properly organized and effectively conducted, and results in trained and competent personnel.
C. Surveillance
Directs the inspection and surveillance of continuous airworthiness program. Monitors all phases of the carrier’s airworthiness operation, including the maintenance, engineering, quality control, production control, training, and reliability programs. Analyzes trends to detect deterioration in the airworthiness program. Analyzes reports submitted by the air carrier to ensure compliance with airworthiness program and ensures the carrier has an effective continuing analysis and surveillance program to meet the requirements of 14 CFR.