The Government Accountability Office has urged the Federal Aviation Administration to assess whether students at high schools and other uncertified aviation maintenance programmes should be allowed to take the aircraft mechanic general written knowledge test. The recommendation follows a report published on 1 September and centres on a possible first step toward mechanic licensing that could widen the pipeline of future maintenance workers.
GAO found that FAA certifies more than 200 aviation maintenance schools, but only 11 are high schools. It also identified 43 colleges, universities or career and technical centres serving high school students, as well as at least 43 high schools with aviation maintenance programmes that are not FAA-certificated.
Under current rules, students usually need either qualifying practical experience or completion of an FAA-certificated programme before they can sit the general knowledge test. GAO wants FAA to formally examine whether students in uncertified programmes should be granted that access. The transportation department concurred, but the recommendation remains under review and no rule change has been finalised.