FAA PART 145 REPAIR STATION · Aero Support Group FZCO · Updated 22 October 2026
What does a Part 145 certificate cover?
14 CFR Part 145 sets the rules for certificating and operating repair stations. A certificate is issued with one or more ratings under §145.59 and with operations specifications that define what the station may do.
- Ratings (§145.59): airframe, powerplant, propeller, radio, instrument and accessory, each divided into classes. An airframe rating, for example, has four classes covering composite and all-metal construction for small and large aircraft.
- Limited ratings (§145.61): granted for a specific make and model of article or for specialised services such as non-destructive testing, landing gear components, emergency equipment or rotor blades. A limited-rated station works from a capability list under §145.215, revised after a documented self-evaluation.
- Certificate duration (§145.55): a US station’s certificate stays valid until surrendered, suspended or revoked. A station outside the United States receives a certificate for 12 months, which the FAA may then renew for 24 months at a time. The renewal request is due at least 30 days before expiry.
A foreign applicant must also show that the certificate is needed to maintain or alter US-registered aircraft and articles, or foreign-registered aircraft operated under Part 121 or 135 (§145.51(c)).
What must be in place before the FAA inspects?
Under §145.51 the application is made in a format acceptable to the FAA (Form 8310-3) and is supported by:
- a repair station manual (RSM) and a quality control manual (QCM), both acceptable to the FAA;
- a list of articles by type, make or model for which approval is sought;
- an organisational chart naming management and supervisory personnel;
- a description of the housing and facilities with their physical address;
- a list of maintenance functions to be contracted out, for FAA approval under §145.217;
- a training programme for FAA approval under §145.163.
The equipment, personnel, technical data and facilities must already be in place for inspection (§145.51(b)). Subpart C covers housing that segregates and protects articles, calibrated test equipment and current data such as airworthiness directives, instructions for continued airworthiness and manufacturers’ manuals (§145.103 and §145.109).
Who needs an FAA certificate in a repair station?
Not every employee needs an airman certificate. Subpart D sets the requirements by role:
- Accountable manager (§145.151): an employee with responsibility for and authority over all repair station operations.
- Supervisors (§145.153): at a US station they must hold a mechanic or repairman certificate under Part 65. At a station outside the United States they qualify through training or 18 months’ practical experience with the methods and tools.
- Inspectors (§145.155): must know the regulations and inspection methods and be proficient with the equipment. Part 145 does not require them to hold a certificate.
- Return to service (§145.157 and §145.213(d)): at a US station the person approving an article for return to service must hold a Part 65 certificate. Foreign stations qualify these people through training or experience.
Supervisors, inspectors and return-to-service personnel must be able to read, write and understand English. The station keeps a roster of management, supervisory and inspection personnel and of those authorised to sign maintenance releases, updated within five business days of a change (§145.161).
How the FAA certification process works
FAA Order 8900.1 describes five phases for repair station certification:
- Preapplication: the applicant submits a Preapplication Statement of Intent (FAA Form 8400-6) and meets the Flight Standards office.
- Formal application: Form 8310-3 with the RSM, QCM, training programme and supporting documents.
- Design assessment: the FAA reviews whether the manuals and programmes meet Part 145.
- Performance assessment: the FAA inspects housing, facilities, equipment and records and observes whether the station works to its own procedures.
- Administrative functions: the certificate and operations specifications are issued.
Delays usually come from the design assessment, when manuals describe a generic station instead of the one being inspected, or when the capability list cannot be traced to tooling, data and trained staff. ASG’s work is aimed at closing those gaps before the formal application.
Operating rules after certification
Subpart E governs day-to-day operation. The points that most often produce findings are:
- Work for air carriers (§145.205): maintenance for a Part 121 or 135 operator follows that operator’s continuous airworthiness maintenance programme and manual.
- Inspection before return to service (§145.213): each article is inspected for airworthiness before release.
- Contract maintenance (§145.217): each contracted function needs FAA approval, and work by a non-certificated contractor must be under a quality control system equivalent to the station’s own.
- Records (§145.219): kept in English for at least two years from return to service, with a copy of the maintenance release given to the owner or operator. Individual training records are also kept for at least two years (§145.163).
- Service difficulty reports (§145.221): serious failures, malfunctions or defects are reported within 96 hours of discovery.
- FAA inspection (§145.223): the FAA may inspect at any time. Oversight runs through the Safety Assurance System, which is risk-based and scaled to the size and complexity of the certificate holder.
Dual FAA and EASA approvals
Many repair stations hold both an FAA certificate and an EASA or UK Part-145 approval. For organisations based in the EU, the EU–US Maintenance Annex Guidance (MAG) sets the route: the station applies under the FAA special conditions, keeps an FAA supplement to its MOE, and is overseen by its EU authority on the FAA’s behalf. The MAG is now at Change 10, effective 10 October 2025. AC 145-11A, which used to explain this arrangement, was cancelled on 28 September 2026 and should no longer be cited. UK organisations follow the US–UK bilateral arrangements published by the UK CAA.
For a station outside these agreements, the application goes directly to the FAA and the station must justify the need for the certificate under §145.51(c).
How ASG supports repair station applicants and holders
- Readiness assessment against Part 145 Subparts B to E, AC 145-9A and AC 145-10, mapped to the evidence an FAA inspector will ask for.
- RSM and QCM drafting or revision so that each manual describes the station as it actually works, including the capability list and self-evaluation procedure.
- Training programme design under §145.163 and AC 145-10, with records that show initial and recurrent training by role.
- Preparation for the design and performance assessments, including mock inspections and briefings for the accountable manager and key staff.
- FAA supplement preparation for EU and UK organisations working under the bilateral arrangements.
- Ongoing compliance support through RADAR: periodic reviews of records, contract maintenance oversight, training currency and renewal preparation for foreign stations.
Conclusion
An FAA repair station certificate depends on a station that can show its manuals, training and records match its ratings and capability list. The FAA reads the RSM and QCM against what it sees during the performance assessment, so a manual written for a different organisation will not survive inspection. ASG helps applicants build that match before the FAA arrives and helps certificate holders keep it.
Frequently asked questions
An organisation certificated by the FAA under 14 CFR Part 145 to maintain, alter or inspect aircraft, engines, propellers or components. Its certificate carries ratings under §145.59 and operations specifications that define what it may do.
An organisation that wants to maintain or alter US-registered aircraft or their articles as a certificated repair station, or foreign-registered aircraft operated under Part 121 or 135. Applicants outside the United States must show the certificate is needed for this work (§145.51(c)).
No. At a US station, supervisors and the people who approve articles for return to service must hold a Part 65 mechanic or repairman certificate. Inspectors and other technicians do not need one under Part 145. Stations outside the United States qualify these roles through training or 18 months’ experience.
The RSM and the quality control manual must be acceptable to the FAA (§145.207 and §145.211). The training programme and contracted maintenance functions are the items the FAA approves.
The first certificate runs for 12 months. After that the FAA may renew it for 24 months at a time if the station has complied with Part 145. The renewal request must reach the FAA at least 30 days before expiry (§145.55).
Maintenance records must be kept for at least two years from the date the article was approved for return to service (§145.219). Training records must also be kept for at least two years (§145.163).
AC 145-9A is the guide for developing and evaluating the RSM and QCM. AC 145-10 covers the repair station training programme. AC 145-11A was cancelled in September 2026; EU organisations now follow the EU–US Maintenance Annex Guidance.
Key takeaways
- Part 145 has six ratings with numbered classes, plus limited ratings and a capability list
- The RSM and QCM must be acceptable to the FAA; the training programme is approved
- Only supervisors and return-to-service personnel at US stations need Part 65 certificates
- Foreign certificates run 12 months, then renew for 24 months
- Records are kept at least two years and serious defects are reported within 96 hours
Planning an FAA repair station application?
Tell us your ratings, capability list and location. ASG will assess readiness against Part 145 and set out what the FAA will expect at each phase.