Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has confirmed that licensed aircraft maintenance engineers (LAMEs) will soon be able to use a self‑study pathway to remove exclusions from their Part 66 licence.
What’s changing
- Amendments to regulation 66.072 of CASR 1998 and the Part 66 Manual of Standards (MOS) will allow engineers to submit evidence of knowledge, competency, and experience directly to CASA — not only through approved training organisations.
- Updates to appendix IX of the MOS will refresh type‑rated aircraft tables and endorsements.
Why it matters
- Provides flexibility for engineers, especially in regional areas where access to training organisations is limited.
- Helps address the skills shortage in aviation maintenance.
- Maintains safety standards by requiring clear evidence of competency before exclusions are removed.
Industry response
- Majority support: Engineers welcomed the move as a practical, timely solution.
- Concerns raised: Some worry it could shift training responsibility from companies to individuals and risk lowering standards.
Next steps
- CASA will proceed with the amendments, with the self‑study pathway expected to commence in 2026 (subject to legislative processes).
- Updates to type‑rated aircraft tables will be issued separately before the end of 2025.