October 13, 2012 Huerta Wants Certification Time Halved

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By Russ Niles, Editor-in-Chief

FAA interim Administrator Michael Huerta says one of the FAA's short-term goals is to cut the cost of aircraft certification in half while increasing safety. Huerta spoke to the Wichita Aero Club Thursday while on his way to AOPA Summit in Palm Springs. According to the Wichita Eagle, Huerta said the FAA wants to standardize certification testing around the world to streamline the process for manufacturers. He said it would cut the costs and time spent on developing new products while maintaining the current system of oversight. Huerta said the FAA also wants to make it easier for owners of older aircraft to upgrade, especially where safety systems are concerned.

He said he wants to improve the approval process for installation of new equipment on old aircraft. "There is so much as an industry that we need to do," he told the audience. Earlier in the day he spoke at Bombardier's annual safety stand down before heading to Palm Springs to appear at the keynote session of AOPA Summit in Palm Springs, where he shared the stage with actor and aviation advocate Harrison Ford.