Design & Craftsmanship Awards

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  • Working with the FAA

    Sponsored by Upholstery Journal magazine

    Working with aircraft interiors takes more than simply agreeing to do a job. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented numerous regulations and procedures for upholsterers providing aircraft services.

    Some of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) that impact aircraft upholstery work the most include FAR 25.853 and FAR 43.3(d). FAR 25.853 lists the interior components of an aircraft that must meet flammability specifications. FAR 43.3(d) requires a certified mechanic to supervise any maintenance or alterations being performed on the aircraft. To help upholsterers new to the market, Interior Flight Services Inc. offers advice on meetings FAA requirements, as well as FAA-certified interior products, on its website www.nationalflight.com.

    When Terri Madden, owner of Sand Sea and Air Interiors Inc., San Juan, Puerto Rico, submitted a letter of intent to the FAA and began the certification process, an FAA inspector was assigned to her shop. The inspector helped Madden's team write several manuals to be used for future jobs.

    "All of the steps required for certification placed my business practices under a microscope," Madden says. "After nine grueling months, a new and improved fabrication shop was born."

    To learn more about the FAA certification process and regulations, visit www.faa.gov.