An FAA repair station is a facility certificated under 14 CFR Part 145 to perform maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alterations on aircraft and aircraft components. Compliance standards apply regardless of which repair station performs the work — this guide covers what those standards actually require.
What an FAA Part 145 Certificate Authorizes
A Part 145 certificate is issued for specific ratings — categories such as airframe, powerplant, and accessory — and the exact scope of work a station may perform is defined further by its capability list. A repair station cannot legally work outside the ratings and articles listed on its certificate.
Core Compliance Requirements
- An FAA-accepted Repair Station Manual and Quality Control Manual defining inspection systems and procedures
- Housing, facilities, and equipment appropriate to the ratings held
- Personnel with defined authorizations, including supervisory and inspection roles
- A capability list specifying exactly which articles the station is authorized to maintain
- Airworthiness recordkeeping and documentation for every maintenance action performed
- Ongoing FAA surveillance, periodic audits, and certificate renewal
Repair Station Authority vs. Operator Authorization
Holding a Part 145 certificate is necessary but not sufficient to perform maintenance for a specific airline. Under 14 CFR Part 121, an air carrier's Operations Specifications must separately list which repair stations are authorized to perform which maintenance on its fleet — a station that isn't listed cannot legally perform that operator's maintenance, regardless of its ratings. For how this authorization intersects with an airline's own line maintenance program, see our overview of FAA Line Maintenance Requirements.
How Alpha-Tech Aviation Meets These Standards
Alpha-Tech Aviation operates as an FAA and EASA Part 145 certificated repair station. Our current certificates, capability list, FAA Operations Specifications, and Drug & Alcohol Program documentation are available on our Certifications page.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is an FAA repair station?
- An FAA repair station is a facility certificated under 14 CFR Part 145 to perform maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alterations on aircraft and aircraft components within specific ratings.
- What's the difference between FAA certification and operator authorization?
- FAA Part 145 certification authorizes a repair station to perform maintenance generally, within its ratings. A specific airline must separately list that station in its own Operations Specifications before the station can legally perform maintenance on that airline's aircraft.
- How is repair station compliance verified?
- The FAA verifies compliance through initial certification review, ongoing surveillance, and periodic audits against the station's accepted Repair Station and Quality Control Manuals.
- How can I confirm a repair station's current certification?
- Certificated repair stations typically publish their certificates and capability list. Alpha-Tech Aviation's current documentation is available on our Certifications page.