When the FAA Gets it Wrong
Today, I pulled out my trusty FAA Form 8610-1 Mechanic’s Application for Inspection Authorization. I wanted to go ahead and start filling it out in anticipation of our Wisconsin IA seminar in less than a month.
There is one section on the form that really bugs me. It is a mistake on the form that was pointed out to me by a retired FAA inspector a few years back. I had really never paid attention to it, but the incorrect information is printed on the form in black and white, and it bugs me, especially considering it is an FAA form.
The mistake is in block 3. It says:
“MAILING ADDRESS (Number, street, city, State/County, Zip Code) (Place at which you desire to receive Airworthiness Directives, etc.)
Has anyone else noticed the mistake? Apparently the FAA has been OK with it since February 1978.
Thanks for reading. I look forward to your feedback.
Joe Escobar
The address should read number, street, county, city, zip code, state
Good grief!! Thats like pulling fly do-do out of pepper. I know that’s what our Feds (yours too?) do to us all the time, doesn’t mean we have to become as anal as them. I see another mistake… the “s” in street and the “c” in city wasn’t capitalized. How’s that for doing a “light leak” check on a document?
Well just a pet peave of mine is what is the usefulness of having the county listed when it is not needed to receive mail. Other than that the real answer seems to be when has the FAA ever sent you ADs? As an IA I get bi-weekly updates from ATP, yet I never get bi-weekly mailings from the FAA for ADs. It works great for registered owners of aircraft, for their aircraft, but not for the IA.
It should probably ask for your name!
I don’t know about anyone else but I have never received AD’s from the FAA. I thought this was by perscription? As a matter of fact I rarely receive anything from the FAA by mail.
It probably wasn’t intended to say “state/county”, though I’ve dutifully disclosed my county for years when I fill out this form. It probably was intended to say “state/country”, to account for the very few IA’s outside the United States.
Well, the mistake I am referring to is where it says “(Place at which you desire to receive Airworthiness Directives, etc.)” ADs are never mailed to IAs (unless he or she also happens to be an aircraft owner). They are mailed to aircraft owners. So why on earth would it say that on an FAA form for IA renewal? Doesn’t the FAA know it doesn’t mail out ADs to IAs? Wouldn’t it have noticed this error since 1978 (the last time the form was revised)?
As far as the other comments — interesting, but I wasn’t necessarily trying to pick fly poo out of pepper as Mike suggested.
Thanks for the comments!
Joe Escobar
You know, this document was created before personal computers were around so I suppose a commission had to be created (Reagan era) to re-type the darn thing. Think of the work that was involved! Maybe they were trying to just keep us on our toes.
AD’s were sometimes mailed to IA’s (not anymore) if they pertained to a general part, such as a vacuum pump that could be installed on numerous aircraft. Also, IA’s received SAIB’s at his address. Also remember that all forms have to be approved by OMB, so it is not easy to just change it. And, “county” should read “country”.
Just my $.02
Bob, FAA Airworthiness Inspector