FAR Part 43 and Application to 17025 Accredited Cal Lab

[itsbiodiversity]

Good afternoon! I have a calibration laboratory and a prospective customer has asked for a copy of our FAA Approved anti-drug and alcohol abuse testing program. Would a calibration laboratory be considered maintenance and/or preventive maintenance, and therefore required to have an FAA approved program? I have read through FAR Parts 40 through 43 and still am unsure. If so, do any of you have experience starting a program up as far a timetable to get certified, etc.?

 

[canplay]

As a calibration facility you are not required to have an FAA approved Drug and Alcohol program. CFR 14 Part 120 is the rule for this program and lists who must be in the program. The technician performing maintenance on the aircraft, engine, appliance, etc. is the person required to be in an FAA approved program. Look up the definition of maintenance in CFR 14 Part 1 and you will see that you the calibration facility is not performing maintenance. The technician using the calibrated tool is performing maintenance. You can also go to the FAA Drug and Alcohol web page for contact information.

 

[itsbiodiversity]

Thank you. I actually placed a similar explanation (of course without the CFR reference, thank you!) on the vendor audit form. I truly appreciate your reply.