MOSES LAKE — The Federal Aviation Administration has certified AeroTEC to repair airplane parts, making the company the fifth certified repair station in Moses Lake.

According to an AeroTEC press release, the company received a “limited accessory rating” from the FAA in early April “to perform maintenance, inspection and repair on aircraft accessories.”

“This is about more than staying in Moses Lake. It’s about growing in Moses Lake,” said AeroTEC President Lee Human. “It’s a small step that leads to a major step.”

Human said that the company also expects to receive airframe and power plant certification from the FAA in 2019.

Human said AeroTEC has no desire to compete with major repair outfits in Seattle or Spokane. Rather, the company wants to be able to provide repair and maintenance services for aircraft during testing programs.

“It enables us to do more,” he said.

AeroTEC specializes in aircraft testing and making prototype equipment, and the company currently hosts Mitsubishi as the company tests and seeks to certify its MRJ regional jet.

“The Port of Moses Lake passes on its congratulations,” said Richard Mueller, director of facilities and operations for the Port. “It’s not an easy task getting FAA certification, and congrats is well deserved.”

According to the FAA, the license is limited solely to accessories — any part of a plane not associated with the airframe or the engines.

“Getting a full repair station is a stepping stone process,” he said.

AeroTEC joins Sonico, Aviation Technical Services, Mark Airmotive and Big Bend Community College as FAA certified repair stations in Moses Lake.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.