Wed, Sep 16, 2009
House And Senate Bills Still Differ Significantly
The $53.5 billion FAA
reauthorization bill that has passed the U.S. House of
Representatives has a provision that would allow the FAA to inspect
foreign repair stations twice a year, and to require those
facilities that work on U.S. airliners to introduce mandatory drug
and alcohol testing. But the Senate bill currently under
consideration, which tips the budget scale at $40 billion, does not
make those provisions mandatory. It provides an exception if "a
bilateral aviation safety agreement [is] in place that allows for
comparable inspection by local authorities."
The disagreement between the two could slow the FAA
reauthorization process, as differences between the two bills must
be resolved before being sent to the President.
Air Transport World reports that
Dana Jennings, a professional staffer for the majority in the House
aviation subcommittee, told the FAA's International Safety Forum
"We're just trying to make sure we have the same safety standards
[at foreign repair stations] that we have in the US."
The EU contends that the stipulation runs contrary to an
Aviation Safety agreement signed between it and the U.S. last year.
"We negotiated for several years in good faith with FAA," said
Luisa Ragher, a representative for the European Commission's
Washington delegation. "we trust the FAA" to inspect and certify US
repair stations and in turn "FAA trusts us."
The House bill passed with little Republican support. Aviation
subcommittee Republican Staff Director Holly Woodruff Lyons, who is
also the minority's Senior Council, said some U.S repair stations
"may have to close" because EASA inspections could come with "heavy
fees," which would be more than they could afford to pay.
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