Trade Association Cautions House And Senate To Be Mindful Of Maintenance And Service Facilities

In a letter dated December 1st, the Aeronautical Repair Station Association told leaders in the U.S. House and Senate that the uncertainty created by Congress’ failure to pass a new, multiyear reauthorization bill for the FAA is wreaking havoc on the aviation industry and undermining the competitiveness of American aviation maintenance providers.

“While the country desperately needs the predictability of a new FAA law, Congress must also ensure that the final legislation does not detrimentally impact the thousands of facilities in communities throughout the country that provide aviation maintenance services,” said ARSA Executive Vice President Christian Klein.

In weighing in with House leaders, ARSA stressed the important role that aviation repair stations play in ensuring aviation safety and reliability. Specifically, the repair station and noncertificated maintenance provisions in final legislation must guarantee effective government oversight without unnecessarily increasing industry compliance costs. Failure to do so would jeopardize the vitality of an industry that helps air carriers be more reliable, efficient, and safe; has a $2.4 billion positive balance of trade; employees more than 274,000 American workers in good paying jobs in all 50 states; and contributes more $39 billion to the U.S. economy.

ARSA’s letter follows a renewed sense of urgency on Capitol Hill for completion of a new, long-term FAA reauthorization measure before the Jan. 31, 2012 expiration of the current short-term extension authorizing FAA operations.

FMI: ARSA Letter