House Passes FAA Reauth. Despite Calls to Protect U.S. Jobs
On May 21, the House of Representatives passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act (H.R. 915). The final bill included the damaging language in Sec. 303 requiring twice annual inspections of foreign repair stations by FAA personnel and requiring drug and alcohol testing of employees at foreign repair stations.
The House floor was the site of spirited debate during the afternoon, as House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN-8) exchanged barbs with the committee's ranking member, Rep. John Mica (R-FL-7) over the potential impact of Sec. 303.
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Open Skies Agreement Endangered by U.S. Congress
from EUObserver.com
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed protectionist measures under the "air safety flag" which could endanger the EU-US open skies agreement, if approved by the Senate, the EU's ambassador to Washington, John Bruton, says.
With many congressmen elected on "protectionist platforms", the House of Representatives is becoming the US' branch of government which is giving in most to protectionism under different flags, including airline safety, Mr Bruton said on Tuesday at a briefing organised by the European policy centre, a Brussels-based think tank.
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ARSA Requests ICA Legal Interpretation
On May 18, ARSA submitted a request for interpretation to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Chief Counsel regarding maintenance manuals or instructions referenced in the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA). The Association asked the FAA to recognize that:
- All component maintenance manuals (CMM) referenced in the ALS are a required part of the ICA;
- Modifications to the ALS made after January 28, 1981 are changes in the type design that trigger the ICA requirements in 14 CFR § 21.50(b); and therefore,
- Design approval holders must make the ALS and referenced CMMs available to properly rated repair stations.
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Support ARSA’s Positive Publicity Campaign
Help ARSA with its public relations initiative to improve the legal, regulatory, and business climate for
contract aviation maintenance companies!
Phase One, Step Two to quantify the economic impact of the aviation maintenance industry, nationally
and internationally is currently underway, but we need your assistance!
ARSA has contracted with AeroStrategy, an aerospace consulting firm, to:
- Develop an economic profile of the global MRO industry;
- Assess the economic impact of US-EU Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (which is threatened by
- the hostile language in the pending FAA reauthorization bill); and
- Determine the industry’s economic footprint on a state-by-state basis.
The results of the research will be incorporated into messages and materials used during Phase Two of
the campaign.
For more details, click here.
Pledge your support here.
Babbitt Confirmed as New FAA Administrator
from Focus FAA
Randy Babbitt, President Obama's choice to lead the FAA, was recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He is the 16th FAA administrator. Babbitt, who has more than 40 years of aviation experience, flew his first plane while in high school.
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ARSA Members Getting Members Program
There is no better advertisement than a satisfied customer. Members are the best people to get others to join — we have made it simple for you to help and are providing a monetary incentive for you to do so!
Here is a letter for you to use — place it on your letterhead and send it to all your maintenance providers.
Information about ARSA to include in your letter along with an application for membership may be found here. Be sure to include your name on the application so that you can obtain the monetary incentive.
Now for the rules:
- For each membership referred by an existing member in good standing, the referring member will receive a credit of 10% of the applicant’s dues on its forthcoming member renewal. The maximum credit will be 100% of the member’s renewal amount. For example, if you refer a $1500 member, you will receive a credit of $150 towards your next membership renewal.
- The applicant must clearly indicate on its application the name of the member company that referred it for membership.
- The applicant must pay its membership dues before credit is applied to the referring member.
Questions? Contact Ronda Wilder in our Membership Dept. at 703 739 9543 or via e-mail at ronda@arsa.org.
Bid to Better Oversee Aircraft Repair Work Abroad
from The Associated Press
U.S. inspectors would conduct more checks of overseas aircraft repair stations, under a House bill that seeks to address safety concerns as major airlines send maintenance work overseas. The European Commission has threatened to pull out of an aviation safety deal over that requirement. The U.S.-European Union agreement says each will have comparable safety requirements and inspection systems.
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Regional Airline Industry Looks at Uncertain Future
from Deseret News
The regional airline industry has an uncertain future challenged by a shifting economic marketplace and a potential competitor. Six heads from the industry joined for a Regional Airline Association convention panel Wednesday morning to address questions about the current financial burden of their smaller jets and future of the industry, which covers half the nation's departures as supplements to mainline companies.
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Avantair Signs Engine Maintenance Agreement With Dallas Airmotive
from The Aero-News Network
Dallas Airmotive and fractional ownership provider, Avantair, have signed a five year engine maintenance agreement. Dallas Airmotive will provide repair, hot section inspection, overhaul and field service on the PT6A-66 engines that power Avantair's fleet of Piaggio Avanti turboprop aircraft.
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Airline Rule Threatens Pact With EU
from The Wall Street Journal
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a measure aimed at boosting air safety that threatens to disrupt cooperation with Europe. The provision, passed as part of a bill to fund the Federal Aviation Administration, requires for the first time that FAA experts inspect at least twice annually any overseas maintenance facility handling American airliners. Currently, the FAA relies heavily on inspections by its foreign counterparts.
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Flight Safety Chief: Preserve Bilaterals
from Aviation Week
As the FAA Reauthorization Bill of 2009 waits in limbo, many in the aviation industry emphasize the importance of reciprocal agreements between the U.S. and foreign nations. Flight Safety Foundation President and CEO William Voss spoke out today in defense of bilateral airworthiness and aviation safety agreements.
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Electronic Repair Administration Project Launch
The ATA e-Business Program is launching a new industry-wide project to develop a suite of electronic messages (XML) to automate the component repair order process. The scope of the project includes electronic messages for part quotation, work scope, repair purchase order, shipment, teardown report and invoicing.
To participate and ensure that your business needs are considered, join the ATA e-Business Program!
Learn more at www.ataebiz.org.
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Hundreds of Aircraft Mechanics May Have Been Improperly Licensed
from The Dallas Morning News
Hundreds of aircraft mechanics nationwide, including dozens in Texas, may have been improperly licensed since the mid-1990s. Many of these mechanics continue to work in the commercial airline industry, as well as for aircraft manufacturers and privately owned aircraft maintenance facilities, according to records and interviews obtained by WFAA-TV (Channel 8). Many of the mechanics fix planes that Texans fly.
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Scrutiny of Gulfstream Intensifies
from The Wall Street Journal
On Dec. 10, 2007, Kenny Edwards, then a captain with Gulfstream International Airlines, noticed that the collision-avoidance system on the Beech 1900 turboprop he was scheduled to fly was malfunctioning. The system had helped the commuter aircraft narrowly avoid a midair collision with a private plane on the leg he had completed just hours earlier, from the Bahamas to West Palm Beach, Fla. He says he told airline management he wasn't "comfortable" flying another leg in and out of clouds at dusk if the equipment wasn't working properly, particularly at low altitudes, which are often crowded with small aircraft.
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FAA investigates Tobias Aerospace
from The San Antonio Express-News
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed Friday it is investigating Tobias Aerospace Services, an airplane mechanic testing facility in San Antonio, for safety and regulatory violations. The FAA began its investigation in November 2008, FAA spokesman Roland Herwig said. He declined to provide any further information.
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HK MRO Opens New Heavy Maintenance Hangar
from The San Antonio Express-News
China Aircraft Services (CAS), which provides line maintenance at Hong Kong International Airport, has opened a new aircraft hangar, allowing it to do heavy maintenance checks.
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New Aviation College to Fill Need for Maintenance Engineers
from The Gleaner
Instructors for the new Caribbean Aerospace College
(CAC) in Kingston will complete their training and graduate at the end of this week, by Friday, May 29, paving the way for a July opening of the college.
The instructors are being trained at the Singapore Institute of Aerospace Engineers (SIAE) under a cooperation agreement with that country.
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ARSA Members In The News
from ARSA (Source: The San Antonio Express-News)
Chromalloy Adding 130 Workers
Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. is expanding its Port San Antonio employment by 130 workers to nearly 400 total, the company and the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation announced Friday.
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Final Documents/Your Two Cents
from ARSA
ARSA now keeps a list of Final Documents and Your Two Cents on its Web site http://www.arsa.org/FDYTC. By accessing the links (provided in blue) you will find a complete list of items the Association has noted as important to aviation design, production and maintenance activities.
Final Documents: This list includes Federal Register (FR) publications such as proposed and final rules, Advisory Circulars (ACs), Orders, Notices, policy statements and related material of interest to ARSA members. The date shown is the date of FR publication or other official release.
Your Two Cents: Provides you with the opportunity to provide input on rules and guidance that will affect you. Agencies must provide the public with notice and an opportunity for comment before their rules change. Your input matters. Comments should be received before the indicated due date; however, agencies often consider comments they receive before drafting of the final document begins.
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