ARSA Endorses House FAA Bill Maintenance Provisions

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA – Aeronautical Repair Station Association Executive Director Sarah MacLeod released the following statement in response to the introduction of the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 (H.R. 658) by Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri (R-WI).

“We congratulate Chairmen Mica and Petri on crafting a bill that will ensure more effective FAA oversight of foreign and domestic repair stations, allow the industry to build on its outstanding safety record, and ensure the continued competitiveness of the U.S. maintenance industry.

“As introduced, H.R. 658 will allow repair stations to remain globally competitive and for those in America to lead in the international aviation maintenance market. The legislation protects the 274,000 Americans employed in the industry and ensures the continued viability of its $39 billion annual contribution to the U.S. economy.

“By taking a commonsense approach, the T&I Committee have removed a major impediment that prevented the bill from becoming law last year. We look forward to working with the House, Senate, and Obama administration in a bipartisan manner to quickly enact this bill into law and restore predictability to U.S. aviation policy.”

ARSA’s legislative team is available to the media for comment and background on the FAA debate currently underway in Congress. To speak with a member of ARSA’s team, please contact Jason Langford, communications manager.

ARSA is an Alexandria, Virginia-based trade association that represents aviation maintenance and manufacturing companies. The association has a distinguished 25-year record of advocating for repair stations and providing regulatory compliance assistance to the industry and representing repair stations on Capitol Hill and in the media. More information about ARSA is available at http://www.arsa.org.