On July 7, ARSA joined six other aviation trade associations in urging Congress to refrain from mandating a duplicative and unnecessary FAA regulation.

Specifically, the coalition is concerned with efforts on Capitol Hill requiring the FAA to initiate a rulemaking pertaining to the identification and marking of “influencing parts.” Joining ARSA on the letter are Airlines for America (A4A), the National Air Transportation Association, the Cargo Airline Association (CAA), the Regional Airline Association (RAA), the National Air Carrier Association (NACA) and the Modification and Replacement Parts Association.

The current regulatory framework, which includes rules and related guidance dealing with all aircraft parts – particularly “life-limited” and so-called “influencing parts” – has a proven safety record. Nonetheless, lawmakers are considering requiring the FAA to expend its limited resources conducting a redundant rulemaking with no benefit to flight safety.

“The FAA has limited resources and many congressional mandates,” the group’s letter said. “Forcing the agency to initiate an unnecessary rulemaking in an area it has already issued regulations and guidance is a misallocation of scarce resources and creates inefficiencies.”

The associations also warned lawmakers that many aviation companies, including small businesses, would ultimately bear the economic burden. “While larger companies can better absorb the rulemaking process’ costs and even unnecessary regulation, those measures have a disproportionate impact on small entities. The bottom line is that no business can afford the time and few have the inclination to respond to and implement redundant rulemaking activities.”

Daniel B. Fisher, ARSA’s vice president of legislative affairs added: “The FAA doesn’t have the resources to pursue duplicative rulemakings, particularly when there is no benefit to flight safety. Congressional leaders have prioritized an FAA reauthorization framework that will streamline regulatory processes and provide for greater collaboration with industry. Unnecessary rulemakings misdirect limited FAA resources from key safety initiatives and ultimately increase costs for aviation companies and customers.”

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