Join ARSA Ask ARSA Pay ARSA

Another Year, Another Missed Deadline

A new year brings a new failure from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), as it once again failed to meet its stated deadline to finalize repair station security rules.

In late 2011, TSA Administrator John Pistole said the agency would finalize repair station security rules by the fourth quarter of 2012. ARSA was skeptical, and for good reason. Despite reassuring the Association in a Sept. 2012 letter that TSA was “cognizant of the issues created by the delay” in the repair station security rule and was “working diligently to complete the rulemaking,” the agency was unable to meet its goal.

It has been more than nine years since the repair station security rules were first mandated and over four year since Congress decided to prohibit one federal agency (FAA) from performing its responsibilities because of the inaction of another (TSA). This moratorium has prevented the FAA from issuing new foreign repair station certifications, undermining the competitiveness of the U.S. aerospace industry.

Enough is enough. In 2013 ARSA will be working with lawmakers to lift the ban.



More from ARSA

Help DOT Assess FAA Consistency

ARSA calls on its repair station members to assist the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) audit of the FAA. Congress’ May 2024 reauthorization of the agency required the…Read More

Industry Guides FAA Towards Mutual International Acceptance

On April 13, ARSA and a group of aerospace trade associations provided the FAA with feedback on a rulemaking plan to establish international flexibility in the U.S. aviation safety rules.…Read More

Levanto Voices Conference Highlights

On March 30, AviationWeek’s MRO Podcast published its recap discussion of ARSA’s 2026 Annual Conference. Vice President of Operations Brett Levanto joined Editors Lee Ann Shay and Sean Broderick to…Read More

Protect Your Inbox (and ARSA’s Reputation)

On April 7, ARSA learned of a SPAM email sent using a team member’s credentials with the subject “Kimberly Dimmick shared Aeronautical_Repair_Station_Invoice” with you”. This message is not legitimate. What to…Read More

Surveying to Update Knowledge Test

FAA testing contractor PSI Services is conducting a survey of aviation maintenance professionals actively exercising mechanic certificate privileges. Results will support ongoing improvements to the agency’s knowledge test, particularly test…Read More
ARSA