ALEXANDRIA, VA, March 12, 2010 – The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) is warning the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about language pending on Capitol Hill that could dramatically alter the relationship between the United States and Canada in the aviation maintenance services sector.

In a letter sent yesterday to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, ARSA Executive Director Sarah MacLeod expressed concerns about a provision in both the House and Senate FAA reauthorization bills that would require individuals performing work on air carrier aircraft to be employed by the FAA-certificated carriers, FAA-certificated part 145 repair stations, or employed by, and working under the direct supervision and control of a contract maintenance company possessing these certifications.

The legislation does not take into account the U.S.-Canada Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA), which has long recognized that certification granted to a Canadian Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) by Transport Canada is the equivalent to the FAA approval.

ARSA asserts that in their current form, the House and Senate FAA reauthorization bills will prevent Canadian AMOs from performing maintenance for air carriers and dramatically impact cross-border trade with our largest trading partner. Many Canadian AMOs are actually subsidiaries of U.S. companies, meaning the repercussions of the legislation will be felt on both sides of the border. ARSA also believes that Canada will retaliate against the United States.

In the letter, MacLeod urged “the FAA and Department of Transportation to engage with Congress on this important issue to make certain that Canadian-based repair stations and our bilateral safety agreements are taken into account as the House and Senate work to complete the reauthorization process.”

To read the full text of the letter, click here.

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ARSA is an Alexandria, Virginia-based trade association the 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.

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