ARSA RSS Feed ARSA LinkedIn
Ask ARSA Pay ARSA

ARSA Warns that FAA Reauthorization Legislation Will Damage U.S.-Canada Trade Relationship

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.

###

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.



More from ARSA

AMT Day 2023 – Celebrating Charlie

Charles Taylor, the Wright Brothers’ mechanic and father of aviation maintenance, was born on May 24, 1868. Now – 155 years later – we celebrate him with every safe arrival…Read More

GAO Workforce Report Makes Limited Use of Misleading Data

On May 17, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the “Current and Future Availability of Airline Pilots and Aircraft Mechanics.” The GAO’s analysis reads like a…Read More

Live Training Sessions

Stay smart. Stay current. Stay out of trouble with ARSA training.…Read More

Training – Part 43 for Repair Stations

On June 14 at 11:00 a.m. EDT, ARSA Vice President of Operations Brett Levanto will lead an online training session covering 14 CFR part 43 that highlights the interplay between…Read More

Training – An Overview of Part 91

On May 31 at 11:00 a.m. EDT, ARSA Executive Vice President Christian Klein will lead an online training session overviewing 14 CFR part 91. Description: This session overviews the general…Read More
Schaeffler Aerospace
ARSA