On Oct. 22, ARSA joined ten other industry organizations including both allied trade associations and independent businesses in requesting FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker’s assistance improving support for agency-convened stakeholder committees.

Specifically, the group highlighted three areas of concern:

• Support from the Office of Chief Counsel when legal parameters and requirements are discussed.
• The knowledge of agency personnel appointed to ARAC and ARCs in complying with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
• Lack of direct personal acknowledgement from agency executive management personnel responsible for review and implementation, if appropriate, when a committee makes a recommendation.

The letter underscored the importance to aviation safety of “open and transparent communications between the government and the public.” As evidence of industry’s doubt in the agency’s openness and transparency, the letter cited a recent exchange with the Office of FAA Chief Counsel regarding ex parte communications and misaligned expectations for the rule of attorneys supporting stakeholder committees. To address this misalignment, the group requested that government representatives be well trained and “fully engaged in the work the agency has tasked the industry to accomplish.” To address the lack of executive personal acknowledgement of recommendations, the signatories requested those individuals be present at committee meetings when proposals are considered.

To read the complete letter, click here.

In addition to ARSA, signatories from the following organizations – all representatives on various agency committees – supported the letter:

Aircraft Electronics Association
Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association
Aviation Technician Education Council
Chromalloy
HEICO Aerospace
National Air Carrier Association
National Air Transportation Association
HAECO Americas
Professional Aviation Maintenance Association
United Airlines

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