On Oct. 14, the Obama administration announced it was updating Cuba sanction rules to facilitate the maintenance of aircraft flying in and out of Cuba.

The new paragraph of Sec. 515.572 of the U.S. Treasury regulations authorizes persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction “to provide civil aviation safety-related services to Cuba and Cuban nationals, wherever located, to ensure the safety of civil aviation and the safe operation of commercial aircraft.”

“We applaud President Obama for putting aviation safety ahead of politics and moving forward with this important policy change,” said Christian A. Klein, ARSA’s executive vice president. “The new Treasury rule will allow American mechanics and U.S. companies to more easily and efficiently ensure the safe operation of aircraft flying in and out of Cuba. That’s good news for the aviation maintenance industry and even better news for aircraft passengers.”

While this is another important step towards more commerce between the United States and Cuba, until Congress fully lifts the embargo, U.S. aviation companies remain at a disadvantage compared to those from countries allowed to trade freely with the island.

Considering the need for further progress, Klein concluded: “Congress needs to reconsider the embargo in light of growing public opinion against it and the economic harm it’s doing to both Cubans and Americans.”

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