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Ensuring Fair and Effective Aviation Policy

ARSA works closely with senators and representatives to ensure fair and effective aviation policy that meets the needs of the maintenance industry while maintaining the strongest focus on safety and security.

As a heavily-regulated industry, the aviation community needs to ensure agencies, such as the FAA and TSA receive the funding they need to provide fair oversight and effective rulemaking. However, all too often legislators demand agency action but fail to equip regulators with the capabilities or capacity to respond. What’s worse, lawmakers with little understanding of aviation maintenance issues and the regulatory framework governing the industry (both globally and domestically) will often seek to micromanage repair stations by imposing new laws that don’t fit with existing regulations.

In addition to ARSA’s leadership in efforts to lift the ban on the certification of new foreign repair stations and pass the FAA bill, the Association works with lawmakers on a host of other aviation related issues. ARSA raises awareness of ICA issues among lawmakers, highlighting the repair industry’s difficulties in gaining access to these important documents. The Association’s efforts have sought to ensure that regulations are consistently and fairly enforced.

Efforts on legislative policy also include educating lawmakers about the delicate framework of international agreements that govern the aviation industry. As a truly global business, it is important that lawmakers not undermine the global backbone of aviation with short-sighted policies. The Association also fights to assure that the FAA has the resources to accomplish its missions, and keeps a watchful eye for any legislation impacting repair stations.

ARSA works with lawmakers, their staffs, and congressional aviation committees to develop an aviation policy that is responsive to the industry’s needs while also ensuring the safety and reliability of the nation’s aviation network.

The latest ARSA news regarding aviation policy is below; click here for archived content.


Good Maintenance Cheer this Holiday Season

The office of ARSA’s management firm will be closed from Dec. 24, 2024 to Jan. 2, 2025. Periodicals will not be distributed on these dates, but the association continues collecting…Read More

FAA Requires Foreign D&A Testing by 2027

On Dec. 18, the U.S. Federal Register published the FAA’s long-awaited final rule expanding drug and alcohol testing requirements to repair station personnel outside the United States. The new rule…Read More

Don’t Be Ignored – STC Audit Survey

Congress’ May 2024 reauthorization of the FAA, requires the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) to audit the FAA’s Flight Standards and Aircraft Certification Services (see P.L. 118-63,…Read More

2025 ARSA Annual Conference

March 18-21, 2025 Event Information | Registration | Hotel  Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C. with Livestream Options for Online Participants Experience the international aerospace maintenance community’s premier event. Join ARSA members…Read More

Clarifying (by Dividing) Recordkeeping Guidance

On Nov. 19, ARSA submitted a pair of draft advisory circulars for FAA consideration to replace its proposed update to AC 43-9, Maintenance Records. The documents divide overlapping responsibilities previously…Read More
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