2022 – Edition 3 – April 4

Table of Contents

Note: The order of material varies in hotline emails, but is always presented the same on this landing page. Readers scrolling through content on or printing this page will find it organized consistent with the table of contents.

State of the Association
2022 Annual Conference
Anti-Viral Measures
ARSA Works
2022 Economic Outlook
Legal Brief
ARSA on the Hill
Training
Membership
Resources
Industry Calendar

State of the Association

President’s Report

During ARSA’s Annual Member Meeting on Friday, March 11, ARSA President Terrell Siegfried provided members an update on the state of the association. The following recording (taken from the livestream presentation of the event) includes the recording of the member meeting containing Siegfried’s presentation and subsequent discussion.

Terrell Siegfried 2022 ARSA president | NORDAM assistant general counsel and corporate secretary

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2022 Annual Conference

It Happened

March 8-11, 2022

Information | Sponsors

See you next year: March 14-17, 2023

2024 Conference Agenda

Unless otherwise noted, all Annual Conference activities take place at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia. Stay tuned for agenda updates as the event gets closer.

Executive to Executive Briefings: Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Participation by industry executives with senior executive branch officials is limited to annual conference sponsors.

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8:30 a.m. | Coffee & Light Breakfast

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9:00 a.m. | Introductory Briefing

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10:00 a.m. | U.S. Department of Transportation

Elliott Black, Facilitator, Aerospace Supply Chain Resiliency Task Force, Office of the Under Secretary for Transportation Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation

ARSA is a member of the congressional-mandated task force examining the resiliency of the aerospace supply chain. Black will facilitate a group discussion about issues impacting the maintenance sector supply chain, including workforce, government policy, access to materials, geopolitical challenges, etc.

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11:00 a.m. | Break

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11:15 a.m. | U.S. Department of State

Heidi Gomez, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs

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12:00 p.m. | Access to Maintenance Data: The ICA ARC

Josh Krotec, Senior Vice President, First Aviation and Member, ARSA Board of Directors 

Krotec has been named industry co-chair of the newly established Instructions for Continued Airworthiness Aviation Rulemaking Committee, which was created at ARSA’s request to address the availability of maintenance data.  He will discuss the ARC’s mandate and objectives, and opportunities to influence the ARC’s work.

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12:45 p.m. | Lunch & Midday Break

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2:00 p.m. | U.S. Department of Commerce

Scott Kennedy, Director, Office of Transportation & Machinery, International Trade Administration

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3:00 p.m. | Break

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3:00 p.m. | Economic Impacts

Livia Hayes, Director, Market Intelligence Team, Transportation and Services Practice, Oliver Wyman

Hayes will review the findings of the most recent Oliver Wyman MRO industry forecast and lead a roundtable discussion of factors and trends impacting demand for maintenance services.

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4:00 p.m. | Wrap Up Discussion

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Legislative Day: Wednesday, March 13, 2024

The day dedicated to educating both the aviation maintenance industry and elected officials. Learn (or brush up) on what ARSA does and what you can do so you're ready for afternoon visits with targeted Capitol Hill legislators and staff.

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7:30 a.m. | Registration & Breakfast

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8:00 a.m. | Welcome & Introductions

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8:15 a.m. | It's All About Your Industry and Your Company

Find out what’s at stake in Washington for your company and your industry, where things stand, and what you can do to impact the process.

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9:00 a.m. | National Defense Authorization Act Opportunities

ARSA is pursuing legislation as part of the annual Pentagon budget and policy bill to enhance competition and opportunities for small businesses in Department of Defense aircraft maintenance contracting.

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Josh Krotec, Senior Vice President, First Aviation and ARSA Immediate Past President

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Alex de Gunten, Senior Vice President for Government & Industry Affairs, HEICO and 2024 ARSA Government Affairs Chairman

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9:45 a.m. | Break

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10:00 a.m. | FAA Reauthorization: Industry Perspectives 

Representatives of ARSA ally organizations discuss their priorities in the current FAA reauthorization and share insights about the likelihood of an FAA bill being enacted in 2024. 

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Karen Huggard, Vice President of Government Affairs, National Air Transportation Association 

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Jarrod Thompson, Vice President for Legislative and Regulatory Policy, Airlines for America 

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Sterling Wiggins, Senior Director, Transportation, Infrastructure, and Supply Chains, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

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Adam Weiss, Counsel (Minority), U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Subcommittee on Aviation

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11:00 a.m. | Release of 2024 Global Fleet & MRO Market Report

Livia Hayes, Director, Market Intelligence Team, Transportation and Services Practice, Oliver Wyman

Uktarsh Mishra, Market Intelligence Specialist, Oliver Wyman CAVOK

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11:30 p.m. | Wrap Up Discussion & Presentation of 2024 Legislative Leadership Award to Garret Graves (R-La.)

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12:00 p.m. | Lunch

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1:00 p.m. | Congressional Meetings Begin

Participants head to Capitol Hill for scheduled meetings with members of Congress and staffers covering subject matter or geographic jurisdictions impacting participant home/facility locations. NOTE: participants schedule their meetings directly with the relevant offices; instructions are provided in advance of the event.

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TBD | Presentation of ARSA Legislative Leadership Award (Special Invitation Only)

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4:00 p.m. | Symposium Registration Open (for non-Legislative Day attendees)

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5:30 p.m. | Ice Breaker Reception

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7:00 p.m. | Special Invitation Dinner

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Annual Repair Symposium: Thursday, March 14, 2024

The centerpiece of Conference week, ARSA convenes a full day of substantive panel discussions covering key regulatory compliance and business issues.

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7:30 a.m. | Registration & Breakfast

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8:00 a.m. | Welcome & Introductory Remarks

ARSA is the voice of the global aviation maintenance industry. How the association advocates your interests with legislators, regulators, and the media sets the stage for corporate growth. Information on how advancement of the industry’s collective interests enables individual companies to shine more brightly.

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8:30 a.m. | Session 1: Fireside Chat with AVS-1

David Boulter, Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety, FAA

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9:00 a.m. | Break

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9:15 a.m. | Session 2: Opening Salvo – Conversations with the Regulators

International aviation safety agencies will provide updates on the regulations, policies, and procedures of importance to the global aerospace sector. 

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Lawrence Josuá Fernandes Costa, Continuing Airworthiness Certification Manager, Department of Flight Standards, ANAC Brazil [In person]

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Ludovic Aron, Washington Representative, EASA [In person]

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Karl Specht, Principal Coordinator Organisation Approvals, EASA [Online]

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Dan Elgas, Director, Policy and Standards Division (AIR-600), Aircraft Certification Service, FAA [In person]

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Tim Adams, Deputy Director, Office of Safety Standards, Flight Standards Service, FAA [in person]

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Jackie Black, Manager, Aircraft Maintenance Division, Flight Standards Service, FAA [in person]

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Jeffrey Phipps, Chief, Operational Airworthiness (AARTN), Transport Canada Civil Aviation [In person]

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Neil Williams, Head of Airworthiness, Policy & Rulemaking, United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority [In person]

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12:30 p.m. | Lunch with Special Guest

Billy Nolen, Chief Safety Officer, Archer Aviation

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2:00 p.m. | Session 3: Defining the Career

Using known pathways and the current regulations, panelists lay out templates for international maintenance technician recruitment, training, and retention.

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Ryan Goertzen, Vice President of Workforce Development, AAR

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Barrington Irving, Founder & CEO, The Flying Classroom and Founder of the Barrington Irving Technical Training School

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Crystal Maguire, Executive Director, Aviation Technician Education Council

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3:00 p.m. | ARSA Quiz Show

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3:30 p.m. | Break

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4:00 p.m. | Session 4: Training First

Based on recommendations from SOCAC’s Workforce Development and Training (WDAT) Working Group and the ongoing work of the ARAC Repairman Working Group, panelists will explain how industry can push the government to accept standards for competency and skill development.

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5:00 p.m. | The Club Lounge Happy Hour

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Member Day: Friday, March 15, 2024

ARSA's leadership briefs members on the state of the association as well as goals and priorities for the coming year. Participants then close out the event by choosing from one of several concurrent breakout sessions.

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8:00 a.m. | Annual Membership Meeting & Breakfast

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9:30 a.m. | Break

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10:00 a.m. | Training: Regulations for Supervisors & Inspectors

This session reviews the cardinal regulatory knowledge necessary for repair station personnel to be “thoroughly familiar with the applicable regulations in this chapter.” ARSA’s training team is rolling out the course for the benefit of Conference attendees.

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12:00 p.m. | Conference Ends

Attendance Options (In-Person & Livestream)

In-Person

All substantive and social activities were hosted at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia. Legislative Day participants will head to Capitol Hill for meetings with congressional offices as appropriate.

Livestream

The majority of conference events will be available to livestream viewers via a Vimeo web-player embedded into a page on ARSA.org. Access to the livestream in 2024 will be available only to "Conference Ambassadors." These "Ambassadors" are contacts identified by in-person participants to bring the event back to their home facilities.

Sponsorship

For information about committing your organization to the Annual Conference (we can already look ahead to 2025), contact ARSA Vice President of Operations Brett Levanto.

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Platinum – $10,000

Notation in all publicity, marketing and periodicals (e.g., the hotline, Dispatch, ARSA team email signatures, conference attendee contact list, specific email alerts to association contacts), recognition in event materials and from the podium, specific thank you in ARSA periodicals, sponsorship rights and 10 registrations to an ARSA training session, complimentary registrations for three (3) participants in the Executive to Executive Briefings as well as three (3) in Legislative Day, and free livestream access for personnel unable to attend in person. At the Platinum Level, sponsors may select one of the following to specifically support (may not reflect current availability for 2024):

• Online Conference Experience
• Executive to Executive Briefings
• Legislative Day – All Day
• Annual Repair Symposium – Ice Breaker Reception
• Annual Repair Symposium – Club Lounge Happy Hour
• Congressional Directories/Resources

2023 Platinum Sponsors

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Gold – $7,500

Notation in all publicity, marketing and periodicals (e.g., the hotline, Dispatch, ARSA team email signatures, conference attendee contact list, specific email alerts to association contacts), recognition in event materials and from the podium, specific thank you in ARSA periodicals, 5 registrations to an ARSA training session, complimentary registrations for two (2) participants in the Executive to Executive Briefings as well as two (2) in Legislative Day, and free livestream access for personnel unable to attend in person. At the Gold Level, sponsors may select one of the following to specifically support (may not reflect current availability for 2024):

• Legislative Priorities Brochures/Resources
• Digital Companion/Electronic Materials
• Legislative Day – Continental Breakfast
• Legislative Day – Congressional Briefing and Luncheon
• Annual Repair Symposium – Continental Breakfast
• Annual Repair Symposium – Luncheon with Special Guest

2023 Gold Sponsors

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Silver – $3,500

Notation in all publicity, marketing, and periodicals (e.g., the hotline, Dispatch, ARSA team email signatures, conference attendee contact list, specific email alerts to association contacts), recognition in event materials and from the podium, complimentary registrations for one (1) participant in the Executive to Executive Briefings as well as one (1) in Legislative Day. At the Silver Level, sponsors may select one of the following to specifically support (may not reflect current availability for 2024):

• Nametag Lanyards
• Hotel Room Keys
• Annual Repair Symposium – Coffee Break (5)

2023 Silver Sponsors

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Supporter – $2,500

Notation in all publicity, marketing, and periodicals (e.g., the hotline, Dispatch, ARSA team email signatures, specific email alerts to association contacts), and recognition in event materials and from the podium.

2023 Supporter

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Contributor – $500 to $2,499 (or equivalent support)

Notation in some publicity, marketing, and periodicals (e.g., the hotline, Dispatch), and recognition in event materials and from the podium.

2023 Contributors

Location & Accommodations

ARSA's block of rooms for Conference participants at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia is now closed. The hotel hosts most of the activities related to the ARSA Conference and is convenient to the Metro as well as Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA). To try and book a room independently, go to the hotel's website or call 703.415.5000.

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Those seeking other options may consider these hotels (there are no ARSA-related specials or promotions at these locations):

Embassy Suites by Hilton Crystal City National Airport 1393 S Eads St. Arlington, Virginia, 22202

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Residence Inn Arlington Capital View 2850 South Potomac Avenue Arlington, Virginia, 22202

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DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Washington DC – Crystal City 300 Army Navy Drive Arlington, Virginia, 22202

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Crowne Plaza Washington National Airport 1480 Crystal Drive Arlington, Virginia, 22202

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Hampton Inn & Suites Reagan National Airport 2000 Richmond Highway Arlington, Virginia, 22202

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Radisson Hotel Reagan National Airport 2020 Richmond Hwy Arlington, VA 22202

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Holiday Inn National Airport/Crystal City 2650 Richmond Highway Arlington, Virginia, 22202

Awards

The Leo Weston Award for Excellence in Government Service

First bestowed on Leo Weston himself in 2005, the Weston award honors an instrumental figure in ARSA's birth by recognizing individuals who embody his commitment to the industry's safety and success. The symposium provides a venue for association members and invited guests from around the world to network and discuss issues that matter to the aviation maintenance industry. It is the perfect time to respect the history of the repair station community and honor the good works of those who support it.

Click here to learn more about Leo, the award bearing his name, and those who have received it.

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The Legislative Leadership Award

The association regularly recognizes members of Congress who have provided outstanding support to the aviation maintenance community by supporting policies beneficial to the industry. Honorees have each been key in moving forward specific legislation advancing priorities championed by ARSA on behalf of its members.

Click here to see past updates regarding Legislative Leadership Award recipients.

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The "Golden Shovel" Award

From time to time, ARSA recognizes individuals – usually at the time of their retirement – who have spent their careers in steadfast devotion to good business, good safety, and good oversight. In the colorful illustration of Executive Director Sarah MacLeod, these professionals have spent their lives shoveling against the tide of government bureaucracy; their achievement in never giving up is acknowledged through the "Golden Shovel Award."

Click here to learn more about the "Shovel" and see who has received it.

Anti-Viral Measures

The ARSA team encourages all Annual Conference in-person participants to take measures appropriate to their personal comfort, medical risk, and other needs related to personal health. The following resources are available for attendee reference:

The Ritz-Carlton

The site of all substantive and social gatherings related to the ARSA Conference. The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City follows the Marriott International "Commitment to Clean." The guidance includes protocols and elevated practices and can be found at whattoexpect.marriott.com/waspc.

Virginia

With the exception of any Legislative Day meetings held on Capitol Hill (scheduled individually by participants), the entirety of the Annual Conference takes place in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Guidance related coronavirus protocols can be found at www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/protect-yourself.

Washington, D.C.

No Annual Conference activities open to general participation take place in Washington, D.C. Conference attendees going into the city for business or personal reasons should consult coronavirus.dc.gov for policy and guidance related to the pandemic.

U.S. CDC

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, both Arlington County (the location of the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City) and Washington, D.C. are classified as "medium" for community transmission. See county-by-county assessments and guidance at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Going Livestream

If any in-person registrant wishes to opt out of participation because of personal health concerns (including illness) they may switch to livestream access at any time. Access to the livestream is available to all participants via the Digital Companion, a password-protected webpage for participants to access the agenda, speaker information and presentation resources.

Event Photos

ARSA has created a Google Album including photos taken during the 2024 Annual Conference, which allows participants to share their own photos (Sharing event photos constitutes consenting to their use/distribution in association with Conference-related publicity for this or future events, at ARSA’s discretion). To see the album, click here.

Participant Resources & Recording Availability

Materials and Recordings

The Digital Companion (the much discussed online resource for event materials and resources, to which access information is sent to attendees via email and provided from the lectern on each day) is the location for PDFs of all presentations as well as links to additional resources discussed during the event. It also includes an attendee directory (in the “General Resources” area) and information about accessing the livestream sessions and raw recordings.

Sponsor Salute

Conference sponsors represent the best of ARSA’s membership. Here’s to all 19 organizations that committed to the maintenance community’s premier substantive event. See and celebrate those that made the commitment (To learn more about a sponsor, click its logo.).

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Supporter

Contributor

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ARSA Works

FAA Announces New Part 147 at ARSA Conference

On March 10, FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Billy Nolen announced significant progress in the decades-long trial of updating 14 CFR part 147, Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools.

Nolen, who has since stepped into the role of acting administrator to fill the gap left by the retirement of Steve Dickson, was delivering the keynote address to the Symposium portion of the Conference. He reported the new interim final rule would implement the statutory language of the PARTT 147 Act, which became law as a component of a massive spending bill in 2020. It would also incorporate the forthcoming Airmen Certification Standards in place of the onerous curriculum requirements previously imposed on A&P schools.

FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Billy Nolen addresses Conference attendees on March 10.

According to Nolen, the rulemaking had been signed off by soon-to-be-retired FAA Administrator Steve Dickson.

The agency must now follow government procedure to post to the Federal Register and begin implementation, which should happen in the next six months.

The agency posted an advance copy of the interim final rule to its website on March 15. The Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) quickly provided industry colleagues a blackline copy of the rule compared to the language in the PART 147 Act, comparing the statutory language to the interim final rule (click here to access the comparison, the highlighted edits represented changes present in rule language).

Conference recordings and presentation materials are available for attendee access (additional options will become available for general consumption after on-demand production is complete). Visit the event page for more information.

For more information on the effort to overhaul part 147, visit the issue page managed by ATEC at www.atec-amt.org/the-new-part-147.

Today, the FAA’s Billy Nolen gave the keynote speech at @ARSAWorks‘s Annual Conference, where he discussed his transition from operator to regulator. pic.twitter.com/K0yn5fyjYN

— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) March 11, 2022

Runways to Good Jobs at ACTE Event

ARSA Vice President of Operations Brett Levanto speaks during the 2022 ACTE National Policy Seminar.

On March 23, ARSA Vice President of Operations Brett Levanto addressed participants at the National Policy Seminar of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). ACTE represents organizations and individuals actively engaged in providing hands-on and skills-based education pathways, including schools, workforce investment bodies, educators and administrators.

Levanto reviewed the aviation workforce “crisis” and described efforts by the association, its allied organizations and the FAA-administered Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force to improve awareness of and pathways to industry careers. After asking participants to call out the first aviation job that came to mind, Levanto explained how pilots (the common answer) can’t fly without maintainers, manufacturers, ground operations, air traffic controllers and a host of other industry careers. He then acknowledged the roughly half of attendees whose programs include aviation instruction – indicated by a show of hands – highlighting that many industry jobs depend on widely-applicable skills.

“The FAA recognizes more than fifty aviation career fields,” Levanto noted. “Those jobs depend on a broad range of skills and technical capabilities and shouldn’t be confined to specific programs or interest areas. Our employers can make good use of your students; we need to make those connections.”

After describing the industry’s long-developing workforce crisis and the Task Force’s roots in the FAA

Acting Assistant Secretary of the Employment and Training Administration Angela Hanks speaks during the 2022 ACTE National Policy Seminar.

Reauthorization Act of 2018, Levanto reviewed key areas of focus necessary to supporting robust aviation skill development. He noted the range of ages at which students become interested in aviation, highlighted the need for local community engagement, described industry efforts to improve career development and training policy and noted several policy priorities including proposed legislation that would establish the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation.

Levanto closed by quoting the presentation of Angela Hanks, acting assistant secretary of the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor, who had preceded him at the podium. “Angela said something great: ‘Workforce development is the roads and bridges that connect people to good jobs.’ I love a good metaphor so we need to get an aviation connection in there. Maybe our work is building ‘runways, roads and bridges.’”

In addition to presenting, Levanto and Cargo Airline Association Senior Vice President Yvette Rose (who also serves on the Task Force) listened to the morning’s presentations to bring notes back to industry colleagues. Hanks’ speech included a number of federal program references of interest to aviation businesses seeking workforce and career development resources:

Between Hanks and Levanto, the event briefly strayed from its agenda to welcome a virtual visit from U.S. Senator Rob Portman of Ohio. Portman joined the gathering via Zoom to thank ACTE and its attendees for their recognition of his lifetime achievement in service to career and technical education, specifically recognizing his work as co-chair of the Senate’s CTE Caucus.

Information about ACTE and its National Policy Seminar can on its website at www.acteonline.org. Event participants should contact organizers about recording availability.

ARSA Encourages members to explore and report back on technical education resources, opportunities and experiences using ARSA.org/contact or by emailing Levanto directly.

See Levanto’s presentation

Recording courtesy ACTE

Holding Firm Against Parts Documentation Pushback

During ARSA’s 2022 Annual Conference’s “Opening Salvo” regulators’ panel, Managing Director & General Counsel Marshall S. Filler discussed parts documentation requirements under the U.S.-European Union Maintenance Annex Guidance (MAG).

Despite recent pushback from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), ARSA stands behind the E100 form, the association’s solution to the problem of new parts received by U.S. EASA approved repair stations without an FAA Form 8130-3 from the production approval holder (PAH).

The FAA said in 2016 that the E100, which describes a repair station inspection process to issue an FAA Form 8130-3 – is an acceptable means of compliance with 14 CFR and the MAG. ARSA’s position is that, “the MAG, as drafted allows an FAA Form 8130 to be created with a right-side signature when it does not come in with one from the PAH,” Filler said. He also discussed the association’s engagement with the FAA and EASA to resolve questions surrounding the use of E100.

After Filler’s comments, FAA Certification Procedures Branch Manager Dan Elgas discussed the issue and sounded a warning for PAHs: “We have a regulation that says if you’re exporting a part, it must be exported with a [8130-3]. If a production approval holder is exporting a part, and that means changing jurisdictions, so if it ends up at an EASA repair station, they’ve exported that part and they should be issuing a [8130-3] with it … We certainly would enforce it if we find a violation of the regulation,” Elgas said.

For more detail, view the full exchange from the Conference:

Final Documents/Your Two Cents

This list includes Federal Register publications, such as final rules, Advisory Circulars and policy statements, as well as proposed rules and policies of interest to ARSA members.

To view the list, click here.

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2022 Economic Outlook

Market Report Shows a Resilient Restart

On March 9, ARSA released its 2022 Global Fleet & MRO Market Forecast, prepared by Oliver Wyman. The report’s findings were presented by Anthony DiNota, Oliver Wyman CAVOK senior vice president and general manager, to participants in the Legislative Day portion of the association’s Annual Conference.

The report presents a thorough picture of the active recovery of the commercial aviation market from the impacts of the global pandemic. The global in-service fleet had returned to 93 percent of its pre-COVID size by Jan. 1, 2022, with demand and overall utilization trending towards recovery. The air transport maintenance market represented $78.6 billion in global economic activity and is forecast to reach $118 billion by 2030. That expectation is 13 percent below the pre-COVID prediction of $135 billion by the end of the decade.

“This year’s forecast demonstrates the amazing resilience of the industry,” ARSA Vice President of Operations Brett Levanto said about the report. “ARSA’s 2019 report included a sensitivity analysis in which the ‘bottom of the barrel’ scenario limited air carrier maintenance revenues to $99.5 billion by 2029. It’s fair to say we discovered a lower bottom of a deeper barrel than imagined, yet revenues are on track to land billions ahead.”

Employment and workforce issues remain central to industry growth. In the United States, the number of maintenance personnel stands at nearly 280,000 people producing almost $50 billion in annual revenue. After the severe turbulence of 2020, the American market has returned to 90 percent of the projection included in ARSA’s 2020 market report released as the pandemic’s first impacts were felt. As reflected in data collected year over year through ARSA’s member survey, finding technically skilled workers remains a top concern of repair stations trying to keep pace with larger market recovery.

“There’s been a lot of fluctuation in the past two years, but one thing remains the same: repair stations continue to drive maintenance employment in the United States,” said ARSA Executive Vice President Christian Klein, noting that 66 percent of current American employment falls at part 145 certificated facilities. “As we’ve seen year over year, there are almost seven times more men and women working in our component shops and contract airframe or engine facilities than there are airline mechanics. Serving that community is going to be essential to aviation-wide growth. Every position waiting to be filled represents lost money for businesses and the delayed start (or continuation) of a rewarding career for skilled technicians.”

The value of each person in the industry was displayed in the report, which included its first assessment of economic output per employee. Confirming numbers calculated by ARSA for years using its own survey data, Oliver Wyman found that each individual working in maintenance accounts for more than $170,000 in annual revenue.

To learn more about the 2022 ARSA Annual Conference, visit arsa.org/conference.

2022 Global Fleet & MRO Market Forecast
prepared by Oliver Wyman

Click the cover image to access a PDF copy of the Executive Summary.

Executive Summary: 2022 Global Fleet & MRO Market Forecast
U.S. state-by-state overview of 2022 employment & economic impact
Oliver Wyman Interactive Forecast Dashboard

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Legal Brief

Editor’s note: This material is provided as a service to association members for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or professional advice and is not privileged or confidential.

Across the Pond

By Brett Levanto, Vice President of Operations

Each month, the hotline’s “Legal Brief” analyzes key compliance and government oversight issues that matter to repair stations. The expertise demonstrated in each brief is ARSA’s core value to its members.

At the 2022 Annual Conference, that expertise was on display in every way, but is the centerpiece of the “Opening Salvo” session hosted on the morning of March 10. The discussions moderated by ARSA regulatory experts span an entire morning and provide a roadmap to the complex international system of regulations and bilateral agreements. 

This month’s “Legal Brief” provides one portion of that global discussion: by UK CAA Rulemaking Manager Neil Williams. After reviewing Williams’ presentation, see the full list of participating names and agencies below, then go to the Conference Digital Companion (if you registered for the Conference) or contact ARSA (if you didn’t) to get access to full event recordings.

Opening Salvo—Conversations with the Regulators

Dan Elgas, Manager, Certification Procedures Branch, Aircraft Certification Service, FAA
Ralf Erckman, Deputy Director, Flight Standards, EASA
João Garcia, Head, Department of Flight Standards, ANAC Brazil
Li Heping, Director, Continuous Airworthiness & Maintenance, CAAC (China)
David Malins, Head, Airworthiness, UK CAA
Jeffrey Phipps, Chief, Operational Airworthiness, TCCA (Canada)
Robert Ruiz, Acting Deputy Executive Director, Flight Standards Service, FAA
Neil Williams, Safety Policy Manager, Operations, UK CAA
Shijun Xue, Deputy Director General, Flight Standards, CAAC (China)

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ARSA on the Hill

Here We Go Again

By Christian A. Klein, Executive Vice President

On March 31, House Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) reintroduced legislation he first proposed in 2019 to undermine the efficiency of contract maintenance. The legislation is a top priority for airline mechanics unions, which feel threatened by the safety gains and cost savings associated with airlines’ use of repair stations, particularly those outside the United States. 

ARSA led the effort to defeat DeFazio’s “Safe Aircraft Maintenance Standards Act” (SAMSA) in the last Congress and we’ll be doing so again. The association’s objections to the legislation remain the same: 

• If the bill becomes law, U.S. repair stations with foreign approvals and their employees would almost certainly be targets of retaliation by overseas aviation safety authorities. 
• Provisions of the bill are inconsistent with U.S. obligations under bilateral aviation safety agreements. 
• Foreign repair stations would be subject to new and unnecessary requirements that do nothing to further safety. 
• U.S. air carriers and their maintenance vendors would be subject to burdensome new recordkeeping requirements. 

• U.S. commercial and general aviation operations outside the country would be disrupted because of a shortage – or complete lack of – FAA-certificated maintenance facilities in destination countries. 
• U.S. manufacturers seeking to provide product support in growing foreign markets would be prevented from obtaining FAA certification at those overseas facilities. 
• FAA resources – already stretched thin – would be diverted to activities with little or no safety benefit. 
• And if the FAA fails to complete a large (and virtually impossible) laundry list of tasks within one year of the bill’s enactment, the agency would be barred for certificating new facilities outside the United States. 

While the bill number will change, all the information from 2019 is still relevant. Go to arsa.org/legislative/samsa-actioncenter to refamiliarize yourself with the issues. Then use ARSA’s Legislative Action Center (sponsored by Aircraft Electric Motors) to quickly send an email to the Hill to express your concerns. 

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

To see how the House Aviation Subcommittee’s Democratic Staff describes the bill’s purpose, click here for a “fact sheet.” 

Aero Maintenance Industry Honors Larsen

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash)

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) has received ARSA’s 2022 Legislative Leadership Award for his efforts to enhance America’s aviation workforce.

ARSA is the trade association for the aviation maintenance industry, which employs more than 275,000 Americans and generates $47.7 billion annually for the U.S. economy (learn more about the maintenance market at arsa.org/market-assessment). Larsen’s home state of Washington is home to 110 repair stations that collectively employ more than 9,300. He chairs the U.S. House of Representatives Aviation Subcommittee.

In presenting the award as part of the association’s annual Legislative Day on March 9, ARSA Executive Vice President Christian A. Klein lauded Larsen for his commitment to the industry and its workers. “Chairman Larsen has played a central role in every recent aviation safety and workforce bill. He’s led efforts to improve FAA operations, create and fund new workforce development programs and protect industry workers through COVID relief. Our members appreciate his commitment to safety, common sense policymaking and job growth,” Klein said.

Past winners of ARSA’s Legislative Leadership Award include Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) (2021) and Jim Inhofe (2018) and Reps. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) (2020), Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) (2019).

To learn more about the 2022 ARSA Annual Conference (which included Legislative Day), visit arsa.org/conference.

2022 ARSA Legislative Leadership Award winner U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (D-Wash., center) poses with (from left) First Aviation Services Senior Vice President Josh Krotec (ARSA Vice President), NORDAM Corporate Secretary and General Counsel Terrell Siegfried, Larsen, ARSA President), ARSA Executive Vice President Christian Klein, HEICO Senior Vice President of Government & Industry Affairs Alex de Gunten (ARSA Government Affairs Chairman).

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Training

Make ARSA Training Work

ARSA’s online training program represents its most-valuable benefit to the aviation industry: knowledge gained through training and experience. The association’s team has turned its decades of work on behalf of aviation maintenance into more than 80 hours of on-demand content.

While sessions are available for registration at any time – ARSA member discounts available – companies can also incorporate the association’s training into their regular programs:

(1) Subscription. Make up-front, bulk purchases of training hours. The details of each subscription can be customized, including focus on specific subject areas (e.g., human factors) or options for specially-priced session access after the initial hours have been used.

(2) “Championing” a session. Guarantee a certain number of attendees for training in a particular topic that will also be made available for general registration. Variations include open registration for a live session (i.e., company personnel participate at the same time as general registrants) or a company-specific live event for which a recorded version (not including any company-specific information) is made available for on-demand registration.

(3) Tailored training. Contract ARSA’s management firm Obadal, Filler, MacLeod & Klein, P.L.C. to produce or modify training specific to your organization. The team can then re-record it (or offer it as a separate live session) for ARSA’s training program. Tailored programs are priced differently from ARSA’s hourly rate and are administered by OFM&K, which allows for a client engagement and related attorney-client privilege for all discussion.

Click here to go directly to the training platform (operated by ARSA’s management firm) and begin reviewing available sessions.

For more information about ARSA’s training program, review the menus below. If you have questions or would like to learn more about ways to integrate ARSA training into your own program, contact Vice President of Operations Brett Levanto (brett.levanto@arsa.org).

The association’s training program is provided through Obadal, Filler, MacLeod & Klein, P.L.C., the firm that manages ARSA. To go directly to OFM&K’s online training portal, visit potomaclaw.inreachce.com. To learn more about the association’s training program and see course availability, visit arsa.org/training.

What training do you need? Contact ARSA to let the association know and help get it developed.

Rulemaking and the Fourth Branch of Government

Certificate holders must be adept at dealing with the government. Maintenance providers need to understand the administrative agencies overseeing the industry and recognize how and when to engage in the process in order to better the system. The four sessions in the “fourth branch of government” training series are now available on demand. Purchasers can bundle all four together or focus in on either the administrative agencies themselves (two sessions) or the rulemaking process (two sessions).

The Rulemaking Process – Overview
This session provides an overview of how federal agencies make regulations that have the force and effect of law. Specifically, it reviews the agencies that must follow the Administrative Procedure Act, the procedures governed by the Act as well as other methods by which an agency can obtain recommendations from the public on its rulemaking activities and mandates.
Click here to register and get access for 90 days (multiple bundles available).

The Rulemaking Process – Effective Comments
This session provides methods for submitting effective comments on FAA rulemaking proposals and on other documents that are posted for feedback from stakeholders.
Click here to register and get access for 90 days (multiple bundles available).

Administrative Agencies & Their Powers
This session reviews why federal administrative agencies are created and how they use their powers to regulate activities within their jurisdiction. The course will also cover the basic procedures agencies must follow to create or revise regulations.
Click here to register and get access for 90 days (multiple bundles available).

Administrative Agencies – The FAA & NTSB
This session reviews the creation and powers of the two agencies most prominent in civil aviation – the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Click here to register and get access for 90 days (multiple bundles available).

Registration for an ARSA-provided training session includes:

• Unlimited access for 90 days to the recording made available after the live session is complete.
• A copy of the presentation and all reference material with links to relevant resources and citations.
• A certificate upon completion of the class, as well as any test material.

The association’s training program is provided through Obadal, Filler, MacLeod & Klein, P.L.C., the firm that manages ARSA. To go directly to OFM&K’s online training portal, visit PotomacLaw.inreachce.com. To learn more about the association’s training program and see course availability, visit arsa.org/training.

Audit Activism

Sarah MacLeod’s two-part series on establishing a proactive approach to audits is available for on-demand viewing. The sessions provide tips on how to manage an audit process that ensures responses are appropriate, timely and effective.

Audit Activism – Part 1
This session provides instruction in establishing a proactive approach to audits, starting with the differences between regulatory compliance and business requirements. It also addresses the creating appropriate interfaces among certificate holder(s), government(s) and customers (since all three must work together) to establish regulatory and business compliance.
Click here to register and get access for 90 days (bundle purchase available).

Audit Activism – Part 2
This session provides steps and tips on how to manage an audit process that ensures responses are appropriate, timely and effective.
Click here to register and get access for 90 days (bundle purchase available).

Registration for an ARSA-provided training session includes:

• Unlimited access for 90 days to the recording made available after the live session is complete.
• A copy of the presentation and all reference material with links to relevant resources and citations.
• A certificate upon completion of the class, as well as any test material.

The association’s training program is provided through Obadal, Filler, MacLeod & Klein, P.L.C., the firm that manages ARSA. To go directly to OFM&K’s online training portal, visit PotomacLaw.inreachce.com. To learn more about the association’s training program and see course availability, visit arsa.org/training.

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Membership

ARSA Doubly Recognizes Latimer’s Impact

On March 10, ARSA bestowed its oldest and newest honors on long-time association volunteer leader David Latimer, HAECO Americas vice president of regulatory compliance. Retiring after decades in service to the aviation maintenance industry, Latimer earned ARSA’s Leo Weston Award for Excellence in Service to Aviation Safety as well as the first official Executive Director’s “Golden Shovel” award.

HAECO Americas President of Airframe Services Bill Collins addresses ARSA Annual Conference Participants before announcing the 2022 Leo Weston Award winner.

The Weston award was established in 2005 and first given to Leo himself. As an FAA official, he advocated for the creation of an organization to represent the interests of maintenance providers and was pivotal in ARSA’s founding. He was a lifelong aviator and educator whose passion was kindled at a Philadelphia high school and continued through military, civil, government and volunteer service that ceased only with his passing in November 2020. In his honor, the association regularly recognizes individuals who have furthered the principles of good government. This year’s presentation was made during lunch on the “Symposium Day” of ARSA’s 2022 Annual Conference.

Latimer not only embodies Weston’s commitment to the industry; he is a role model for younger technicians pursuing aviation maintenance careers. Rather than following his siblings to a four-year college degree, he joined the Navy and built his natural technical talent while exploring the world. He obtained an FAA mechanic certificate after completing military service. His civilian career from technician to executive was earned by seeking mentors and observing the work of more experienced professionals. He joined ARSA’s board in 2004, serving nearly 20 years as a director and rotating through each leadership position multiple times – including two terms as president.

“David is the perfect example of what a committed aviation maintenance professional can achieve,” ARSA Executive Director Sarah MacLeod said in 2018 when Latimer was elected to his second term as president. “He is a technician who ‘made good’ on his skills and potential, becoming a respected industry leader who has long been integral to the association. We will use his presidency to celebrate the upward mobility available to highly skilled individuals entering the aviation maintenance industry.”

HAECO Americas Vice President of Regulatory Compliance David Latimer (right) is called back on stage by ARSA Managing Director and General Counsel Marshall S. Filler and Executive Director Sarah MacLeod.

The Weston Award was presented by HAECO Americas President of Airframe Services Bill Collins, who was the published “special guest” speaker for the luncheon. Collins addressed Conference attendees on the state of aviation maintenance business, weaving into his narrative a portrait of the people needed to sustain the industry’s future; that narrative inevitably pointed to Latimer’s example and concluded with the surprise presentation of the award.

“What does it mean to be a maintenance industry professional?” Collins asked in his remarks. “Well, in my mind it’s dedication to what we do. You’ve got to be smart. You’ve got to be tenacious because there’s a lot…you’ve got to put up with. Do the right things the right way – something I try to live by…[It] means that we operate with pride of workmanship, and we cause others to have pride in their work and do things the right way.”

Based on that model, Collins concluded: “I would like to welcome and propel Mr. David Latimer into the hallowed halls of the Leo Weston Award winners.” Latimer took the stage to a standing ovation of his colleagues, thanking them for support.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of the people in this room and have established some great relationships over the years,” Latimer said. “I want to thank you guys and ladies for everything you’ve brought to this industry. I’ve enjoyed it so much. I actually have a son who’s now entering the business, who has a great work ethic and understands what it is we do for a living.

“So, every morning when I say: ‘I’m off to go make aviation safe for the traveling public,’ I truly mean it.”

Latimer was unable to leave the stage before being stopped by MacLeod, who was joined by ARSA Managing Director and General Counsel Marshall S. Filler to bestow on Latimer the association’s first official “Golden Shovel” award.

MacLeod described the award as “Based on [ARSA’s] belief that the first rule of holes is when you’re in one, stop digging.” She colorfully described aviation professionals as individuals who could see past the difficulty of the work before them to connect with the higher calling of the business, highlighting the words included on the plaque bearing a golden shovel given to Latimer: “To shovel or not to shovel was always his question.”

To learn more about the 2022 ARSA Annual Conference, visit arsa.org/conference.

(From left) ARSA Executive Vice President Christian A. Klein, NORDAM General Counsel and Corporate Secretary (and 2022 ARSA President) Terrell Siegfried, Latimer, Filler, Collins, and MacLeod pose with ARSA’s first “Golden Shovel Award” plaque.

2022 Member Survey – Thank You

The association is grateful for the time, effort and insight of the 107 respondents to this year’s member survey. ARSA’s survey team is currently working with response data in order to use in communications, regulatory and legislative policy efforts; the “snapshot” provided by survey data is vital to supporting the maintenance community.

In advance of seeing this year’s results, visit ARSA’s data and advocacy page to see how the association makes use of survey responses in conjunction with its annual economic data and other special reports.

Didn’t get a chance to respond but want to share some thoughts? Submitted a response but have thought of more to say? Click here to contact ARSA and share your thoughts.

Quick Question – Remote Connectivity

Beginning in 2018, ARSA and its industry allies jointly engaged the FAA on “guidance for using remote connectivity technology and tools.” Despite quick agreement from the agency, promises to follow up with guidance went unfilled until the White House issued an early-pandemic memorandum directing government agencies to realign operations to slow the spread of the virus. Agency leaders were instructed to “utilize the full extent of their legal authority and discretion to execute this realignment” and to “maximize telework…while maintaining mission-critical workforce needs.”

ARSA seized on that direction to remind the industry and agency about the work both had done on remote connectivity. On March 31, the FAA’s Aircraft Certification Service issued its policy (as promised, albeit a year late) and Flight Standards followed on April 22 with a memorandum to its employees about “Video and Communication Technology.” The policies collectively acknowledge there is no regulatory prohibition against the use of such communications tools and provide basic instruction for inspectors to critically assess their implementation.

Help ARSA gather information on your company’s use of remote connectivity (or outstanding issues related to it) in this month’s “quick question” (and review the updates on arsa.org/remote-connectivity for more information).

If the embedded survey does not appear/load, open the survey independently by visiting: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/remote-connectivity.

Note: The survey below is in an embedded window and you may need to scroll down within the window to see/click the “Submit” button.

Click here to see what questions have been asked and answered…and keep a lookout for more.

For more information about this or any other question, contact Brett Levanto (brett.levanto@arsa.org).

Welcome & Welcome Back – New & Renewing Members

ARSA’s members give the association life – its work on behalf of the maintenance community depends on the commitment of these organizations. Here’s to the companies that joined or renewed in March:

New Members

Aero Systems, LLC, R01
Glass Aero, Inc., R01

Renewing Members

Accurate Accessories, LLC, R01, 2002
AERO Component Repair, LLC, R01, 2011
Aircraft Electric Motors, Inc., R04, 1984
AMETEK Aircraft Parts & Accessories, Inc. , R03, 1985
AOG Reaction, Inc., R02, 1993
Av8 MRO, LLC, R03, 2014
Avio Turbine Techs, LLC, R01, 2021
Cargo Systems, Inc., R01, 1999
Cobalt Aero Services LLC, R03, 2012
Crew Aviation LLC , R01, 2021
Chromalloy, Corp, 1993
Coopesa, R.L., R06, 1996
Earp Aviation Repairs LLC, R01, 2019
Flight Power Repair Group, LLC , R03, 2021
Gardner Aviation Specialist, Inc. dba Precision Aircraft Services, R01, 2018
Helimax Aviation, Inc., R03, 2019
NORDAM Group LLC-Repair Division, Corp, 1984
SAFETECH USA, INC., R02, 2002
SONICO, Inc., R02, 1995
Toledo Jet Center, LLC, R03, 2010
World Class Accessory, Inc., R01, 2007

A Member Asked…

More than a year after Brexit, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) is still working internally and with the FAA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and other authorities to develop a permanent regulatory framework to accept maintenance performed by repair stations outside the UK.

Q: Under the current U.S.-UK Maintenance Implementation Procedures (MIP), UK CAA will accept EASA approvals issued to U.S. repair stations and the FAA/EASA dual release 8130-3 form through the end of 2022. What’s going to happen after that?

A: The FAA and UK CAA are negotiating a new MIP, which is on track to be finalized later this year. It will create a relationship like that between FAA and EASA, by which a U.S. repair station’s FAA certificate will serve as the basis for UK CAA approval. Whatever the new framework, there will be a transition period to allow the industry to implement the new procedures.

Q: I understand that there have been some recent changes regarding UK CAA’s acceptance of EASA Form 1 from EASA/EU repair stations. What’s the scoop?

A: The bottom line is that effective April 1, 2022, UK owners and operators can only accept an EASA Form 1 from an EU/EASA approved maintenance organization (AMO) if the AMO applied for a UK approval by March 31, 2022.

The story surrounding UK CAA’s acceptance of EASA Form 1 has been confusing. In the wake of Brexit, the UK CAA continues to recognize EASA AMO certificates, but that recognition will end on Jan. 1, 2023, at which point companies will need a UK certificate to work on articles and products under UK CAA’s regulatory jurisdiction.

The agency had said it would stop accepting EASA Form 1 on Jan. 1, 2021, but in the face of the ongoing pandemic, UK CAA has continued to accept EASA from 1 from EU/EASA AMOs if they applied for a UK AMO certificate by Dec. 31, 2021. In the face of global supply chain problems, the agency extended the application date once again to March 31, 2022.

Thus, according to UK CAA:

Engine and component maintenance organisations that hold an approval issued by an EASA Member State or EASA and who wish to continue to supply maintained engines and components certified with an EASA Form 1 to the UK industry from 1 April 2022, must have applied to the CAA for a UK approval before 31 March 2022. … From 1 April 2022, UK owners/operators cannot accept EASA Form 1s dated after that point as acceptable documents for the certification of maintenance on engines and/or components from EU/EASA organisation [sic.] that have not applied to the CAA for an approval by 31 March 2022.

Make ARSA’s Voice Your Own: Advertise

ARSA has a menu of advertising opportunities for arsa.org, the hotline and the ARSA Dispatch. Take advantage of these great opportunities today to showcase your company, a new product or event. For more information go to arsa.org/advertise.

Stand Up for ARSA

In order to provide world-class resources for its members, the association depends on the commitment of the aviation community. By sponsoring events and activities, supporters can help ARSA’s work on behalf of repair stations to endure.

Need a place to start? For information about opportunities, contact Vice President of Operations Brett Levanto (brett.levanto@arsa.org).

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Resources

ARSA strives to provide resources to educate the general public about the work of the association’s member organizations; should you need to provide a quick reference or introductory overview to the global MRO industry, please utilize AVMRO.ARSA.org.

Anti-Viral Measures

For the use of its members and the larger aviation community, ARSA is maintaining this page as a resource for pandemic-related updates on policy initiatives and business needs. It is the association’s central point of communication on the topic

U.S./EU Maintenance Annex Guidance

See all of the association’s public updates since 2012 on the Maintenance Annex Guidance between the United States and European Union. The page focuses in particular on matters related to parts documentation issues arising since MAG Change 5 was issued in 2015.

Industry News Roundup

ARSA monitors media coverage on aviation maintenance to spread the word about the valuable role repair stations play globally by providing jobs and economic opportunities and in civic engagement. These are some of this month’s top stories highlighting the industry’s contributions. You can explore these stories through ARSA’s Dispatch news portal.

Industry Calendar

the hotline is the monthly publication of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), the not-for-profit international trade association for certificated repair stations. It is for the exclusive use of ARSA members and federal employees on the ARSA mailing list. For a membership application, please call 703.739.9543 or visit arsa.org/membership/join. For information about previous editions, submit a request through arsa.org/contact. This material is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, consulting, tax or any other type of professional advice. Law, regulations, guidance and government policies change frequently. While ARSA updates this material, we do not guarantee its accuracy. In addition, the application of this material to a particular situation is always dependent on the facts and circumstances involved. The use of this material is therefore at your own risk. All content in the hotline, except where indicated otherwise, is the property of ARSA. This content may not be reproduced, distributed or displayed, nor may derivatives or presentations be created from it in whole or in part, in any manner without the prior written consent of ARSA. ARSA grants its members a non-exclusive license to reproduce the content of the hotline. Employees of member organizations are the only parties authorized to receive a duplicate of the hotline. ARSA reserves all remaining rights and will use any means necessary to protect its intellectual property.

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