2025 – Edition 2 – March 7

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.

The 2025 Annual Conference Preview
Sarah Says
ARSA Works
Membership
Resources
Industry Meetings & Events

Sarah Says

Calling It What It Is

By Sarah MacLeod, Executive Director

The legal professionals leading the association believe misusing words and terms leads only to peril. Sloppy language leads to confusion; we see it from regulators all the time and must uphold higher standards for ourselves. 

This background explains why the ARSA Team is so attentive to its executive director’s continual use of the historical term “Symposium” for what has now for years been ARSA’s Annual Conference. 

The “Symposium” lives on through Thursday’s content. Every speaker invitation for that day requests participation in “the Symposium portion of ARSA’s Annual Conference.” The day forms the content backbone of the event initially conceived 30 years ago: Open discussion between regulators and industry professionals is a platform to ask hard questions and resolve problems. 

As the cornerstone of the Conference, the Symposium now balances the high-level, closed door discussion of the Executive to Executive Briefings, the advocacy of Legislative Day, and the lessons learned in ARSA’s Annual Member Meeting. Regardless of what anyone calls these four days of engagement; there’s no doubt what they are: the international aerospace maintenance community’s premier substantive event. 

This edition of the hotline help Conference participants prepare for engagement. For those members staying home, it’s a reminder of what your colleagues will do on the industry’s behalf this month. Following along from your home base can be achieved by registering to attend the “live” event or through “Conference Ambassadors” identified by each registrant brings the event home. 

Registrations are accepted through event kickoff. Click here to join us. 

Return to Top of Page

The 2025 Annual Conference Preview

Get Ready

March 18-21, 2025

Event Information | Registration | Sponsors

Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C. with Livestream Options for Conference Ambassadors

What began decades ago as ARSA’s Annual Repair Symposium has evolved into a week-long event including executive branch briefings, grassroots legislative advocacy and world-class regulatory compliance and business content. The event provides a regular venue for members and invited guests from around the world to network and discuss issues that matter to the repair station community.

The Sponsors
The Event
The Technology

If you’ve never been to an ARSA Conference (or it’s been a while), the time is now to see what you’ve been missing.

ARSA will make use of its well-honed tools for providing an engaging Conference; participants should prepare to make the most of the aviation maintenance industry’s premier substantive event.

Review this special section of the hotline and make sure you’re registered to participate.

Return to Top of Page

The Sponsors

Going Platinum

Sponsors | Registration | Information

ARSA thanks each of these eight companies for the strength of spirit they continue to demonstrate on behalf of the aviation world.

Click here to register and see the benefits of their investment.

		Aircraft Electric Motors,a founding member of ARSA, has long been visible through sponsorships, advertisements, interviews, and constant support of the association’s work. Once again, the company’s investment will prepare Legislative Day Participants and provide arsa.org/congress for members year-round.
		From periodical advertising to Board leadership, Enterprise Member Chromalloy knows the impact of ARSA’s message. The company continues to help spread that message by providing for Livestream Access of the Conference.
		Coopesa continues its commitment to the maintenance community’s premier substantive event by supporting the 2025 “Digital Companion”…which attendees know is the source of all information and reference material needed to make the most of ARSA’s “four days in March.”
		HAECO Americas uses its Enterprise Membership to lead on behalf of the entire maintenance industry. Its 2025 sponsorship of Friday’s “Member Day” shows off the company’s commitment to all that invested in ARSA.
		HEICO regularly puts itself (and its people) out front on ARSA’s behalf. From documentary starring roles to government affairs leadership, the Enterprise member will be front and center during the Ice Breaker Reception (providing the week’s only open bar).
		Lufthansa Technik’s international leadership is evident from its position on ARSA’s Board and regular representation at association events. This year, its sponsorship will provide hearty fare and good company during Thursday’s lunch.
		Moog, known professionally for high standards of innovation and trust, will help ARSA foster both by providing the venue and food for the high-level participants in the Executive to Executive Briefings.
		MRO Holdings has long supported ARSA’s regulatory compliance leadership for the global industry. The company continues that support by providing for text updates during the 2025 Conference.

Golden Touch

Sponsors | Registration | Information

The association is grateful to the six Gold Level Sponsors of the 2025 Annual Conference.

Click here to register and see the benefits of their investment.

		AAR Corp is one of the association’s longest tenured member companies, regularly investing time, expertise and resources in furthering the industry’s interests through ARSA’s leadership.
		AeroKool Aviation has served every corner of the aviation market since 1959 and been represented on ARSA’s board since 2022. The company continues to represent itself and the association with pride.
		First Aviation Services helps ARSA to lead from the front through its proactive legislative and regulatory engagement in support of key industry initiatives. That leadership is always on display at the Annual Conference.
		NORDAM is a family-owned global aerospace firm and another one of ARSA’s original members. The company has long been represented on the association’s board of directors and is a mainstay at its events.
		StandardAero has been known for its “workmanship, efficient personnel and effectiveness of equipment” since 1911. The ARSA enterprise member’s return to the sponsor list will be celebrated on the nametag lanyard of every attendee.
		ST Engineering boasts facilities across the world and typifies the international character of ARSA’s membership. The company’s government affairs leadership will be evident when Legislative Day attendees convene on March 19.

Sponsoring Conference Success

Thank you to the 18 organizations that have committed (so far) to sponsor ARSA’s 2024 Annual Conference. There’s still time to join them…check the event page to see how.

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Contributor

 

Return to Top of Page

The Event

Attendance Experience

The Agenda

Sponsors | Registration | Information

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

The “Digital Companion”

Sponsors | Registration | Information

Since 2019, all participant materials and references related to the Annual Conference have been made available on a special page on ARSA.org.

How do participants access the Digital Companion?

A registrant prep email sent in advance of the Conference includes the web address and password to the Digital Companion. The address may be used in any web browser; when the page loads it will ask for the password and then allow access to the page, which is viewable on either desktop or mobile device.

What information is available on the Digital Companion?

(1) The event agenda, including session information, time and location for all events.

(2) Speaker names with links to online bios (where available).

(3) Presentation resources and materials (uploaded after sessions are complete).

(4) General information and resources (ARSA action resources, team member contacts, etc.)

(5) Access to the Conference livestream (For registrants and Conference Ambassadors).

Late Registrations

Sponsors | Registration | Information

Interested attendees may sign up to participate on premises or to view the livestream at any time through the event’s completion.

Click here to go to the event page and complete the form or follow the instructions provided.

Return to Top of Page

The Technology

ARSA’s Partners and Platforms

ARSA has tapped into its broad network of online content providers – contacts developed from years of providing online training and participating in remotely-produced event content – to provide the 2025 Annual Conference. 

ARSA.org – Participant Resources & Access

Conference participants will be able to access all event-related information via specially-designed pages on the ARSA website. Both the “Digital Companion” (which will contain agenda and sponsor information as well as event materials) and the embedded livestream will be available on ARSA.org. What could make these resources better? Tell ARSA.

Microsoft Teams – Speaker Coordination

Presenters and panelists unable to be physically present will interact and engage their material using Microsoft Teams, which has become the association’s go-to online meeting platform. 

Vimeo – Live Stream

Livestreamed portions of the Conference will be delivered to event participants via a Vimeo player embedded on an ARSA.org webpage. Once online attendees and Conference Ambassadors have accessed the page, they can save the location on their favorite browser for repeated access. Every portion of the event will play on the same stream.

Hothouse Media – Onsite Production

The filming team has been onsite since the 2019 ARSA Annual Conference returns. Alongside the ARSA team at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, Hothouse’s professionals will oversee all production on site to ensure the best audio, video and entertainment possible for livestream participants and provide recorded versions of sessions for access after the event.

TextSpot – Attendee Updates

Annual Conference participants who provided a text-enabled phone number during registration will receive event updates via SMS. Responses to these texts will be monitored by an ARSA team via the TextSpot platform. Attendees need not download or access any technology, exchanges will be the same as normal SMS texts sent via their mobile device.

See how all of these pieces fit together during the Conference from March 13-15. 

Participant Support

ARSA’s team worked hard to prevent issues before they occur. Still, things happen.

If any attendee needs assistance during the event, they should refer to the ARSA team contact information in the Digital Companion. If you cannot or do not know how to access that resource, use the general contact information on the team member directory or arsa.org/contact. Team members may not be immediately attentive to all messages, but will be monitoring and prioritizing Conference-related communications.

The After Party

Session recordings will be made available to registrants after the event is over (please allow time for production). Also, ARSA’s team will work with its technology partners to create special content based on activities during the Conference, so stay tuned to future web updates and periodicals.

ARSA Works

U.S. Bilateral Update Requires SMS Compliance

On Feb. 10, the Bilateral Oversight Board (BOB) for the U.S.-European Union (EU) bilateral aviation safety agreement (BASA) issued Decision No. 13. It amends BASA Annex 2 to require U.S.-based repair stations with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval to establish, implement, and maintain a Safety Management System (SMS).

SMS for U.S. repair stations has been on the radar for years. The FAA issued InFo 24007 in June 2024 and announced at the 2024 FAA-EASA International Safety Conference that SMS would be required for U.S. EASA repair stations by the end of 2025. Approved maintenance organizations (AMO) in the EU are already required to have SMS. The FAA decided not to include repair stations in its expansion of 14 CFR part 5, which created a significant difference between FAA and EASA regulations. Thus, SMS was added to the BASA special conditions for U.S. based repair stations wishing to obtain or maintain an EASA certificate.

The BOB is authorized by the bilateral agreement to amend the annexes. The exact language added to Appendix 1 of Annex 2 is—

(b) The repair station shall establish, implement, and maintain a Safety Management System (SMS) acceptable to the FAA and compliant with ICAO Annex 19 as applicable to maintenance organizations. The FAA SMS Voluntary Program outlines the process and requirements.

To facilitate compliance, ARSA has partnered with the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) to provide ARSA members with access to AEA’s SMS tools. The AEA-managed program is constructed around the principles created by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for adoption by the civil aviation authorities. It is consistent with the FAA’s Voluntary Program.

The BOB’s Decision isn’t the final step in the process of imposing SMS on U.S. repair stations. The authorities must still issue new Maintenance Annex Guidance (MAG) to provide direction to industry about the requirements. At last report, the MAG was nearly complete; however, the regulatory freeze imposed on federal agencies by the Trump administration likely causing delays. ARSA also expects new related guidance for FAA inspectors, but the timing is unknown.

EASA and FAA executives will update the industry on the status of SMS implementation at ARSA’s Annual Conference. In the meantime, to read BOB Decision No. 0013, click here. To read the consolidated text of the bilateral agreement, click here.

ARSA Helps CNBC Illustrate Career Development “Challenge”

On Feb. 14, CNBC published a 12 minute special addressing the workforce and career development challenges facing the maintenance industry. ARSA Executive Director Sarah MacLeod participated, lending a voice to the data and analysis provided behind the scenes by the association to producers constructing the video.

The piece introduced the overall shortage of maintenance professionals before covering certification, recruitment, retention, and supply issues. MacLeod featured throughout the video, which also included interviews with GE Aerospace and Aviation High School in Queens, New York.

CNBC – Airplane Maintenance Worker Shortage

“Aerospace is just a fascinating industry that is only a small portion driven by airlines,” MacLeod explained. CNBC’s analysis provided a useful overview of the industry’s employers and their employment opportunities. “Eighty percent of the maintenance facilities [ARSA represents] are small businesses.”

Those small businesses compete in a complex market for talent. Many rely on word of mouth recruitment or build local partnerships but must face industry-wide limitations in available personnel. ARSA’s advocacy, training, and resources, particularly its championing of FAA grants for technician development, offer opportunities for the many independent repair stations that cannot invest in robust human capital outreach.

“The entire world is going to feel this workforce shortage,” MacLeod said. “You already can’t get your houses built. I think that aerospace can actually lead the recovery…because we do need, and want, and can train, and have trained the elite when it comes to these blue collar jobs. I’ve talked to a lot of people in the industry for 30 years that [say] their damn children can’t change a tire. For our folks in the repair station environment is you having technical skills – knowing a screwdriver from a wrench – and a desire to learn. Period.”

Looking ahead, CNBC’s reporting acknowledged the value of training and career development. Aviation personnel, and the infrastructure supporting them, must adapt to increasing workloads while harnessing and managing new technology. As MacLeod said in her statement closing the piece, failure to do so will leave aircraft – and the world – stuck on the ground.

To watch the complete piece via CNBC’s YouTube channel, click here.

To see one of ARSA’s programs supporting career development – by providing for tuition reductions to Purdue University Global Online – click here.

ARSA Joins Workforce Grant Application

On Feb. 5, the aviation non-profit Choose Aerospace, which administers ARSA’s annual scholarship in addition to providing a maintenance-focused curriculum for student and employee development programs, included the association on its application for an FAA Technical Workforce Development Grant.

The application requests $1 million to establish a project “Advancing Skilled Careers, Education, and National Development” (ASCEND). The program would invest in curriculum updates and resources while leveraging ARSA’s members network to build “earn to learn” programs for technicians:

“Project ASCEND will collaborate with [ARSA] to share and replicate these models [including internships and apprenticeships], while developing new use cases aligned with national employer training needs and evolving airman certification regulations,” the application narrative said. “The collaboration will focus on military-to-civilian transitions and workforce needs at rural repair stations, supported by research, implementation, and intern/apprentice wages to validate scalability.”

While Choose Aerospace and ARSA wait for the FAA’s decision to award a grant, members are encouraged to contact the association with interest in program opportunities:

(1) Read the complete grant application narrative.

(2) Visit the “ASK ARSA” portal.

(3) For “I am contacting ARSA because…” select “I’m looking for (or learning about) an aerospace job or career.”

(4) Share information regarding existing programs, experience with “earn to learn” experiences, and/or interest in participating in Project ASCEND (this submission does not guarantee any opportunity, but it will help Choose Aerospace and ARSA determine options).

To learn more about Choose Aerospace, visit www.chooseaerospace.org.

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.

Return to Top of Page

Membership

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 February:

New Members
Aero Accessories, LLC, R01
Aerotech of Louisville LLC, R02
Alcor Inc., Assoc
California Radomes, Inc, R02
Consolidated Fuel Systems LLC, R01
Integrity Testing & Safety Administrators, Inc., Assoc
Precision Airmotive, LLC, R02

Returning Members
AeroParts Manufacturing & Repair, Inc., R04, 2016
AeroRepair Corp., R03, 2012
Av8 MRO LLC, R03, 2014
Aviation Avionics & Instruments, Inc., R03, 2012
Barfield, Inc., R05, 1995
Big Dipper, Inc. dba Acme Coatings Inc., R02, 2024
Cadorath Aerospace Lafayette, LLC, R03, 2005
Continental Aircraft Support, Inc., R04, 2004
Erickson Incorporated dba Erickson Air-Crane, R01, 1997
Farsound Aviation Limited, Assoc, 2023
Flight Power Repair Group, LLC , R03, 2021
Gardner Aviation Specialist, Inc. dba Precision Aircraft Services, R01, 2018
Helimax Aviation, Inc., R03, 2019
IAG Aero Group Engine Field Services, LLC, R01, 2024
IHI Corporation, R06, 2019
LAUNCH Technical Workforce Solutions, LLC, R01, 2019
Lufthansa Technik AG, Corp, 2001
Mingo Aerospace, L.L.C, R03, 2005
MTU Maintenance Dallas, Inc., R04, 2020
Papillon Airways, R03, 2011
S.E.A.L. Aviation  LLC, R03, 2014
SkyWest Airlines, Inc., Assoc, 2010
Thales Avionics, Inc., R04, 2006
Toddcoe Aviation dba Alpha Aircraft Services of America, Inc., R01, 2012
Turbine Aircraft Logistics, LLC, R01, 2021
Windsor Airmotive West Chester Division-Barnes Aerospace, R04, 1995

ARSA Survey Invite Sent

On Feb. 21, an invitation to complete ARSA’s member survey was sent to the email address of every primary contact. The message was subjected “Invitation to Complete ARSA’s Annual Member Survey” and was sent by Vice President of Operations Brett Levanto. Ensure the invitation makes it to your primary contact and gets the attention it deserves.

The association’s annual member survey gathers intelligence on issues facing the international maintenance community. Responses improve ARSA’s services and provide data to support advocacy on behalf of the global aviation industry. Please help by submitting…or stimulating your primary contact to submit on your company’s behalf. (If you don’t know who the primary contact is, or don’t think the invitation got through, we can help.)

Initial response data is used by the ARSA team to present the state of the industry at the association’s Annual Conference. Click here to register now.

Return to Top of Page

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.

Careers in Aviation Maintenance

How do you share the industry’s story with the people who could be its future? Teach them about the great work done every day to keep the world in flight. (Even if we can’t recruit somebody, we sure can make them thankful for our work.)

ARSA Member Benefits

From access to industry expertise to growing your own through education and training, ensure your company gets the most out of its investment in ARSA.

U.S. Legislative Action Center

ARSA requests its members’ assistance to keep FAA reauthorization front and center on the congressional agenda and ensure our workforce priorities are included. Please use ARSA’s grassroots action center (sponsored by Aircraft Electric Motors) to send a quick note to your elected representatives in support of our efforts.

Industry Meetings & Events

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.

© 2025 Aeronautical Repair Station Association