Never Again
So, after ten years, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) finalized rules for repair stations; the congressionally-mandated ban on international business expansion can lift. How did the repair station community get itself into a position that it had to request regulations it did not want and the public did not need?
The ability to get a law passed is simply political clout; it can be gained by direct involvement or by monetary commitment. Ten years ago, the repair station community had no interest in politics, little monetary involvement, and basically no influence—the trade unions had all three. Today ARSA has an active legislative team that applied pressure on the TSA through congressional visits resulting in a final rule. Unfortunately, clout to eliminate the repair station security requirement is still needed.
The repair station community must pledge never to be the victim of bad politics again—support of this trade association is essential to that effort. There is no other organization devoted to the requirements of the worldwide maintenance industry—the manufacturers and operators have different interests and will use their political power on other issues. The matters faced by the maintenance community aren’t popular, they aren’t sexy, and they can and do create controversy. It cannot be avoided, it can only be bested—it is past time to put your time or your money on the line.
Congressional leaders in both chambers are formulating the next Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation. The current law expires in 2015; however, without groundwork you can bet that anti-contract maintenance factions will be pushing proposals to hinder your growth.
Remember attempts to mandate biannual inspections of all FAA-certificated foreign repair stations that jeopardized the U.S.-EASA bilateral aviation safety agreement? How about mandatory criminal background checks for all repair station employees? Limits on the use of contract maintenance by U.S. air carriers? All of these proposals (and more) will come up again. A strong association can stop these ideas from becoming reality; otherwise you will live with implementing and minimizing the impact of growth-impeding measures.
Never again means getting involved; it is simple:
(1) Attend ARSA’s Legislative Day.
(2) Weigh-in with your lawmakers through ARSAaction.org .
(3) Learn more about ARSA PAC—or give to a political campaign directly.
(4) Strengthen industry representation through the Members Getting Members program.