McCaskill Bill Puts Maintenance Industry In Crosshairs

On June 5, Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) introduced the Safe Aviation Facilities Ensure Aircraft Integrity and Reliability Act (SAFEAIR) (S. 3090). The legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Obama (D-IL), Clinton (D-NY), and Specter (R-PA).

The bill is exactly the same as the amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill (S. 1300) sponsored by Sen. McCaskill with the same co-sponsors.

The potential impact of this legislation cannot be overstated. ARSA is calling for an immediate response from its membership to representatives on Capitol Hill urging the rejection of S. 3090.

We cannot let those propagating unsubstantiated fears and innuendo manage our industry. We control our fate and a swift and decisive response is a crucial first step. Get on the phone, internet, and fax...do not rest until Capitol Hill has heard our voice and rejects S. 3090.

As Napoleon Bonaparte once stated, "Victory belongs to the most perservering"- let's show Capitol Hill that we are here to stay!

This legislation will undermine the international aviation maintenance industry and the impact will be felt not only abroad, but by all maintenance facilities in the United States.

The bill mandates:

• Further restrictions on the FAA's ability to certificate a foreign repair station if TSA does not develop its security rules as originally ordered in VISION 100;
• Twice-annual inspections of foreign repair stations, one of which must be a "surprise", even in bilateral countries;
• Drug and alcohol testing under US DOT rules of all foreign maintenance employees, even in countries that prohibit such testing as a matter of sovereign law; and
• Increased fees for overseas FAA inspections.

In addition, the international aviation industry is threatening retaliation which can result in EASA repair stations in the U.S. being subjected to higher fees and EASA audits.

To send your own letter click here, or visit www.ARSAAction.org, where you can send a message and look up your representatives’ information.

Both the Bush Administration and our friends in Europe are opposing these provisions.

To view the Administration policy, click here.

To view the Aviation Assembly's letter, click here.

This message is of particular importance to ARSA members in states with senators in power positions!

* Alaska - Sen. Ted Stevens (R), Ranking Member, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
* Hawaii - Sen. Daniel Inouye (D), Chairman, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
* Missouri - Sen. Claire McCaskill (D), sponsor of damaging bill
* Texas - Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R), Ranking Member, Senate Aviation Subcommittee
* West Virginia - Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D), Chairman, Senate Aviation Subcommittee
* Illinois - Sen. Barack Obama (D), co-sponsor of bill
* Pennsylvania - Sen. Arlen Specter (R), co-sponsor of bill
* New York - Sen. Hillary Clinton (D), co-sponsor of bill

If your business or employees are located in any of these states or if you do business in any of these states, reach out to these key senators. Take action now or watch the industry suffer.