Support ARSA’s Positive Publicity Campaign: The Future of Your Industry May Depend on It!

The new political landscape in the nation’s capital poses enormous threats to the contract aviation maintenance industry and your company.

In recent years, opponents of repair stations have convinced lawmakers that the work you do threatens the safety and security of civil aviation. Those negative messages have taken hold in Washington, DC, particularly with Democratic members of Congress.

Pending legislation will make it harder for U.S. air carriers to use overseas repair stations and will likely result in retaliation by foreign governments that will make it more difficult – and expensive – for U.S. companies to serve international customers. The harmful legislation has support among key Democratic leaders, and President-elect Barack Obama is a primary co-sponsor of the bill. (For more detail on these legislative efforts, please visit www.arsa.org/KnowTheIssues).

Indeed, a Nov. 16 Atlanta Journal Constitution article discussed the targeted effort by a select few in Washington, D.C. (including President-elect Obama) to undermine industry expansion (the article is available here).

The good news is that ARSA isn’t taking the threat sitting down. We’re stepping up our advocacy on behalf of the maintenance industry, but we need your support.

ARSA has launched the first phase of an "inside the Beltway" Positive Publicity Campaign (PPC) to tell the story of the tremendous gains in aviation safety that have coincided with the increased use of contract maintenance.

At a recent strategic leadership conference held by ARSA, there was a clear consensus among top executives that our industry needs to more aggressively communicate positive messages about contract maintenance to decision makers. As one speaker put it, if we don’t define ourselves, others will. We have a great story and we need to tell it.

ARSA is now raising money to support Phase One of our PPC. We need to raise $70,000 to fund opinion research to determine where the industry stands with the public at large and with decision makers in Washington, DC.

The results will define the scope of our public relations activities, shape our messages, and produce a coordinated and effective campaign.

To hit the ground running with the next Congress in January, we’re asking for your commitment as soon as possible.

For more information about ARSA’s industry PPC, please contact ARSA Executive Vice President Christian Klein at caklein@arsa.org or 703 739 9543.

Click here to pledge your support

P.S. - Even with your contributions, ARSA isn't going to be able to singlehandedly change public opinion. Your company needs to do its part. As an example, Iberia Maintenance issued a press release celebrating 10 years of quality partnership with Chinese maintenance facilities. What is your company doing to help change your industry's image?

Thank You!

Thanks to these companies who have generously given to ARSA’s Positive Publicity Campaign:

AAR Corporation
Aircraft Electric Motors
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings
Barfield, Inc.
EB Airfoils, LLC
Genesis Aviation
HEICO Aerospace Corporation
Lufthansa Technik AG
MTU Maintenance Hannover GmbH
San Antonio Aerospace
Southwest Airlines
Taikoo (XMN) Aircraft Engineering Co.
TAP Maintenance & Engineering
Texas Pneumatic Systems, Inc.
TIMCO – Greensboro
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