ARSA - Legislative Program

The Aviation Safety Enhancement Act: Seeing Double

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:26:52 -0400

On July 22, the House unanimously passed the Aviation Safety Enhancement Act (H.R. 6493) a bill introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN-8) and co-sponsored by the committee Ranking Member John Mica (R-FL-7), Aviation Subcommitte Chairman Jerry Costello (D-IL-12) and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Tom Petri (R-WI-6).

The legislation is a response to the safety oversight lapses investigated by the committee during hearings in early April of 2008. Specifically, the legislation seeks to enact recommendations from the Department of Transportation Inspector General's (IG) office included in an interim report issued in late June.

Aviation Safety Bill Passes House with Unanimous Support

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:44:27 -0400

On July 22, the House unanimously passed the Aviation Safety Enhancement Act of 2008 (H.R. 6493), sending the legislation on to the Senate for further action.

The bill was introduced July 15 by Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN-8) and co-sponsored by Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-IL-12) and Committee Ranking Member John Mica (R-FL-7) and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Tom Petri (R-WI-6). The bipartisan legislation was based on recommendations from the Department of Transportation Inspector General as well as industry representatives previously testifying before the committee.

ARSA to Capitol Hill: New Foreign Repair Stations Integral to Industry

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:07:45 -0400

On July 8, an ARSA-led coalition of aviation industry representatives sent a letter urging Members of Congress to prevent the industry from suffering punishment due to inaction by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Section 1616 of the “9/11 Commission Recommendation Act of 2007” (P.L. 110-53) and Sec. 611 of VISION 100 (the 2003 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization law) (P.L. 108-176) required the TSA to promulgate repair station security rules. Under those laws, if the TSA does not issue a final rule by Aug. 3, 2008, the FAA will be prohibited from issuing new certificates to foreign repair stations. Although there is an exception for certificate renewals and applications in process, the law will have unintended and negative consequences for U.S. companies seeking to expand operations overseas.