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The Senate version of the FAA reauthorization legislation (S. 1451) passed the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in July and the full Senate is expected to consider the bill when it returns in September. The FAA reauthorization bill contains numerous provisions of importance to PASS; however, there is language in the Senate version that restricts inspections of FAA-certificated foreign repair stations. Section 521 exempts FAA-certificated foreign repair stations in countries with bilateral aviation safety agreements from the twice annual inspections by an FAA inspector. Furthermore, the section restricts drug and alcohol testing of workers who perform maintenance on U.S.-registered aircraft to countries that would recognize such testing.

Earlier this year, the House passed its version of the FAA reauthorization bill (H.R. 915), which contained language that mandates the FAA to conduct a minimum of two inspections a year at all FAA-certificated foreign repair stations and requires drug and alcohol testing of maintenance workers at these repair stations. PASS strongly supports this language and believes all FAA-certificated foreign repair stations should be inspected at least twice a year by an FAA inspector and that all workers performing maintenance on U.S. aircraft at foreign repair stations be drug and alcohol tested regardless of any international agreement. As a member of the Flight Standards bargaining unit, you are all too aware that now is not the time for the FAA to abdicate its oversight responsibility to any country, regardless of its safety record.

Senate lawmakers are hearing from industry that the House-passed provisions would not only threaten international agreements, but that they are not necessary and therefore burdensome. We all know that these claims are unfounded and that the role of the FAA is to provide oversight no matter where maintenance work is being performed. Furthermore, any country that performs maintenance work on U.S.-registered aircraft should be held to the same standards as facilities located in the United States.

We ask that you take a few minutes to send the message below to both of your senators. Feel free to personalize your message by expanding upon the text below. We also ask that you follow up your message with phone calls to both of your Senate offices. In addition, please take advantage of the August recess by scheduling an appointment with your local Senate offices to discuss this critical issue.