ARSA: Aviation Maintenance Veteran Named ARSA President

Washington, D.C. - Chris Erickson, chief repair station officer (CRSO) and compliance officer at Erickson Air-Crane (EAC), was elected president of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) at the association’s annual board meeting on Oct. 30. Erickson assumes the presidency after two years of service as ARSA’s senior vice president. Dr. Hans Jürgen-Loss, vice president of quality management at Lufthansa Technik and Mr. Gary Fortner, vice president of quality management at Fortner Engineering, were respectively elected ARSA’s senior vice president and treasurer for 2010.

“It is my pleasure and honor to serve the ARSA membership,” said Erickson. “The global aviation maintenance industry currently faces numerous challenges – but those same challenges bring great opportunity to increase the industry’s integral contributions to aviation safety and security.”

Erickson began his aviation career in 1969 and has a diverse background in operating, maintaining and manufacturing helicopters and in interfacing with civil aviation authorities worldwide. He joined EAC in 1981, and has served in various managerial positions. In 2003, he became the compliance officer and CRSO/accountable manager.

Erickson has an associate’s degree in aviation maintenance and helicopter maintenance management, and he has taken various regulatory management courses. He holds an airframe and powerplant license and inspection authorization under the repair station.

In addition to executive leadership, ARSA announced its board of directors for 2009-2010. Joining Erickson, Loss, and Fortner will be Ian Cheyne, vice president of Dallas Airmotive; Gary Hudnall, director of maintenance at Jet Center Medford; Gary Jordan, CEO of Jordan Propellers; William Peacher, senior vice president of NORDAM; Jim Perdue, vice president of SONICO, Inc.; and Dave Latimer, vice president of regulatory compliance at TIMCO.

ARSA is currently celebrating its 25th year of representing certificated aviation maintenance and alteration facilities. ARSA's 500 members are contributors to the international maintenance, repair, and overhaul industry that generates over $80 billion in economic activity worldwide, including $39 billion in the United States. ARSA members take pride in a dedication to excellent safety, security and service. For more information about ARSA, please visit http://www.arsa.org.