According to ARSA, Location of Aviation Maintenance Work May Vary, Quality Does Not

Washington, D.C. – June 20, 2007. Emphasizing the pivotal role of foreign repair stations in the aviation industry, the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) testified today before the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety and Security regarding the oversight of foreign contract maintenance.

“Although the location of work may differ, quality does not,” ARSA Managing Director and General Counsel Marshall S. Filler said. “The fact remains that foreign repair stations are subject to a tremendous amount of oversight by regulators, their customers, and other entities.” While the reputation for quality, safety, and security enjoyed by foreign aviation maintenance entities has been called into question by select interest groups, the “numbers don’t lie”- a 2005 survey conducted by ARSA revealed that the average FAA-certificated foreign repair station is audited more than 74 times each year by a variety of oversight authorities and such stations maintain a robust safety record.

ARSA is an Alexandria, Virginia-based international trade association whose primary members are companies that hold part 145 repair station certificates issued by civil aviation authorities. ARSA’s members include leading aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) companies; aviation manufacturers; airlines; and businesses that serve the repair station industry. More information about ARSA is available at www.arsa.org