NATA and members of the aviation maintenance industry, including the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), sent a letter to Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO), Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) in support of  H.R. 5701, to establish an aviation maintenance workforce development pilot program. The groups note that this legislation will “incentivize businesses, labor organizations, schools and governmental entities to work together to pursue innovative, new strategies to develop technical talent and encourage workers to pursue aviation careers.” Similar legislation, S. 2506, was introduced in the Senate, sponsored by Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and was equally supported by the industry. The same group of Senators, including Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), also introduced S. 2792, supported by NATA, to “modernize aviation maintenance training curriculum to foster cutting edge innovation and maintain the highest levels of safety,” according to co-sponsor Cantwell in apress release. To encourage your Member of Congress to support H.R. 5701, S. 2506, or S. 2792, visit NATA’s Legislative Action Center today.

Sixteen aviation organizations developed a suggested draft Advisory Circular to provide guidance on using remote technology and tools. The groups put together the draft AC after consulting with the FAA on a draft policy, covering remote viewing by video that was released for comment earlier this year.

This draft AC is designed to enable FAA-authorized witnesses to use video to view certain engineering tests from a remote location. It also provides a compliance baseline for regulations, while considering the use of audio and visual tools, including video, livestream and more.

The submitted draft AC was backed by the National Air Transportation Association, Aerospace Industries Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Airlines for America, Aviation Suppliers Association, Aviation Technician Education Council, Cargo Airline Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Modification and Replacement Parts Association, National Air Carrier Association, Professional Aviation Maintenance Association, Regional Airline Association, Boeing, Gulfstream Aerospace, Moog Aircraft Group and Aeronautical Repair Station Association.