On Jan. 10, ARSA joined other leading aviation organizations in calling on President Trump and Congress to reopen the federal government and end the shutdown that has lasted since Dec. 22, 2018. In a letter sent to executive and legislative branch leaders, the groups described how the shutdown is hampering the $1.5 trillion civil aviation sector from functioning effectively.
How is the shutdown affecting you and your company? Click here to let ARSA know
The letter, which was coordinated by Airlines for America, detailed a range of negative impacts including on FAA staffing and morale, training for air traffic controllers, new aircraft certification and deliveries, renewal of European Aviation Safety Agency repair station approvals, pilot certification, mechanic testing and airport construction project approval. It also highlighted the personal hardship for the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection employees upon whom the functioning of the aviation system depends and who are being forced to work without pay.
“Our elected leaders need to understand their political standoff has real world consequences for workers, companies and the economy,” ARSA Executive Vice President Christian A. Klein said of the industry-wide effort the reopen the government.
As previously reported by ARSA, the Department of Transportation has published information about which FAA functions are continuing and which are suspended. Of the 24,208 FAA employees working without pay during the shutdown because their function is essential to “life and safety,” almost all (23,856) work in air traffic control; an additional 216 work in the Office of Aviation Safety, 61 work for the Office of Security and Hazardous Materials and 75 are in miscellaneous positions within the agency.
According to the DOT summary document, aircraft certification services are continuing during the shutdown, but on a limited basis (no explanation of what “limited” means). Although “Flight Standards field inspections” are a function that will continue as exempted activity during the appropriations lapse, DOT notes that just “[o]ne manager per facility is excepted and inspectors are recalled over time; [f]acility manager will recall inspectors as necessary to maintain safety of the system.” FAA activities that are suspended include airman certifications and rulemaking.
“The FAA has suspended certification of mechanics, repairman and repair stations, as well as other oversight work. Delays in getting new approvals or certificates can mean missed business and career opportunities and lost revenues. It’s only a matter of time before those impacts ripple through the workforce, affect air carrier operations and harm the local economies where repair stations are located,” Klein said.
Bloomberg reported Jan. 9 that the agency is recalling an unspecified number of aviation safety inspectors who hadn’t previously been working during the shutdown. The news outlet quoted a statement in which the FAA said that, “We are continuing to proactively conduct risk assessment, and when we identify an issue we act and recall our inspectors and engineers, as appropriate, to address them.” The Associated Press reported Jan. 8 that the FAA has been recalling inspectors for certain jobs including airlines assignments and quoted agency spokesman Gregory Martin as saying that the FAA’s focus is on “commercial air carriers and volumes of people they carry.”
To read the complete letter, click here.
In addition to ARSA and A4A, the following organizations – most of which have become regular working allies of the association through its regulatory and legislative advocacy – signed the letter:
Aerospace Industries Association
Air Line Pilots Association
Air Medical Operators Association
Air Traffic Control Association
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Airport Consultants Council
Airports Council International-North America
American Association of Airport Executives
Association of Air Medical Services
Association of Flight Attendants – CWA
Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems Int’l
Aviation Suppliers Association
Aviation Technician Education Council
Cargo Airline Association
Commercial Drone Alliance
Commercial Spaceflight Federation
Experimental Aircraft Association
General Aviation Manufacturers Association
Helicopter Association International
International Air Transport Association
International Brotherhood of Teamsters – Airline Division
Modification and Replacement Parts Association
National Air Carrier Association
National Air Traffic Controllers Association
National Air Transportation Association
National Association of State Aviation Officials
National Business Aviation Association
Professional Aviation Maintenance Association
Regional Airline Association
Security Manufacturers Coalition
Travelers United
U.S. Travel Association
Stay tuned for updates on the shutdown and the industry’s efforts to bring it to an end.
How are You Impacted? Help ARSA Tell Your Story
ARSA is gathering information about the impact the FAA shutdown is having on our members. (Click here to respond to the current “quick question” survey.) The association will use your response to help show Congress and the president the consequences for the maintenance industry.
