mary_hinge
7th Jun 2008, 10:11
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=mro&id=news/mccas60608.xml&headline=Senators%20Want%20Greater%20Foreign%20Repair%20Stat ion%20Scrutiny
U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) Thursday joined with Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) calling for increased scrutiny of foreign repair stations. The senators introduced The Safe Aviation Facilities Ensure Aircraft Integrity and Reliability (SAFE AIR) Act of 2008, S.3090, that would implement a series of new measures to boost government oversight of foreign repair stations, including twice annual inspections and drug and alcohol testing of repair station workers.
SAFE AIR includes several of the measures that McCaskill had hoped to attach to the comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill. But long-term FAA reauthorization stalled on the Senate floor, forcing the Missouri Democrat to introduce an independent bill.
"If we don't do something, this will remain a disaster waiting to happen," McCaskill said in a joint statement with Specter. "Oversight of this area is not something we should shirk." Specter added that the timing of increased oversight is particularly important because more heavy maintenance work is being outsourced to foreign repair stations.
The increased inspections and drug and alcohol testing already have drawn opposition from the White House and European regulators, who note that drug and alcohol testing is not permitted in some countries. The Aeronautical Repair Station Association also has voiced opposition, fearing retribution from Europe.
In addition, S.3090 would require FAA to submit a report to Congress on its plans to expand oversight of non-certified repair facilities used by U.S. carriers, require U.S. carriers to use only FAA certified repair stations, require foreign repair stations to cover the entire FAA inspection and certification costs and require the Transportation Department Inspector General to report annually on implementation of the regulations. In addition, S.3090 would call for enforcement of security standards that the Transportation Security Administration has been developing for foreign repair stations.
Also co-sponsoring S.3090 are Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) Thursday joined with Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) calling for increased scrutiny of foreign repair stations. The senators introduced The Safe Aviation Facilities Ensure Aircraft Integrity and Reliability (SAFE AIR) Act of 2008, S.3090, that would implement a series of new measures to boost government oversight of foreign repair stations, including twice annual inspections and drug and alcohol testing of repair station workers.
SAFE AIR includes several of the measures that McCaskill had hoped to attach to the comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill. But long-term FAA reauthorization stalled on the Senate floor, forcing the Missouri Democrat to introduce an independent bill.
"If we don't do something, this will remain a disaster waiting to happen," McCaskill said in a joint statement with Specter. "Oversight of this area is not something we should shirk." Specter added that the timing of increased oversight is particularly important because more heavy maintenance work is being outsourced to foreign repair stations.
The increased inspections and drug and alcohol testing already have drawn opposition from the White House and European regulators, who note that drug and alcohol testing is not permitted in some countries. The Aeronautical Repair Station Association also has voiced opposition, fearing retribution from Europe.
In addition, S.3090 would require FAA to submit a report to Congress on its plans to expand oversight of non-certified repair facilities used by U.S. carriers, require U.S. carriers to use only FAA certified repair stations, require foreign repair stations to cover the entire FAA inspection and certification costs and require the Transportation Department Inspector General to report annually on implementation of the regulations. In addition, S.3090 would call for enforcement of security standards that the Transportation Security Administration has been developing for foreign repair stations.
Also co-sponsoring S.3090 are Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.).