The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) opposes the enactment of legislation that would inhibit international maintenance of U.S.-registered aircraft and related components. Provisions currently part of H.R. 915, the House version of FAA reauthorization, would restrict the use of contract maintenance, and harm existing relationships between the U.S. and international aviation authorities.

By law, the state of registry of an aircraft controls the maintenance; therefore international repair stations are essential to U.S. air carriers. Section 303 of H.R. 915 would require that foreign repair stations be inspected twice a year by FAA inspectors, and would mandate the testing of maintenance employees for the use of drugs and alcohol. These provisions violate existing bilateral aviation safety agreements, and put an enormous strain on the FAA's already taxed resources.

Given the strict oversight of foreign facilities by the FAA, other national aviation authorities, airline customers and the repair stations themselves, such restrictive action is unnecessary and will only provoke retaliation. With more EASA certificated repair stations in the U.S. (1,200) than FAA certificated repair stations worldwide (708), the U.S. enjoys a favorable trade balance and must ensure that Congressional action doesn't harm domestic facilities.