ARSA CORNER MUGGED BY REALITY
Survival in aviation maintenance means being an optimist constantly mugged by reality. While optimism is better than pessimism, smart businesses must ground hopes in realistic strategy. Early returns from the Aeronautical Repair Station Association’s (ARSA) 2016 member survey show nearly half of respondents saw growth over the past two years and 70 percent expect it to continue over the next 12 months. On a global scale, the association’s annual market assessment projects three to four percent expansion worldwide over the next decade. (See more at
arsa.org/ economic-data). These are good signs. The reality is even when things
look great in the long term, there will be downturns. Lasting profi tability means weathering storms as much as it does coasting on clear air. It requires sound technical capability and an innovative, stable management profi le. Within an established technical envelope, companies can fi nd new methods, customers and markets while taking advantage of capital improvements. The key to success for any business is exactly the same: be very, very good at what you do and fi nd new ways of doing it, and be active and participatory in business operations, industry policy-making and politics.
While focusing on business, true
eff ectiveness requires knowing what requires activism beyond the shop fl oor. On both the regulatory and legislative fronts, engagement means prevention:
Last September, the FAA and EASA signed change fi ve to the U.S.- EU Maintenance Annex Guidance,
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DOMmagazine.com | may 2016
BY BRETT LEVANTO
“A PESSIMIST SEES THE DIFFICULTY IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY; AN OPTIMIST SEES THE OPPORTUNITY IN EVERY DIFFICULTY.” – WINSTON CHURCHILL
which included a “new” requirement that U.S. production approval holders issue FAA Form 8130-3 for all new parts. It was a potential debacle that could have cost industry millions and grounded international business for FAA certifi cate holders. Since then, ARSA has been the
industry leader on multiple eff orts to “smooth” implementation and prevent disruption of global maintenance operations. The association is still working constantly to help the FAA reasonably apply the new 14 CFR § 21.137(o) allowing production approval holders to issue authorized release certifi cates. On April 1, after persuasion from ARSA’s regulatory compliance experts, the agency once again extended the eff ective date of the new parts documentation requirement to Oct. 1 — six additional months for production approval holders to realize the benefi ts of the new privilege. (See more at
arsa.org/mag-change-5). As you read this, congressional
lawmakers are in the process of reauthorizing the FAA. Air traffi c control privatization has taken most of the ink in the debate so far, but the few maintenance-related provisions in the both the House and Senate versions of the FAA bill contain potentially-damaging mandates caused by fl awed political reasoning. We’ve seen this all before. Once a bad idea is introduced in Congress, it never goes away. The worst thing about
congressional meddling is that small businesses are most vulnerable. Being the “weakest actors” who do not deploy lobbying teams 24/7, the companies that are the backbone
of the MRO sector stand to suff er most from unnecessary, duplicative mandates. For the sake of those small-to-medium sized enterprises, Congress has to get it right. That won’t happen without persuasion and persistence of industry and associations like ARSA. It feels good to be optimistic, and
repair stations, component shops, parts producers and FBOs should be. To see opportunity in everything, regardless of the diffi culty, means trusting the basic strengths of your own business, recognizing the impact of larger regulatory and legislative forces, and supporting those who work towards the right balance of responsibility and oversight. ARSA’s focus hasn’t changed in decades. Keep a steady course on long-term issues (e.g., major/ minor determinations, instructions for continued airworthiness, airworthiness directive compliance and audits), address items that matter and be ready for the crisis of the day. The work of facing reality never stops. Ironically, in aviation maintenance being mugged by reality means keeping your wallet … and staying in business.
Brett Levanto is vice president of operations of Obadal, Filler, MacLeod & Klein, P.L.C. managing fi rm and
client communications in conjunction with regulatory and legislative policy initiatives. He provides strategic and logistical support for the Aeronautical Repair Station Association.
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