ARSA CORNER
AHEAD, ALONGSIDE AND BEHIND
BY SARAH MACLEOD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AERONAUTICAL REPAIR STATION ASSOCIATION
THERE’S NO MANUAL FOR HANDLING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. AS ONE U.S. GOVERNOR COMMENTED, “WE’RE BUILDING THE PLANE AS WE’RE FLYING IT.”
Unfortunately, the maintenance
industry and ARSA understand crisis management. We have been ahead, alongside and behind a lot of them in the last 35 years: terrorist attacks, wars and economic recessions. The present crisis will eventually end, but in the meantime companies and their employees need support. ARSA is working alongside the
industry in pursuing relief and creating resources to ensure its members can be ahead of the game. Regardless of where your facility is in the world, these general areas are guideposts for relief.
LOBBYING FOR REPAIR
STATION RELIEF Through ARSA’s enhanced legislative presence action was immediately taken when consternation developed among repair station owners and employees — aside from keeping everyone healthy — to keep sufficient cash flowing. The association obtained input from MRO-sector leaders and ensured the maintenance community was included in America’s congressional action.
It began with a letter to the
president requesting $11 billion in relief for repair stations including a tax credit for airlines that contract maintenance during the national
emergency. With an unprecedented number of companies participating in the grassroots effort, the CARES Act included repair stations among the aviation stakeholders. Having gotten ahead of the curve
early, ARSA’s work continues. The association obtained expertise for members working through the government’s implementation of the law. It is continuing to work around the clock keeping maintenance issues front and center on the Hill and among the agencies.
REPAIR STATIONS
ARE “ESSENTIAL” In response to early shelter-in-place orders, and to ensure members in those and other states could be ahead of the curve, ARSA developed a memo explaining why repair stations are essential and can continue to operate. The ARSA “anti-viral’ website also has a link the guidance from the U.S. government about essential businesses (which includes aviation maintenance).
TRAIN TO GAIN LATER To ensure companies weathering this storm can invest in their workforce for future success, ARSA has discounted its online training classes by 50 percent. Members and
non-members can take advantage of the downtime to sharpen workers’ knowledge and skills. Our training library contains more than 75 classes on regulatory, human factors and legal topics. (We welcome suggestions for additional content and can offer options to bring new instruction directly to your team. Contact us for more information.)
MAINTAINING THROUGH
REMOTE CONTROL. The White House has told federal agencies to “maximize telework… while maintaining mission-critical workforce needs.” In response, ARSA pushed for connecting with regulators remotely to accomplish routine audits and approvals. As promised, albeit a year late, the
FAA’s Aircraft Certification Service issued its policy on use of remote technology. Although the policy claims it does not add burdens, its general consideration includes the elements of “complexity, novelty, and safety criticality of the product, article or system.” Therefore, it will be up to “applicants” to ensure requests to use the technology cover the ultimate requirement to …”enabl[e]…proper performance of duties” in spite or despite the general elements that are supposed to be considered.
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DOMmagazine.com | june 2020
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