Aviation Unions Raise Concerns

Air Safety Week, June 1, 2009

The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require more inspections of aircraft repair stations outside the U.S. The language contained in the FAA reauthorization bill is opposed by the European Union. The U.S. Senate must still consider the provision.

The provision requires for the first time that FAA workers inspect at least twice annually any overseas maintenance facility used by American airliners. Currently, the FAA relies heavily on inspections by its foreign counterparts.

It also requires foreign workers to submit to the same drug and alcohol testing required of U.S. workers.

The European Commission has threatened to pull out of a pending aviation safety agreement unless the provision is dropped. A key part of that agreement stipulates that the U.S. and European Union aviation safety bodies have comparable safety requirements and inspection regimes.

William Voss, president of the Flight Safety Foundation, said: "we have seen no evidence whatsoever that aircraft maintenance performed by non-U.S. repair stations is any less safe than that performed within the U.S., provided the repair stations and personnel are properly certificated and regulated. We would be very concerned about any interference in the carefully crafted international system of reciprocal recognition of airworthiness determinations."

Other provisions of the FAA reauthorization bill would: require the FAA to hire more safety inspectors; create an independent office within the FAA to investigate whistleblower complaints; and, direct the National Academy of Sciences to study pilot fatigue.

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