ARSA Highlights Repair Station Safety at Congressional Hearing

On April 25, Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) senior vice president Gary Fortner, vice president of Quality Control at Fortner Engineering in Glendale, CA, testified at a House Aviation Subcommittee hearing about the excellent work repair stations across the country and around the world are doing to ensure aviation safety.

Fortner’s testimony emphasized that for repair stations, good safety is good business. The basic nature of the aviation industry demands that safety and security be the top priorities. Operators and airlines will not do business with companies that put their passengers and valuable business assets at risk.

Fortner highlighted that, for the maintenance industry, aviation safety does not begin and end with the Federal Aviation Administration or any other regulatory body. Safety is the responsibility of every aviation maintenance employee and company.

In addition to speaking to the industry’s commitment to aviation safety and its positive contributions to the American economy, Fortner stressed that Congress must refrain from micromanaging the aviation maintenance industry and the need for consistent application of aviation safety regulations. Too often, inconsistent application of rules overburdens businesses and inhibits growth with no benefit to flight safety.