Sarah MacLeod, executive director of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), is cautiously optimistic about the FAA’s recent withdrawal of a notice of proposed rule making (Docket No. FAA-2006-26408) aimed at FAA Part 145 Repair Stations. MacLeod told AIN that pulling the plug on the NPRM was good because it proposed structure ratings and quality assurance systems that would have been “extremely burdensome” for small businesses that don’t work on airliners.
“It’s unfortunate that the agency was not able to correct the proposal’s deficiencies by issuing a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking,” she cautioned. “We’re fearful that the delay will create congressional demands greater than those currently pending in the House of Representatives. Hopefully, the action by the FAA in creating an Aviation Rulemaking Committee to address safety management systems (SMS) will deflect some of the negative responses ARSA expects from organized labor and the Congress.”
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