New Bill Could Curtail Offshoring U.S. Aircraft Maintenance

John Goglia is a quoted expert on Aviation Week’s article, New Bill Could Curtail Offshoring U.S. Aircraft Maintenance.

The article covers a bill introduced in the U. S. House of Representatives could make using foreign repair stations more difficult or expensive and, in some cases, impossible. The bill is similar to a 2022 bill passed by the House in September, but which the Senate ultimately referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The new bill, however, may have a better shot at passing—it is backed by unions and at least one neutral observer, but opposed by airlines, U.S. shops and aerospace OEMs.

Former National Transportation Safety Board member John Goglia supports H.R. 1716, arguing that the FAA has not been monitoring performance at foreign repair stations frequently and effectively enough. Goglia says airlines have cut back on staff permanently stationed at foreign repair stations to monitor performance. He also believes that, despite data on foreign repair station defects being reported to the FAA, it will be difficult for the public to access.

Goglia also strongly backs drug and alcohol testing for foreign repair stations, pointing out that this policy has long applied to U.S. MRO providers. Technicians in the U.S. are subject to drug tests before they are hired and randomly throughout their careers when there is reasonable cause for a test or after an accident. In 2022, less than 2% of worker tests came back positive for one or more drugs, and about 1% of tests revealed a blood alcohol level of at least .02, according to the FAA.