Fly Together

There are many trade associations in the D.C. area. There are also local organizations that companies join to represent specific interests or to advance corporate or personal interests. The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) works with almost every other civil aviation trade group in the nation’s capital. Together we enhance the maintenance industry’s role in guiding international aviation safety laws, policies and procedures.

It is essential that trade groups keep autonomy to work issues specific to their members’ interests, but still recognize the similarities among and between competitors and partners. The government even encourages the need for cooperation and understanding among and between certificate holders by creating Aviation Rulemaking Committees (ARCs) and by renewing the charter of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). ARSA has been a member of several ARCs (Airworthiness Directive Implementation, Consistency in Regulatory Interpretation, Halon Replacement) and is a continuing member of the ARAC.

These groups are given specific issues or problems to address; in return, the committees provide “official” recommendations to the FAA on how to deal with the matter. While the advice provided is not always accepted, it does let the agency know the various positions of the different stakeholders. This enables regulators to weigh the pros and cons of issues and their potential impacts before issuing guidance material or a regulation.

Trade associations also collaborate on efforts to influence legislators or policy makers — we sign letters to congress or the administration so that those bodies know that an action or inaction will impact the entire industry, not just a particular segment. ARSA always tries to ensure its position is acceptable to others, but if it is not we understand that trade groups may oppose the action. That doesn’t mean we won’t comment or deal with a divisive issue — it merely means we know where others will stand so our friends and foes are known and appreciated when “push comes to shove.”

However, when it comes to regulatory compliance issues, all must stand for the proposition that the government has a different role than the certificate holder. When ARSA attempts to influence regulatory compliance or interpretative issues, it understands that a position may not be confined to its members, but will impact customers and vendors. The same is true when it comes to understanding the position of the trade groups that represent individual owners and operators, air carriers and manufacturers. The regulator should ensure compliance with its rules; it should not let the type of certificate holder dictate compliance or enforcement postures. When a government entity cannot or does not enforce its rules in a constant and consistent manner, it hurts all who are subject to its oversight — those are the circumstances when working together ensures the most success.

Get involved. Make sure that the associations representing you and your interests understand what really matters. (Are you an ARSA member? We’re listening.) Most importantly, make it clear when issues overlap across different groups. Help marshal ferocity of multiple efforts for the good of all.

When dealing with the government, we must fly together or we’ll surely crash apart.

Brett Levanto is director of operations for the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA). He graduated from the George Washington University in 2004 and earned a Master of Public Policy from the College of William and Mary in 2009.