WASHINGTON, DC, August 20, 2012 – The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has joined a group of 11 other aviation associations in a letter to Secretary Napolitano today, specifically calling on the department to meet its commitment and complete the rulemaking on repair station security by the fourth quarter of 2012.

"It is well past time for a regulatory framework for repair station security to be finalized.  Congress first mandated action on this rule in 2003 and it has now turned into one of the longest, ongoing policy sagas in aviation," GAMA’s President and CEO, Pete Bunce, said about the inaction.

Congress established a requirement that TSA establish a regulatory framework for repair station security in 2003.  In 2007, Congress created a prohibition, beginning in 2008, against the FAA certification of foreign repair stations unless the rulemaking was completed.  Both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have included language in their respective FY2013 appropriations reports supporting final action on this rule by the end of the year.  

"Delays in finalizing this rule are keeping aviation businesses from fully competing in emerging markets. Our government needs to get moving on this issue to further security and support economic growth in the industry.  We need Secretary Napolitano’s unwavering assurance that this rule will be out this year," added Bunce.

A copy of the letter to Secretary Napolitano is attached.