November 18 has been set as the day the House Committee on Homeland Security will take up the issue of repair station security. It is part of a Congressional review of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) proposed repair station security rule currently being reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. Six years ago Congress proposed the rule and mandated the TSA study the situation and develop baseline security measures for FAR Part 145 domestic and foreign repair stations. To date, little information about the proposed rule has been made public.

Originally the hearing was to be limited to witnesses representing the TSA, FAA and Department of Transportation Inspector General’s office. Christian Klein, executive vice president of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), said the committee has recently announced that it will allow witnesses from industry and unions. “I’ll be testifying on behalf of ARSA and there will also be an ATA representative,” he said. More…