The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) hailed the latest efforts by the U.S. government to reduce barriers between the U.S. and Cuba, saying the changes increase access to aircraft maintenance and put safety ahead of politics. Just this week, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security each published a new round of amendments to further facilitate travel and commerce between the U.S. and Cuba.

The latest changes, published in the October 17 Federal Register, include a provision that is designed to facilitate safe travel by authorizing civil aviation safety services, the government agencies said. The provision, specified in an OFAC final rule, adds a “new authorization that will allow persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to provide civil aviation safety-related services to Cuba and Cuban nationals aimed at promoting safety in civil aviation and the safe operation of commercial aircraft.”

Christian Klein, executive v-p of ARSA, called the amendment an “import policy change,” saying it permits U.S. mechanics and companies to fly in and out of Cuba more easily to ensure the safe operation of aircraft in the country. “That’s good news for the aviation maintenance industry and even better news for aircraft passengers,” Klein said.