Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act

Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act

This bill addresses safety standards related to foreign aircraft repair stations.

Among other things, the bill

• requires that all foreign aircraft repair stations be subject to at least one unannounced safety inspection each year;
• requires air carriers to submit annual reports to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with respect to heavy maintenance work on aircraft (including on-wing aircraft engines) performed outside the United States;
• sets forth minimum qualifications for mechanics and others working on U.S. registered aircraft at foreign repair stations;
• directs the FAA to convene a foreign repair station working group with other civil aviation authorities to conduct a review of the certification and oversight of the stations and to identify any future enhancements to strengthen oversight of such stations; and
• prohibits FAA officials from traveling internationally if previously mandated final rules on drug and alcohol testing and a threat assessment of employees at foreign repair stations are not implemented, with specified exceptions.