The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) has asked for a review of FAA enforcement of rules regarding instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) such as aircraft maintenance manuals. In a comment filed with the U.S. Small Business Administration National Ombudsman’s office, ARSA stated that it believes “the FAA strictly enforces the requirement that repair stations possess maintenance manuals but does not enforce rules requiring design approval holders to make manuals available.”
ARSA claims that the FAA’s current enforcement practices are creating administrative and financial burdens for small businesses. “ARSA has attempted to work with the FAA for more than three decades to bring consistency to the agency’s application of its ICA rules,” said ARSA Executive Director Sarah MacLeod. “Unfortunately, our concerns have failed to illicit serious consideration or any discernible action.”
The Office of the National Ombudsman has no authority to make policy changes. It was established by Congress in 1996 to assist small businesses experiencing excessive or unfair federal regulatory enforcement actions and to act as an impartial liaison between those businesses and regulatory agencies. ARSA also requested that its comment (PDF) be sent to the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Transportation.
