The spring is a busy time for the aviation maintenance community. Sure, maintenance providers — and their customers, suppliers and service providers — are busy throughout the year, but the first few pages of each calendar pull each of us out of our offices or workshops for a series of great industry events and meetings.
For theAeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), the centerpiece of the schedule is the association’s annual conference in and around Washington, D.C. (The Conference ran March 10-13 and you can check in on it before, during and after the show at arsa.org/conference.) The annual meeting has come a long way since the mid-1990s when my colleague Christian Klein — now ARSA’s executive vice president and a fixture in the aviation policy world — was putting his newly-minted law degree to work flipping overhead projector transparencies for speakers.A two-day meeting focused exclusively on regulatory issues (“The Annual Repair Symposium”) has matured into a four-day conference with a broader scope — and, happily for Christian, better technology.
Looking across that schedule, it’s important to ask a question: Why? Why do we plan and execute each component of the Conference week Why are these activities to your advantage (even if you’re not here)? Why is it worthwhile to pay attention, even if you can’t attend?
Executive to Executive Briefings
Three years ago, ARSA’s team turned the Fall Strategic Leadership Conference — a venue for executive-level engagement with senior U.S. government personnel — into a component of the association’s annual spring event. That decision turned “Legislative Day and the Annual Repair Symposium” into the “Annual Conference.” On “E2E” day, a small cadre of ARSA’s most-committed supporters cover considerable ground in the nation’s capital to meet with key policy officials.
Why? Because the policy apparatus of the U.S. federal government is bigger than just the FAA. The work of repair stations and technicians is impacted by agencies overseeing trade, education, diplomatic, defense and other matters. You can’t claim to serve the broad needs of the aviation community without making stops — and friends — at every one of these relevant offices.
Legislative Day
Legislative Day focuses the energy of ARSA’s members on grassroots engagement with members of Congress, committees and their relevant staff members. After a quick morning of briefings, attendees blanket Capitol Hill to deliver important messages about what the repair station community provides to the nation and world…and what support it needs to keep us all flying.
Why? This year is a perfect example, as Legislative Day is one of the most important in recent memory. The maintenance industry is facing its most significant legislative threat in a decade from the Safe Aircraft Maintenance Standards Act (H.R. 5119). The threat is real for businesses, but face-to-face personal engagement makes it real for elected leaders.
Symposium & Breakout Sessions
The Symposium is the cornerstone of the annual conference. For many of ARSA’s attendees, the day-and-a-half focus on regulatory compliance is still what the week is all about. This year’s panels included participation from multiple U.S. government agencies including (of course) the FAA, as well as representatives from Transport Canada, EASA and ANAC Brazil. The morning kicked off with a keynote address from FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Ali Bahrami and featured a luncheon address on market competition issues from IATA’s Daniel Kanter.
Why? ARSA and its allies work year-round to engage with regulators and other stakeholders on issues that impact maintenance providers. The work never stops and the relationships are ever-evolving. We bring that personal engagement to our members in order create a direct line for businesses to take that work on themselves. By asking questions, raising examples and noting concerns face to face, you can make good things happen. (See a favorite, if simple, example at arsa.org/8130-3-story.)
Whether you’re with us or not, consider the “Why?”. I encourage you to reflect on how you are reaching (or can reach) these goals through your own engagement. (Just remember, ARSA can help, even if you were't able to get away from work in March.)
Brett Levanto is vice president of operations of Obadal, Filler, MacLeod & Klein, P.L.C. managing firm and client communications in conjunction with regulatory and legislative policy initiatives. He provides strategic and logistical support for the Aeronautical Repair Station Association.
