For more information, contact Trisha Drape,
director of communications for the AEA, at 816-347-8400 or trishad@aea.net.
For immediate release:
January 10, 2014

LEE'S SUMMIT, MO., Jan. 10, 2014 -- On Jan. 13, the Transportation Security Administration will issue regulations to improve security at repair stations located within and outside the United States.  

The regulations apply to repair stations certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration under 14 CFR Part 145, except repair stations located on a U.S. or foreign government military base. 
"In preliminary review, it appears the TSA has done an exceptional job of addressing public comment during the NPRM process and developing a risk-based security program that incorporated industry best practices currently used for repair station security," said Paula Derks, AEA president.

The rule also effectively eliminates the FAA's ban on new foreign repair station certificates. 
"As the international organization representing repair stations in more than 40 countries, we are extremely pleased with the final release of this long-anticipated security regulation," Derks said. "We look forward to the ending of the congressionally mandated moratorium on new foreign repair stations, and the AEA will work with both the FAA and TSA to minimize the impact of implementing this new rule as well as streamlining the new FAA repair station approvals."

This regulation applies to Part 145 certificated repair stations located:

1. On an airport. On an air operations area or security identification display area of an airport covered by an airport security program under 49 CFR Part 1542 in the U.S., or on the security restricted area of any commensurate airport outside the U.S. regulated by a government entity.
2. Or adjacent to an airport. Adjacent to an area of the airport described in (1) if there is an access point between the repair station and the airport of sufficient size to allow the movement of large aircraft (greater than 12,500 pounds/5,700 kg) between the repair station and the airport.

Each affected repair station must:

1. Provide the TSA with the name and means of contact on a 24-hour basis of a person or persons designated by the repair station with responsibility for (i) Compliance with the regulations in this part; (ii) Serving as the primary point(s) of contact for security-related activities and communications with TSA; (iii) Maintaining a record of all employees responsible for controlling keys or other means used to control access to aircraft described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section; and (iv) Maintaining all records necessary to comply with background check requirements.
2. When not attended, prevent the unauthorized operation of all large aircraft capable of flight.
3. Verify background information of those individuals who are designated as the TSA point(s) of contact and those who have access to any keys or other means used to prevent the operation of large aircraft.

This new repair station security rule will become effective in 45 days from its Jan. 13 release date (approximately Feb. 27, 2014).

To view the complete text of the rule, click here.

The AEA will be publishing a thorough review of the final rule and providing training on these new requirements at the upcoming AEA International Convention & Trade Show, March 12-15, in Nashville, Tenn.