Aircraft Maintenance Technology

APR 2017

The aircraft maintenance professional's source for technological advancements, maintenance alerts, news, articles, events, and careers

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www.AviationPros.com 59 E ACH YEAR THE AERONAUTICAL REPAIR STATION Association (ARSA) brings the maintenance world to the capital of the United States. ARSA obviously focuses hard on providing the personal access and prac- tical information that ARSA members and allies need. This year, participants got time with the FA A, EASA, ANAC, and ICAO as well as the U.S. Depar tment of Commerce, Small Business Administration, and elected officials and staffers from the 115th Congress. They also got exclusive access to market analysis, best practices for recruitment, and resources for small business success. In the end, we hope our attendees leave a little smar t- er, but hosting a substantive event is a great oppor tunity for ARSA's team to learn as well. By listening to the ques- tions of members and reviewing information shared dur- ing panel discussions and breakouts, we help enhance our own understanding. Then we turn that new insight around for the benefit of maintenance professionals. A few lessons from 2017: LEGISLATIVE DAY Registrants for ARSA's Legislative Day always get careful instruction for engaging their members of Congress. "To prepare for the event," we tell them, "it's ver y impor tant that you schedule meetings with your elected officials." As a result, repair station representatives meet with sena- tors, representatives, and staffers in order to personalize aircraft maintenance and talk about how Washington can best ser ve the men and woman who perform it. This year, we learned the value of broadly defining "your elected officials." Rather than thinking small and reaching out to the senators and representative for a single facility, the most-effective members sent requests to congressmen from ever y state and district with any connection to the business, including other locations or the residence of employees. The "footprint" of a company, from the sense of impactful legislative constituency, is broader than we might think. THINKING BEYOND THE NA A ARSA's impact with aviation regulators is unquestioned. For three decades, the association has built its reputa- tion as the go-to source for compliance and advocacy. As such, the agenda is always heav y with regulators. Personal engagement with representatives from inter- national NA As and even the globally char tered ICAO is what gets many par ticipants to the symposium in the first place. After this year's always-popular "opening salvos" on maintenance and cer tification, the day wrapped with an hour-long discussion on trade, international develop- ment, and small business resources. Panelists from the U.S. Depar tment of Commerce and the Small Business Administration discussed the range of government sup- por t for industr y. ANNUAL MEETING & BREAKOUT SESSIONS Before attendees could catch flights home — or enjoy a chilly weekend in the D.C. area — they had their choice of breakout sessions: Three different panels covering mili- tar y business, international cer tification, and engaging the executive branch. Industr y panelists were joined by regulators and advocates to cover what repair stations should be doing and what they should be on the lookout for to succeed in 2017. Friday breakouts reinforced the fact that success in the current political and regulator y environment will require a diversified effor t. Whether it's a business bol- stering ser vices for a different customer base (perhaps a new militar y contract), expanding into new markets by obtaining and maintaining international approvals, or expanding engagement in Washington. There's always plenty to learn when maintenance pro- fessionals gather; now it's time to turn these lessons into action, and to make the flying world a little better before we see each other again. Catch up on these lessons and more by visiting ARSA. org/symposium. ARSA LEGISLATIVE DAY & SYMPOSIUM: WHAT WE LEARNED There's always plenty to learn when maintenance professionals gather; now it's time to turn these lessons into action and make the flying world a little better before we see each other again 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. ARSA INSIGHT By Brett Levanto

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