REP. DEFAZIO CALLS FOR OVERSIGHT OF DOMESTIC REPAIR STATIONS
December 16, 2019
During the same markup session, House Transportation Committee Chairman, Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR), stated that he was sending a letter to the DOT Inspector General (IG) to request an audit of the FAA’s oversight of domestic repair stations. The letter dated November 20, 2019, expresses concern that 729 FAA inspectors overseeing more than 4,000 repair stations in the U.S., which account for 61% of U.S. airline maintenance spending, may not be sufficient to ensure safety. The DOT IG previously studied oversight of repair stations in 2013, and Rep. DeFazio asked whether recommendations from that previous report have been implemented. Additionally, the letter suggested that improper oversight at U.S. repair stations contributed to last year’s crash of Lion Air 610 and the induction of used airplanes of unknown airworthiness into Southwest Airlines’ fleet. The DOT IG will ultimately decide whether a new audit is warranted.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6622); Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6665).
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