FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Capt. Dennis Tajer, 847-902-8481 / Gregg Overman, 817-302-2250

Allied Pilots Association Supports Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act

FORT WORTH, Texas (May 9, 2023) — The Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent for the 15,000 pilots of American Airlines, voiced its strong support for S. 1256, the Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (D-WV) recently introduced the bill, which is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

“As professional airline pilots, safety drives every decision we make,” said APA President Capt. Ed Sicher. “For that reason, we wholeheartedly endorse S. 1256 and commend Senator Capito and Senator Baldwin for their superb leadership and commitment to ensuring public safety. The Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act would require foreign repair stations to submit to a significantly greater level of oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration – a much-needed and welcome change.”

Among the bill’s requirements:

  • All foreign repair stations would be subject to at least one unannounced inspection by the FAA Administrator each year.
  • Mechanics and others working on U.S.-registered aircraft at foreign repair stations must be certified by the FAA.
  • Carriers would submit a detailed monthly maintenance report to the FAA for analysis.
  • The FAA would create a repository for carriers to report heavy maintenance history by location and specific aircraft registration number.

“APA has been an outspoken advocate of bolstering oversight of foreign repair stations, and we urge Congress to enact the Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act promptly,” Capt. Sicher said. “There is no room for corner-cutting in commercial aviation. U.S. carriers have an enviable safety record, and we must do all we can to preserve and continue building on it.”

Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association – the largest independent pilots union in the United States – is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 15,000 pilots of American Airlines, including several hundred pilots on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union’s website is AlliedPilots.org.