The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has suggested mandatory drug and alcohol testing for employees at aircraft repair shops in other countries, affecting nearly 1,000 shops in 65 countries, according to Reuters.
In the past, the FAA stated that insufficient information was available to determine whether testing foreign workers would have safety benefits. On Wednesday, however, the long-urged proposal by unions and Congress now sees testing as crucial for safety. Unions welcome the move, viewing it as a step toward addressing the outsourcing of vital maintenance while urging additional measures such as licensing checks and unannounced inspections. Shops in countries where testing is against the law can seek exemption. The FAA's proposal will be open for public comments for 60 days. Foreign shops would have a year to implement testing programs for U.S. planes if finalized.
Unions' Positive Response
The president of the Transport Workers Union, John Samuelsen, with other unions representing American aircraft mechanics, are pleased with the FAA's shift in position, viewing it as a step toward resolving the issue of outsourcing essential maintenance for passenger planes in the United States. Robert Martinez Jr., the president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, concurs that this regulation will improve passenger safety and bring jobs back to the United States.
Job Statistics
According to the Transport Workers Union, foreign shops have gained 35,000 jobs since 2017, while U.S. shops have lost 5,000. The FAA mentioned that some believe the U.S.-based maintenance facilities face economic challenges because foreign maintenance facilities are not obligated to conduct drug and alcohol testing, avoiding the associated costs of maintaining such programs.
Samuelsen advocates for unannounced inspections and suggests that the FAA require foreign workers to undergo the same licensing and criminal records checks as U.S. counterparts to address security concerns.
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Loopholes in the 72-Hour Notice Requirement
The current 72-hour notice requirement for foreign shops is a significant security loophole, allowing airlines to address potential safety issues before inspections. The trade group for major U.S. carriers, Airlines for America, chose not to comment on this matter.
Adhering to Law Privacy
Airlines have noted that laws about privacy and employment in other countries may clash with U.S. rules for drug and alcohol testing. The FAA has stated that if airlines face challenges following U.S. testing requirements for domestic reasons, they can request an exemption for certain foreign repair stations.
The FAA stated that the rule aims to enhance safety by discouraging substance abuse among safety-sensitive aviation employees. The estimated cost for carriers over five years is $102.3 million. The rule will be open for public comment until early February.
Implementation Timeline
For almost thirty years, drug and alcohol testing has been required in U.S. facilities that maintain aircraft. The FAA will publicize its proposed rule on Thursday, opening a 60-day comment period. Foreign manufacturers working on American aviation would have a year to set up testing programs and electronically share the results with the United States Department of Transportation if the proposal is approved.
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