The Aircraft Maintenance Fraternal Association (AMFA). a craft-specific, independent aviation union representing aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs), applauds the bipartisan, bicameral Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization agreement unveiled by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen as well as Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chair Maria Cantwell and Ranking Member Ted Cruz.
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 includes several key AMFA priorities. The bill would require foreign repair stations who repair U.S. aircraft to adhere to rigorous safety and inspection standards as U.S. repair stations. Additionally, it would provide $20 million per year for FAA’s grant program for AMT workforce development. It would also provide a pathway for military service members who work on aircraft to transition into civilian AMT careers. Finally, it would preserve whistleblower protections for AMTs to report safety concerns without fear of retaliation from their employers.
“AMFA thanks Chairs Graves and Cantwell and Ranking Members Larsen and Cruz for their hard work negotiating this bipartisan, bicameral bill,” said Bret Oestreich, National President for AMFA. “The bill will help keep the American flying public safe while also protecting American jobs. We encourage Congress to move quickly to approve the legislation to ensure safe and efficient operations across the country.”
The passing of this bipartisan bill helps solidify our legislative efforts to implement laws aimed at increasing quality assurance and safety standards. The safety of air transportation must always be more important than increasing profits and shareholders' value through cheaper labor.
AMFA has a long history of collaborating with Congress to craft powerful language to protect aircraft maintenance jobs, ensure the safety standards of the flying public, and restrict foreign repair stations from circumventing our FAA oversight and regulations.
