November 17, 2005 - “There should be one standard for safety, security and FAA oversight at all aircraft repair facilities, including equivalent standards for criminal background checks and drug and alcohol testing of workers as well as tightening access to and security of repair facilities,” said IAM Transportation General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. today in testimony before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
“It’s not hard to imagine how certified foreign aircraft repair stations working on U.S. aircraft could provide terrorists with an opportunity to sabotage U.S. aircraft or components that will eventually re-enter the U.S. for domestic service,” said Roach. “These stations should be immediately closed down until security audits of those stations can be conducted and security vulnerabilities addressed.”
Roach addressed the dangers of overseas aircraft repair as a labor representative on a panel of industry officials and government representatives. The Senate subcommittee hearing included: Marion Blakey, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration; Kenneth Mead, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Transportation; John Carr, President, National Air Traffic Controllers Association; Basil Barimo, Vice President Operations and Safety, Air Transport Association and Christian Klein, Legislative Counsel, Aeronautical Repair Station Association.
“The U.S. aviation industry is the safest in the world,” added Roach. “However, we cannot allow ourselves to be complacent. We must increase our vigilance in the United States, and honestly assess and diffuse the threat from overseas repair stations.”
The Machinists Union was the only union organization speaking on behalf of airline workers. The complete testimony is available here.
