A new, bipartisan letter from Congress urges the Federal Aviation Administration to swiftly close safety loopholes for foreign aircraft repair facilities – a top priority for the Transport Workers Union of America. Congress mandated a number of new standards for foreign aircraft repair facilities as part of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization. The FAA hasn’t provided details on an implementation plan for the new standards.
“It is past time for the FAA to ensure that American aircraft are subject to the same safety standards when the air carriers choose to perform mechanical repairs in foreign countries,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said. “Members of Congress from both parties stood up for TWU Aircraft Maintenance Technicians whose jobs are endangered and the traveling public’s safety at risk from shoddy standards at foreign aircraft maintenance facilities in countries like China. It is unacceptable that the FAA hasn’t enforced the law to close loopholes that allow airlines to cut costs and safety at the expense of American workers.”
The FAA has not implemented four critical regulations. One requires foreign personnel with supervisory authority to hold a mechanic or repairman certificate, the second ensures that foreign aircraft maintenance workers pass appropriate background checks, the third requires the FAA to conduct unannounced inspections at foreign repair facilities, and the fourth instructs the FAA to collect data on the location and scope of aircraft maintenance work on American aircraft performed overseas.
The requirement for foreign workers to hold a mechanic or repairman certificate was subject to a November 16, 2025 deadline that the FAA did not meet. The four provisions were originally a standalone bill called the Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act that was eventually incorporated as Section 302 of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization.
“While foreign aircraft repair facilities technically are subject to the same safety certifications as American facilities, in practice the loopholes around certificates, unannounced inspections, background checks, and data collection allow foreign facilities to operate at a lower level of safety,” said TWU Air Division Director Andre Sutton. “The FAA needs to follow the law passed by Congress and the president to ensure safety in the skies and stand up for American workers who perform critical repair work.”
One provision for foreign aircraft maintenance facilities in the 2024 Reauthorization was finalized by the Biden administration in December of 2024. Foreign aircraft maintenance facilities are now subject to the same drug and alcohol testing rules as American facilities. Foreign aircraft repair stations must be fully compliant with the new testing rules by Dec. 20, 2027.
The Transport Workers Union represents aircraft maintenance workers at American Airlines, Envoy Airlines, and KLM.
The letter was led by Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) and Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) and signed by an additional 104 members of Congress from both parties.
Letter to Administrator Bedford on Implementation of Foreign Repair Station Safety Requirements