The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed requiring repair stations outside of the U.S. to test employees who work on certain aircraft to undergo drug and alcohol testing in order to retain their certification.
On Wednesday, the FAA said the testing would align with its domestic safety standards and would maintain the agency’s overall safety mission. Few countries require testing of aviation or maintenance personnel, the agency said. The proposed rule would ensure that those employees who perform safety-sensitive maintenance functions on certain air carrier aircraft would be held to the same level of safety standards as those in the U.S., regardless of their physical location.
Under the proposed rules, repair stations would have to ensure their employees receive all of the necessary anti-drug and alcohol training, and that drug and alcohol testing data is sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) digitally.
The proposed rule would require 145 repair stations outside of the U.S. to ensure that employees who perform safety-sensitive maintenance on part 121 air carrier aircraft be subject to testing as allowed by laws of the country within which the station is located. If a part 145 repair station can’t meet one or all of the requirements of the legislation, the station may apply for an exemption or waiver.
Officials said the proposed rule would impact nearly 1,000 repair stations in 65 countries. The FAA is scheduled to publish the proposed rule in the Federal Register on Dec. 7. Once published, the public will have 60 days to review the proposed rule, as well as make comments on it.