The Aerospace Supply Chain Resiliency Task Force recently released a report identifying and assessing risks to the U.S. aerospace supply chains. The report, which the U.S. Congress requested, also provides best practices and recommendations to mitigate those risks.
The U.S. aerospace sector provides economic, humanitarian, diplomatic, and security services, and runs from the sourcing of raw materials through the last use of recycled materials. Many resources must be obtained from outside of the country, and infrastructure disturbances can significantly disrupt and influence supply-chain resiliency.
In its report, the Task Force identified and addressed four major risk categories that threaten the aerospace supply chain: work force, critical resources, global interdependence, and legislation, statues, regulation, and policy.
The aerospace sector has difficulty obtaining and retaining qualified employees because of the special technical training, knowledge, certification, and other requirements. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must improve the training and professionalism of its work force, the report recommended.
Significantly outdated infrastructure puts the National Air Space (NAS) at risk. Modernizing the air traffic control system would allowfor a more efficient NAS. The task force recommends protection of radio spectrum10 which supports aerospace communications, navigation, and surveillance.
To increase supply chain resiliency and mitigate geopolitical uncertainty risk, the industry must identify the sources of essential inputs and alternative sources and inputs. The United States must become less reliant on adversarial nations for critical resources in raw material, manufacturing, components, and assemblies, and civil aerospace export controls must have clear definition and consistent interpretation, the task force said.
Multiple federal, state, and local agencies regulated the aerospace sector, and the sector interacts with federal agencies to function effectively, efficiently, and productively.
The task force recommends the FAA broaden applications for summary grants for risk-similar products and operations, provide guidance during the development of new industry consensus standards, and expedite the development and deployment of the Licensing Electronic Application Portal tool to allow for digital tracking of licensing applications.
The task force recommends the Department of Defense transition more projects from research and development into commercially funded projects, and consider sustained, multi-year grants.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) participated in the task force.
“The aerospace supply chain supports industry growth and opportunities,” Paul Feldman, GAMA vice president of government affairs, said in a statement following the report’s release. “It involves tens of thousands of suppliers from all over the globe which provide parts, platforms and systems that require regulatory approval for use and installation, all of which may not be easily replaced or substituted. It is essential that both government and industry work together to ensure the stability of the supply chain, which was the reasoning behind the assembly of the Aerospace Supply Chain Resiliency Task Force.
“While our industries have been able to navigate supply chain constraints to the best of their ability it is critical that we have the government work with us to help create economic certainty, improve the regulatory process and support competition for the supply chain. We appreciate that the U.S. Congress requested this report and stand ready to work with them on its details and recommendations. GAMA, and other industry stakeholders, also looks forward to further engaging with federal agencies to strengthen the resilience of our invaluable aerospace supply chain.”
The Aerospace Supply Chain Resiliency Appendix 1 – Task Force Membership was organized to represent the disciplines and stakeholders most vulnerable to disruptions in the NAS and directly impacted by risks to the aerospace supply chain.