Lombardo covers business aviation maintenance-related issues. He is also a writer and on-air reporter for AINtv. He has over 3000 articles published and is the author of several books on aircraft systems for pilots and on the topic of flight simulation.
He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from the University of Illinois, has taught aviation for over 35 years in industry and as a university professor and academic dean at three different universities. He is also a frequent seminar and after-dinner motivational speaker.&nbsp;
Lombardo holds an A&amp;P Certificate, ATP, CFI and Ground Instructor ratings. He was a corporate pilot and was a research pilot and flight instructor at the University of Illinois. An FAA Safety Counselor for over 25 years, he was one of the original 13 Counselors appointed to the FAA’s Airworthiness Safety Program for maintenance technicians.&nbsp;

Contributor

David A. Lombardo

Issuing a rule to improve the security of domestic and foreign repair stations should be one of the first duties of recently confirmed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson, according to industry representatives. December marks the 10th anniversary of President George W. Bush signing into law a bill requiring the issuance of such regulations.


“As [Secretary Johnson] enters office, we want to remind him that for nine percent of the history of manned flight, DHS has not been able to finalize the repair station rule, even after Congress has demanded it time and time again,” said General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) president and CEO Pete Bunce.


Christian Klein, executive vice president of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (Arsa), agreed with Bunce, adding, “Aviation maintenance companies are losing millions of dollars in potential revenues because the FAA is prohibited from certifying new foreign repair stations until the security rule is finalized. The government should be nurturing small and medium-sized aviation maintenance companies, not obstructing their ability to compete internationally.”


In 2003, Congress passed the Vision 100–Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, which required the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to issue regulations to improve the security of domestic and foreign repair stations by August 2004. In 2007, Congress again called on the TSA, through the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, to finalize repair station rules by August 2008, noting that the <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ainmxreports/2008-07-30/foreign-repair-station-applications-limbo">FAA would not be able to issue new foreign repair station certifications</a> afterward. The ban has been in effect since that time.


Sarah MacLeod, ARSA executive director, commenting on the stalemate, told AIN, “When industry is punished for an agency’s inaction, there is absolutely no motivation for compliance. The rule is never going to be a priority for the TSA since passing it will cost that agency money to implement and enforce it. With the FAA’s budgetary constraints, there is no motivation to certify more foreign repair stations. Congress created the inequity; unfortunately, it will no doubt take congressional action to correct the injustice.”

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Industry to DHS: Issue Repair Station Security Rule

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News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

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