FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 11, 1999 SB-99-25

NTSB TO HOLD AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE FORUM

Washington, D.C. - The National Transportation Safety Board will conduct a public forum to examine Federal Aviation Administration and airline oversight of contract repair stations that provide aircraft maintenance services for U.S. air carriers.

The one-day meeting will focus on the practices used by the airlines who outsource maintenance to ensure the quality of the work and inspections done by contract maintenance firms.

The forum will convene at 9:00 a.m., Monday, August 30th at the Sheraton Chicago Towers Hotel, 301 E. North Water Street, Chicago, IL., with NTSB Vice Chairman Robert T. Francis presiding.

“Past Safety Board investigations have uncovered serious problems with the oversight of contract maintenance,” said Vice Chairman Francis. “We want to use this meeting to assess the present situation. What corrective actions have been taken; what further steps may be needed?” He noted that it is estimated that nearly half of all air carrier maintenance work is now performed by contract repair facilities.

The forum will be structured around presentations by expert panels and follow-up discussions with senior NTSB specialists. The panels will be composed of representatives of the major airlines, repair station operators, and the FAA.

Parties to the forum include the Air Transport Association, the Regional Airline Association, the Aeronautical Repair Station Association, the Flight Safety Foundation, and the FAA.

Media Contact: Paul Schlamm, (202) 314-6100