Washington Delegation Pens Letter to House and Senate Leadership Supporting PARTT 147 Act

In a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell and House Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen, a group of Washington state-based schools and organizations called on Congress to support the Promoting Aviation Regulations for Technical Training (PARTT) 147 Act (S.3043/H.R.5427).

The Act, which was introduced in December and since garnered a long, bipartisan list of co-sponsors in both the House and the Senate, would direct the FAA to remove and replace the current part 147 with community-drafted language. If passed into law, the new, performance-based regulation would replace prescriptive and duplicative operational requirements and curriculum hour and subject area mandates that have long-awaited agency action.

"Seeing no regulatory relief in sight, the undersigned organizations acknowledge that the Act is intended to further escalate the issue after 12 years of pushing for a new rule to modernize aviation maintenance technician training," the coalition stated in its letter. "Promulgation of the Act’s performance-based regulation would give schools and employers the freedom to develop programs that better align with industry needs, and ensure individuals begin their careers equipped to hit the ground running."

Nine representatives of WA-based organizations signed on to the letter, including four college presidents overseeing part 147 programs at their respective institutions:

• Bret Oestreich, National Director, Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association
• Constance von Muehlen, Sr. Vice President, Maintenance & Engineering, Alaska Airlines
• Jackie Spanitz, General Manager, Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc.
• David Bowen, Sr. Director, Technical Training, Aviation Technical Services
• Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy, President, Big Bend Community College
• Mary Kaye Bredeson, Executive Director, Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing
• Dr. Daria J. Willis, President, Everett Community College
• Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, President, South Seattle College
• Dr. Kevin Brockbank, President, Spokane Community College

The Act is awaiting consideration by committees with jurisdiction over aviation issues in both the House and the Senate. Members of the community are encouraged to reach out to their own elected leaders to voice support for the bill. An online legislative toolkit is available to guide those efforts.