Today, a coalition representing the aviation manufacturing\nindustry comprised of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA),\nthe Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the Aeronautical Repair Station\nAssociation (ARSA), the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), and the\nInternational Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) announced\ntheir collective support for the bipartisan Preserve Jobs in the Aviation\nManufacturing Industry Act introduced by U.S. Representatives Ron Estes (R-KS)\nand Rick Larsen (D-WA), the companion bill to S. 3705, the Public-Private\nPartnership to Preserve Jobs in the Aviation Manufacturing Industry Act of 2020\nintroduced by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Mark Warner (D-VA). Both\nbills would help protect jobs in the aviation manufacturing industry, its\nsupply chains, and aircraft maintenance repair companies that have been\ndevastated by the global drop in air travel. The impact of commercial and\ngovernment sales on the workforce cannot be understated. Four jobs are created\nfor every million dollars in direct sales revenue generated by the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe aviation manufacturing and maintenance industry\ncontinues to face stiff headwinds from the COVID-19 pandemic. We applaud and are\ndeeply grateful to Representatives Estes and Larsen for their work to support\nthe industry\u2019s highly skilled workforce as well as Senators Moran and Warner\nfor introducing similar legislation in the Senate. Given that general and\ncommercial aviation are significant contributors to the U.S. economy, it is\nessential that both industry and government partner together to protect\naviation manufacturing and maintenance jobs in this vital sector. I am very\npleased to join with my fellow industry association leaders, and the\nInternational Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, in supporting\nthese legislative initiative to sustain our incredible aviation manufacturing\nworkforce and companies during these uncertain times,\u201d said Pete Bunce, GAMA\nPresident and CEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith global air travel down 86 percent from a year ago in\nJune, the aviation manufacturing sector has continued to face a near-steady\nstream of aircraft order cancellations continually decreasing demand for\nmaintenance and repairs. This, in turn, puts the skilled aerospace and defense\nworkforce at risk, forcing significant layoffs and furloughs in companies large\nand small,\u201d said AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning. \u201cSteps taken earlier this\nyear have worked, but more assistance is needed as the COVID-19 pandemic\ncontinues to harm people, communities, and economies worldwide. Representatives\nEstes and Larsen\u2019s bipartisan bill would provide additional temporary and\ntargeted support to help save American jobs and ensure the aviation and\naerospace industry stands ready to support our communities and country through\nthe crisis and recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cARSA is extremely grateful to Representatives Estes and\nLarsen for introducing this important legislation. Pandemic-related economic\ndisruptions have decimated America\u2019s aviation maintenance industry and there\u2019s\nvery little light at the end of the tunnel,\u201d said ARSA Executive Vice President\nChristian Klein. \u201cThe Estes-Larsen bill is a lifeline for an industry that\u2019s\nseen revenues fall by roughly half and that may have lost more than 50,000\nworkers\u2014a quarter of our workforce\u2014in recent months. It will save jobs in the\nnear-term\u2014particularly in aviation-heavy states like Kansas and Washington\u2014and\nhelp ensure that when the aviation sector begins to recover, repair stations\nwill still have the technical talent they need to keep to keep the nation\u2019s\naircraft fleet operating safely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe aerospace and defense workforce is a critical component\nof our national security. Uniquely skilled, the members of that workforce\nproduce the best commercial and military equipment in the world. We cannot\nafford to lose them as they are key to the recovery of the sector and, just as\nimportantly, developing the next skilled, cleared generation keeping us at the\ncutting edge,\u201d said Gen. Hawk Carlisle, NDIA President and CEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe applaud Reps. Larsen and Estes for introducing this\ninnovative payroll support legislation. Saving this critical industry and the\nlivelihoods of the men and women who have made the aerospace sector thrive for\ngenerations is our top legislative priority,\u201d said IAM International President\nRobert Martinez Jr. \u201cThe federal funding authorized by this bill will be used\nfor the sole purpose of keeping working families on the job and off of\nunemployment. As the largest aerospace and defense union in America, we proudly\nendorse this much-needed legislation and hope it is passed swiftly with\nbipartisan support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n