Better Late Than Never, TSA Issues Repair Station Final Rule

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a final repair station security rule 10 years after its congressional mandate. Implementation ends an FAA ban on certifying new foreign repair stations. The final rule is significantly less controversial than a proposed rule issued in November 2009, as it doesn’t mandate any new security programs or plans. One of the major issues includes dropping the process-based security originally proposed in favor of outcome-based security. The focus is on the risk of stealing an unattended, large (more than 12,500 pounds) aircraft capable of flight.