How Will the Aviation Industry Be Affected by Export Control Reforms?

While it has received little coverage in the mainstream press, various agencies of the U.S. Government have been working diligently to implement export control reforms for several years.  As part of this reform effort, the Department of State and the Department of Commerce are planning to move certain military aircraft, aircraft engines, and specially designed aircraft parts and components off of the U.S. Munitions List under the International Traffic In Arms (“ITAR”) List” and place such items under the licensing jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce.  It is not unlikely that these reforms proposed in late 2011 will be implemented sometime in 2013.  These reforms will reduce the type of military aircraft parts and components that require a license to export to certain countries.