MARPA is the non-profit trade association that represents the Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) community. A PMA is an FAA design-and-production approval that verifies that the design of the aircraft part meets FAA safety regulations, and the fabrication inspection system meets FAA quality standards designed to assure that every part actually produced continues to meet the FAA-approved design. MARPA's mission is to promote uniform, outstanding standards within the FAA PMA industry. MARPA speaks with a single, powerful voice to the entire worldwide aviation community to elevate awareness and acceptance. MARPA works with government authorities throughout the world to seek a regulatory atmosphere that promotes high levels of safety without imposing needless resource burdens on the industry. This is just one of the many factors that allow PMA parts producers to produce parts that are significantly less expensive than their competitors.