AVIATION SAFETY: FAA's Safety Efforts Generally Strong but Face Challenges

Abstract

The U.S. commercial aviation industry has had an extraordinary safety record in recent years. However, expected increases in air traffic including the introduction of new vehicles into the national airspace, such as unmanned vehicles and very light jets and human resource issues, present challenges that have the potential to strain the existing safety oversight system. GAOs testimony focuses on these questions: (1)How is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ensuring that the areas of highest safety risk are addressed? (2) How is FAA ensuring that its staff maintain the skills and knowledge to consistently carry out the agency's oversight programs? and (3) What are the key safety challenges facing FAA? This statement is based on our recent reports on FAAs inspection oversight programs, industry partnership programs, and enforcement and training programs. It is also based on interviews with FAA and relevant industry officials.

Document Details

• Document Type: Technical Report
• Publication Date: Sep 20, 2006
• Accession Number: AD1180791

Entities

People

• Gerald L. Dillingham

Organizations

• United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Accountability
• Air Traffic
• Air Traffic Control Systems
• Air Traffic Controllers
• Air Transportation
• Aircraft Industry
• Aircrafts
• Airports
• Aviation Safety
• Cargo Aircraft
• Commercial Aviation
• Congress
• Control Systems
• Department Of Defense
• Employment
• Governments
• Health Services
• House Of Representatives
• Law
• Risk
• Risk Analysis
• Safety
• Systems Management
• Training
• Transport Aircraft
• United States
• United States Government
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Readers

• Aviation Safety Risk Assessment.
• Defense Acquisition Program Management

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Space