CNN TO FEATURE INSPECTOR STAFFING SHORTAGE IN SERIES ON FAA OVERSIGHT OF REPAIR STATIONS

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Published: July 18, 2013

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WASHINGTON, DC - On Monday, January 24, CNN will air the first program in a series examining problems with FAA oversight of aircraft repair and maintenance stations.

Linda Goodrich, PASS Region IV Vice President, was interviewed for the segment and stressed the shortage of inspectors as the most pressing issue relating to aircraft repair and maintenance.

"There are not enough inspectors to handle the increasing workload," said Goodrich. "The FAA must hire more inspectors to make sure that oversight and surveillance of the aviation industry is being performed."

PASS President Tom Brantley added that the FAA has totally ignored the staffing crisis, making the problem much harder to solve.

"[FAA Administrator] Marion Blakey recently boasted that the agency exceeded its hiring goals for supervisors in FY 2004. We find that totally reckless when staffing for critical safety personnel is shockingly low," Brantley said.

"The FAA has made minimal progress towards solving the controller staffing crisis," Brantley continued. "Meanwhile, nothing has been done to address the critical shortage of aviation safety inspectors."

The segment on oversight of repair stations will air tonight on CNN's Paul Zahn Now at 8:00 pm. A transcript of the program should be available shortly after airing.