GAO REPORT ON FAA INSPECTOR TRAINING CITES DEFICIENCIES, SOLUTIONS
- Details
- Published: July 18, 2013
Encourages Better Understanding of Inspector Training Needs
WASHINGTON, DC - The Professional Airways Systems Specialists (PASS), the union representing FAA inspectors, today reacted to a recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that outlined important deficiencies and constructive solutions relating to technical training for FAA inspectors.
Timeliness of training has been a major concern of inspectors for some time. The GAO reports that 55 percent of inspectors described their confidence that technical training will be delivered in a timely manner to be “some” or “none.”
PASS agrees with the report’s recommendation that in order to address training needs in a timely manner, the FAA needs to take steps to better assess inspectors’ technical training needs while increasing their involvement in training-related decisions.
The GAO report also states that the FAA should take action to “ensure that technical training is requested and delivered closer to the time it is needed to help inspectors perform their jobs.” This recommendation is in response to the finding that 43 percent of inspectors reported that they received technical training prior to scheduled oversight either “rarely” or “never.” An additional 30 percent said this training is available only “occasionally.”
In addition, the GAO rightly recommends more training for maintenance and avionics inspectors to keep them up-to-date on new aviation technologies.
With regard to funding, 55 percent said that availability of funds either “hindered” or “greatly hindered” their ability to receive necessary technical training.
The full GAO report can be viewed at www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-728.
###
PASS represents more than 11,000 employees of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense who install, maintain, support and certify air traffic control and national defense equipment, inspect and oversee the commercial and general aviation industries, develop flight procedures and perform quality analyses of the aviation systems. For more information, visit the PASS website at www.passnational.org.