A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report (GAO 05-728) examines FAA efforts to ensure that its inspectors receive adequate technical training needed to do their jobs. It includes a GAO analysis of the inspector training program, and the results of a survey of FAA inspectors. The GAO generally approved of the FAA’s achievements but stressed the need for better evaluation of the effects of training on inspector performance. The results of the survey, however, painted a very different picture.
The FAA inspectors surveyed generally felt they did not receive adequate technical training. The FAA’s own data shows that less than half of FAA inspectors have completed at least 75% of essential technical courses. Only slightly more than half of the inspectors surveyed said that they thought they had enough technical knowledge to do the job. Almost 60% said their training was delivered in a timely manner “to some or no extent.”
GAO consulted ARSA Executive Director Sarah MacLeod and VP-Operations Paul Hawthorne in preparing the report, which is entitled Aviation Safety: FAA Management Practices for Technical Training Mostly Effective; Further Actions Could Enhance Results.
March 14, 2025 | Categories:
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ARSA News & Updates
March 18-21, 2025
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Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C. with Livestream Options
ARSA will make use of its well-honed tools for providing an engaging Conference; participants…
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On Feb. 10, the Bilateral Oversight Board (BOB) for the U.S.-European Union (EU) bilateral aviation safety agreement (BASA) issued Decision No. 13. It amends BASA Annex 2 to require U.S.-based…
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February 21, 2025 | Categories:
ARSA News & Updates
On Feb. 21, an invitation to complete ARSA’s member survey was sent to the email address of every primary contact. The message was subjected “Invitation to Complete ARSA’s Annual Member…
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On Feb. 14, CNBC published a 12 minute special addressing the workforce and career development challenges facing the maintenance industry. ARSA Executive Director Sarah MacLeod participated, lending a voice to…
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On Feb. 5, the aviation non-profit Choose Aerospace, which administers ARSA’s annual scholarship in addition to providing a maintenance-focused curriculum for student and employee development programs, included the association on…
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