Fri, Apr 12, 2024
Grassley Report Faults FAA for Loopholes in Registration Process
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, has released a report highlighting the exploitation of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) registration loopholes by drug cartels and other criminal entities.
The report underscores the role of these loopholes in facilitating the global drug trade and posing a threat to national security.
According to Grassley, the FAA's lax approach to registration has enabled criminals to use shell companies and noncitizen trusts to register aircraft in the United States. These planes are often employed by cartels to transport and deliver illicit drugs, exacerbating the drug crisis and imposing additional burdens on law enforcement. Grassley criticized the FAA for its "stubborn habit of rubber-stamping registrants," which has left the door open for drug traffickers and potential terrorists to operate with relative impunity.
The report draws attention to the FAA's slow response to recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 2020. Out of 15 suggested actions to address vulnerabilities in the registration process, the FAA has only implemented three. Key recommendations that remain unaddressed include expanded information sharing from registrants, verification of applicants' information and eligibility, improved data collection and analysis of registrants and aircraft owners, and enhanced coordination with law enforcement agencies.
Grassley expressed his intention to push for holding the FAA accountable and advocating for legislative measures to address these issues. The senator's report sheds light on a critical aspect of national security and calls for immediate action to close the loopholes in the FAA's registration process that are currently being exploited by criminal organizations.
More News
Capsized Vessel Located Near Dauphin Island, Alabama The Coast Guard rescued four boaters after their vessel capsized near Dauphin Island, Alabama, Thursday. Coast Guard District E>[...]
Reserve Components Looking to Improve In-House General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced a fresh order for a dozen Gray Eagle 25M UAVs with accompanying equipment, for fulfill>[...]
Brand New! Avoid The Need For A Comeback... Get Your Marketing Right, Right Now! Some time ago, the Aero-News Network, responding to numerous requests, established a marketing and >[...]
Also: Hubble On Pause, FedEx Pilots Picket, Nexus eVTOL, VFS Honors The Rotax folks have published a Service Bulletin after issues were noted that may affect all R915i and R916i se>[...]
John W. Winter of AEA and Avionic Fame Passes John W. Winter brought Mid-Continent Instrument Company into the modern era in 1980, purchasing the firm and using it as a base for ex>[...]