State-Owned Planes Used By University Coaches For Recruiting Trips

The Michigan DOT's policy of allowing athletic officials at Michigan State University to use state-owned airplanes for trips to recruit athletes has come under review by the FAA.

The investigation is still preliminary for now. It comes on the heels of a series published by the Lansing State Journal on the use of state-owned airplanes, and it could lead to a formal investigation by the FAA, according to the Associated Press.

MDOT officials said that the FAA is asking for billing records, invoices, and proof of payments for the state's four passenger aircraft. The paper's investigation revealed that MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo and head football coach Mark Dantonio were frequent users of the state's airplanes.

The flights are supposed to be paid for out of the school's athletic department budget. Officials from MSU and MDOT say they are cooperating fully with the FAA review. MDOT spokesman Jeff Cranson said the department is "happy to cooperate with the FAA," adding that the Office of Aeronautics "treats MSU the same as they treat every other customer state agency."

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.michigan.gov/mdot/, www.msu.edu