Whistleblower Reveals FAA Allowed Airplanes To Fly With Expired Airworthiness Certificates, Registrations

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has sent letters to the President and Congress disclosing that safety inspectors at the FAA have improperly approved aircraft for commercial operations without first reviewing critical safety information that in some cases would have prohibited their operation. Moreover, due to lapses in oversight at FAA’s Civil Aviation Registry, aircraft have operated in the National Airspace System without a valid registration or airworthiness certificate.

“When the FAA does not know the location of an aircraft, the owner of an aircraft, or whether the owner might be deliberately attempting to circumvent safety regulations, that’s a serious problem,” said Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner. “Thankfully, because a whistleblower came forward, the FAA now appears to be taking this issue seriously and has initiated corrective action to ensure inspectors don’t cut corners and are better equipped to keep our airspace safe.”

After a whistleblower disclosed problems with FAA’s aircraft oversight, OSC referred the case to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to investigate. The agency substantiated the whistleblower’s allegations and concluded that many Aviation Safety Inspectors at FAA are not sufficiently familiar with the requirement that all aircraft exemptions must be reviewed before the aircraft is cleared to fly. The report also found that FAA’s guidance on inspection requirements is inadequate.

Based on the DOT’s findings, the FAA issued several recommendations for corrective action. The FAA established a task force to analyze approximately 1,000 exemptions and records for over 11,000 aircraft to determine airworthiness actions necessary to ensure their safety. In addition, the FAA is revising its guidance to provide clarity and ensure inspectors review all limitations and exemptions prior to aircraft being cleared to fly.

(Source: Office of Special Counsel news release)

FMI: www.osc.gov