Will Save Serious Tax Dollars

The FAA is teaming with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in a trial program to give new FAA inspectors broader training and save the agency almost $1 million a year.

In trial classes starting in November, FAA general aviation operations inspectors will take courses at ERAU’s Daytona Beach, FL campus using a combination of advanced technology flight training devices and light airplanes with identical electronics, instrument panels and handling qualities.

“Embry-Riddle’s mix of high-fidelity simulation and popular general aviation aircraft has the potential to give our inspectors flight training of unprecedented scope and quality,” said Nick Sabatini, FAA associate administrator for regulation and certification. “This test program will help confirm those benefits before we decide to commit large amounts of funding.”

The “Instrument and Performance Refresher – Light Twin” course, which requires 10 hours of flight time per student, will be taught at ERAU beginning this month. The inspectors will first practice flying procedures and responses to emergencies in Cessna 172 and Piper Seminole flight training devices on the ground. They then will reinforce that training in the sky aboard the same type airplanes with matching equipment.

The FAA-ERAU partnership could save the agency a substantial amount of money. For example, the leased cost for twin-engine aircraft needed for the course was $989 per hour in fiscal year 2002. The estimate for training with Embry-Riddle is about $201 per hour. The FAA estimates that equipment cost savings could be as much as $7,880 per student, or more than $646,000 yearly.

New inspectors will begin taking the “General Aviation Operations Indoctrination” course at ERAU in January 2004. Traditionally, this “basic training” course has been taught at the FAA Academy using flight training devices and leased aircraft. During fiscal year 2002, the equipment cost for this training was $10,206 per student. The estimated annual cost per student at ERAU is projected to be substantially less at $3,178. If the FAA decides to move the indoctrination course to Embry-Riddle permanently, the projected cost savings could be as much as $330,000 yearly.

The FAA expects other potential benefits from a long-term arrangement with ERAU. The agency would not have to invest in more high-fidelity flight training devices – which can cost up to $750,000 each – and would not have to update those devices to reflect changes in software and systems. The FAA also could avoid increasing rental aircraft costs as well as resolving safety issues caused by a high workload on FAA instructor pilots at the Academy.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.erau.edu