Whistleblowers Say Employees Responsible For Aircraft Certification Lacked Proper Training

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has launched an investigation of any potential connection between inadequate training and certification of Aviation Safety Inspectors who may have participated in the evaluation of the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. The investigation comes in light of recent 737 accidents and information obtained from whistleblowers.

Chairman Wicker (pictured) wrote to FAA Acting Administrator Daniel Elwell to request additional information and documents.

"Allegations from these whistleblowers include information that numerous FAA employees, including those involved in the Aircraft Evaluation Group (AEG) for the Boeing 737 MAX, had not received proper training and valid certifications. Some of these FAA employees were possibly involved as participants on the Flight Standardization Board (FSB). As you know, the AEG formed an FSB to evaluate the 737 MAX 8 to determine the requirements for pilot type ratings, to develop minimum training recommendations, and to ensure initial flightcrew member competency," Senator Wicker wrote.

"In light of recent 737 crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, the committee is investigating any potential connection between inadequate training and certification of Aviation Safety Inspectors who may have participated in the FSB evaluation of the 737 MAX. Specifically, the committee is concerned that such potential lack of training and certification of FAA ASI, and participation of those ASI on the FSB, may have led to an improper evaluation of the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). If true, this raises the question of whether a specific reference to the MCAS system should have been included in the FSB report.

"I request that you provide the committee with the following information no later than April 16, 2019:

• Has the FAA been alerted to allegations of deficiencies related to the training and certification of FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors?
• If the FAA was aware of these allegations, please provide a detailed accounting of the specific dates involved when the FAA was made aware of potential deficiencies related to the training and certification of FAA pilots and safety inspectors.
• Provide any and all information regarding FAA officials who were made aware of these allegations, actions taken, and dates of such action.
• Was an agency investigation initiated?
• When was an investigation initiated?
• What FAA official initiated the investigation?
• What FAA officials were made aware of the investigation and when?
• What is the current status of the investigation?

If the investigation is complete, include a copy of the entire and un-redacted report to the committee with the agency’s responses.

(Source: Senate Commerce Committee news release)

FMI: www.commerce.senate.gov