Agency Should Be More Diligent In Identifying 'Poor Performing' Pilots

A report issued by the office of the DOT Inspector General on December 20 concludes that the FAA's oversight of air carrier training programs and pilot performance and proficiency programs "lacks the rigor needed to identify and track poor performing pilots and address potential program risks."

DOT Inspector General Calvin Scovel

The review was conducted at the request of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Representatives Louise Slaughter and Brian Higgins. The IG found that FAA’s oversight of air carriers’ pilot training  FAA has not sufficiently trained inspectors on how to evaluate air carriers’ basic training assessments.

The IF also says the FAA does not provide sufficient oversight of check airmen—who perform the majority of proficiency checks on air carrier pilots, and that FAA maintains extensive pilot information that air carriers can use to evaluate the competence and qualifications of pilots. However, its current request process hinders air carriers’ ability to easily obtain all relevant data.

The DOT IG made seven recommendations to FAA to improve its oversight, and says the FAA concurred or partially concurred with each of its recommendations. However, the IG says that the FAA’s responses did not meet the intent of four of its recommendations, and it is are requesting additional information before resolving them.

In particular, the office says it is seeking further justification regarding FAA's response on the adequacy of inspector oversight of check airmen. In its report, the IG's office says the FAA has not provided guidance to its inspectors on how to evaluate and track pilot performance and training. For example, FAA requires inspectors to establish a process for air carriers to notify the agency of pilots who perform unsatisfactorily during training. However, the FAA has not issued procedures or guidance for developing an effective notification process. At 12 of the 18 FAA offices we visited, air carriers notify inspectors of pilot training failures through informal email or telephone exchanges. Moreover, only 5 of the 30 FAA inspectors interviewed for the report maintain historical logs or tracking sheets for pilots who fail proficiency checks.

The IG requested that the FAA respond within 30 days of the release of the report.

FMI: Read The Report