Sat, Dec 24, 2011
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.
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