Skip to main content

Aviation Safety: FAA's Safety Oversight System Is Effective but Could Benefit from Better Evaluation of Its Programs' Performance

GAO-06-266T Published: Nov 17, 2005. Publicly Released: Nov 17, 2005.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

The U.S. commercial aviation industry has an extraordinary safety record. However, when passenger airlines have accidents or serious incidents, regardless of their rarity, the consequences can be tragic. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) works to maintain a high level of safety through an effective safety oversight system. Keys to this system are to: (1) establish programs that focus resources on areas of highest safety risk and on mitigating risks; (2) provide training and communication to ensure that inspectors can consistently carry out the agency's oversight programs; and (3) have processes and data to continuously monitor, evaluate, and improve the numerous oversight programs that make up the safety oversight system. This statement focuses on these three key areas and is based on recent GAO reports on FAA's inspection oversight programs, industry partnership programs, enforcement program, and training program.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

AirlinesData integrityEmployee trainingInspectionProgram evaluationRegulatory agenciesRisk assessmentSafety regulationSafety standardsTraining utilizationTransportation safety