FAA Staffing: Challenges in Managing Shortages in the Maintenance Work Force
RCED-87-137
Published: Sep 25, 1987. Publicly Released: Oct 13, 1987.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the adequacy of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) maintenance staffing, focusing on the impact of the: (1) current staffing situation on the air traffic system; and (2) projected attrition of maintenance personnel on staffing requirements.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, FAA, to improve the airway facilities staffing standard validation process by: (1) requiring the field to review and verify facility inventories; (2) linking staffing projections to facility-specific data available through the systems engineering and integration contractor database; and (3) estimating pipeline staffing needs. |
Closed – Implemented
On-site reviews were completed and the information was fed to the staffing standard system and used in the development of a 5-year plan.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should establish staffing targets for field maintenance at a level approaching authorized positions to provide a technician pipeline to replace anticipated attrition over the next 5 years. |
Closed – Implemented
The plan was completed as of December 1988.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should submit these targets and a funding plan to support hiring to these levels to the appropriate congressional committees. |
Closed – Implemented
The fiscal year 1990 budget included FTE requirements based on study results and a 5-year plan.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, FAA, to consider the options discussed above, such as rehiring retirees and redistributing the work force, to deal with situations where field staffing is already critical. |
Closed – Implemented
FAA developed a 5-year hiring plan to identify staffing requirements due to attrition. The plan was completed as of December 1988. It is premature to assess the results of this effort.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, FAA, to standardize the preventive maintenance reporting system. |
Closed – Implemented
FAA developed a standardized maintenance management system which will allow the agency to evaluate the level of maintenance at all facilities. Technicians will be responsible for prioritizing maintenance needs. It is premature to assess the results of this effort.
|
Full Report
Office of Public Affairs
Topics
Air traffic controllersEquipment maintenanceStaff utilizationMaintenance standardsNavigation aidsPersonnel managementReductions in forceRegulatory agenciesTransportation safetyHuman capital management