Sequestration Clearly Impacting FAA Maintenance

Details

Published: September 24, 2013

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A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report is validating long-standing concerns raised by PASS, the union representing systems specialists who install, maintain and certify vital air traffic control systems and equipment nationwide.

As the GAO indicates and as PASS has long warned, the current budget is not sufficient enough for the FAA to address its system and facilities maintenance issues. “This report should serve as a wake-up call to Congress, the FAA and the public that our fiscal situation has and will continue to impact airspace operations,” said PASS President Mike Perrone. 

The GAO report emphasizes that, as the FAA transitions to the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), it is imperative that a sufficient number of systems specialists are in place to properly maintain and certify both existing and NextGen systems. The report details instances of deferred maintenance and insufficient employee training. In fact, the GAO even suggests that budget shortfalls are increasing the risk to systems specialists charged with maintaining unstaffed infrastructure and facilities. If not addressed, interference with these modernization efforts could affect reliable airspace operations.The report recommends that improved budget planning is required, especially in today's precarious financial environment.

“Sequestration is clearly taking a toll on the FAA’s ability to sufficiently staff its technical workforce and maintain equipment and systems vital to the safety of the flying public," said Perrone. "We must ensure that the FAA has the funding for the staffing it needs to maintain its reputation as the safest and most efficient system in the world.” 

Click here to view the GAO report.

For more information or questions, please contact Kori Blalock Keller at (202) 293-7277 x110.

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For 36 years, PASS has represented more than 11,000 employees of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense who install, maintain, support and certify air traffic control and national defense equipment, inspect and oversee the commercial and general aviation industries, develop flight procedures and perform quality analyses of the aviation systems. For more information, visit the PASS website at www.passnational.org.