Remember those executive orders President Donald Trump issued early this year aimed at simplifying and cutting costs in government? My favorite was the one requiring agencies to repeal two existing regulations before creating a new one. Close on the heels of that came “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,” which directed agencies to evaluate existing regulations and make recommendations for their repeal, replacement or modification.
Unusual Attitudes: Is the FAA Pulling a FAST One?
Key Takeaways:
- The FAASTeam (formerly Wings) pilot proficiency program is criticized as cumbersome, unpopular, and ineffective, engaging only 5-8% of active pilots, with questionable impact on overall aviation safety.
- Despite relying heavily on volunteers for outreach, the program is a costly bureaucratic "monstrosity," employing a multi-tiered structure of highly paid federal administrators with an estimated annual salary expense of over $17 million and a total budget around $30 million.
- The author recommends that the FAA should exit the "wings-and-awards business" and leave recurrent pilot training and safety programs to private industry and other aviation organizations due to the program's high cost and low efficacy.
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