Aircraft Certification: FAA Can Better Meet Challenges Posed by Advances
in Aircraft Technologies (Testimony, 10/20/93, GAO/T-RCED-94-53).

The aviation industry has witnessed rapid advances in aircraft
technology since the 1980s, and the future holds the promise for even
more changes, such as electronic systems that will sense the environment
and control the plane.  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will
be challenged to certify these technologies and ensure the safety of the
flying public.  A 1980 National Academy of Sciences study found that the
competency of FAA certification staff lagged far behind that of
engineers in the industry they regulated.  Since 1980, FAA has not
provided its staff with the guidance, expert assistance, and training
needed to boost the staff's competence.  Although FAA has tried to beef
up its training program and reduce its high staff turnover, GAO
testified that FAA will need to do more.  Specifically, FAA must (1)
better define its role in the process, (2) improve its use of in-house
experts, (3) establish specific training requirements, and (4) keep its
training as current as possible.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-RCED-94-53
     TITLE:  Aircraft Certification: FAA Can Better Meet Challenges 
             Posed by Advances in Aircraft Technologies
      DATE:  10/20/93
   SUBJECT:  Transportation safety
             Aircraft
             Human resources utilization
             Safety standards
             Human resources training
             Safety regulation
             Commercial aviation
             Technology transfer
             Regulatory agencies
             Aircraft industry
IDENTIFIER:  MD-11 Aircraft
             FAA Aircraft Production Certification Program
             
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