FAA Overhaul: A Fresh Take on Aviation Safety

By Brock Booher

In light of the recent accidents and the efforts of politicians to improve efficiency in government (including the FAA), perhaps it's time we looked at some out-of-the-box alternatives.

Let's face it - the FAA has a tough job. Congress charged them with making safety the #1 priority in air travel, but they're constantly juggling resources, politics, and an ever-changing industry.

Here's a novel idea that could shake things up: instead of the FAA hiring its own safety inspectors (often retirees who might be out of touch with the latest industry practices), why not have the airlines loan their best people to the agency?

The current setup has real problems. The FAA struggles to fulfill its mission to 'regulate civil aviation to promote safety,' as many inspectors, while experienced and capable, lack recent experience with today’s complex aircraft systems. (I once had an FAA Inspector who I believe flew with the Wright brothers.) Additionally, with limited resources, these inspectors are stretched thin across multiple responsibilities and airline training schedulers often have to rely on alternative methods of inspection to get crews qualified.

The proposed fix? Have airlines contribute safety inspectors based on their size - more pilots and flight attendants would mean more inspectors contributed to the pool. These on-loan inspectors would keep getting their regular airline paycheck while the FAA tosses in some extra cash for their service. This approach helps the FAA better live up to its promise to keep our skies safe while being smarter about resources.

This approach taps into the collective expertise of the aviation industry. The loaned safety inspectors bring intimate knowledge of aircraft systems, operational procedures, and real-world safety concerns. This alignment of practical industry knowledge with regulatory oversight fulfills Congress's original intent when it mandated the FAA to remain current with evolving aviation technology and developments.

The benefits are pretty straightforward:

First, you get inspectors who actually understand what they're looking at. An active Boeing 787 pilot is going to spot issues that might fly right past someone who doesn’t have experience with the aircraft or who doesn’t have recency of experience.

Second, it creates a cross-pollination effect. When Captain Smith from Airline A works with the FAA for two years and then returns to his airline, he brings back invaluable insights. Meanwhile, he's shared Airline A's best training and safety practices with inspectors from Airlines B, C, and D. Over time, everyone's safety game improves.

Money-wise, it's a win-win setup. Airlines keep paying their employees' regular salaries (which they'd be paying anyway), and the FAA chips in a bonus for the added responsibilities. This keeps costs in check while still attracting top talent - helping the FAA deliver on that "safest, most efficient aerospace system" promise.

Now, you might wonder: "Won't these inspectors just go easy on their own airlines?" That's a fair question, but because of thin resources, that already happens today. With this proposal, these inspectors would work on rotations that focus on other airlines, follow strict conflict-of-interest rules, and rarely inspect their own employers. It's all about maintaining the independence the FAA needs to fulfill its watchdog role.

For smaller airlines, don't worry - the system would scale based on size. A major carrier might contribute twenty inspectors while a regional operation might only need to provide two. The goal is to make it work for everyone while keeping the FAA's mandate to develop aviation across the board.

Training would be comprehensive but practical. These aren't newbies - they're experienced aviation professionals who just need to learn the regulatory side of things. They could get up to speed on the FAA's standards and procedures quickly, ensuring consistency across the board.

A program like this could build bridges in the industry instead of creating an ‘us versus them’ mentality between the FAA and the airlines. This approach creates partnership without compromising oversight.

The timing couldn't be better. Aviation is getting more complex by the day, and the FAA is under pressure to both maintain perfect safety and be more efficient. This program could be the refresh button the agency needs.

What would we see if this happens? Probably more thorough inspections that catch real issues earlier. Better understanding between regulators and operators. And ultimately, a safer system that still allows innovation to flourish - exactly what Congress had in mind when creating the FAA in the first place.

Bottom line: this isn't your standard government reform proposal. It's a creative rethinking of how the FAA can fulfill its congressional mandate to keep our skies safe while adapting to today's realities. By tapping into industry expertise while keeping regulatory independence, the FAA could better deliver on its promise to run "the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world" - even in these challenging times.

Brock Booher is an aviation professional with over 35 years of experience, a published author, a small business owner, and a grandfather who believes everyone can pursue their dreams.

*Note: The opinions expressed herein are those of Brock Booher alone and do not represent those of Breaking Battlegrounds’ hosts or staff.