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Summary

The Office of Inspector General is initiating an audit on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) oversight of the use of flight deck automation by air carrier pilots. We are conducting this audit at the request of the current and former Ranking Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and its Subcommittee on Aviation. While flight deck automation allows for greater precision and a decreased workload for pilots, some safety experts have expressed concerns that pilots rely too heavily on automated systems, which could erode manual flying skills. Accordingly, our audit objectives are to (1) determine whether FAA has established regulations governing the use of flight deck automation, and (2) identify FAA’s process for ensuring that air carrier pilots are trained to use and monitor these systems while also maintaining proficiency in manual flight operations.