James Oberstar: “Another maintenance inspector responsible for overseeing air carriers and repair stations that operate 737s, 757s, 767s…”

“Another maintenance inspector responsible for overseeing air carriers and repair stations that operate 737s, 757s, 767s, and McDonnell Douglas MD-80s said he had not received a course on maintenance and electronics in 5 years. There are rampant training deficiencies that exist because they do not have enough money to do that training. This $1 million is only a part of the $8 million that GAO said is needed to meet the unfunded training needs for the FAA. All of us fly in this body. All of us take aircraft, whether major airlines or commuters or regional carriers. We all want to know that those carriers are being inspected carefully, responsibly and effectively and that those aircraft are safe and that they are being maintained in a safe manner. Members who believe that ought to support this amendment, to shift the money where it will do a great deal of good into the training function, provide adequate training and recurrent training for maintenance and avionics inspectors in the FAA to oversee those air carriers, especially the new entrant carriers. That is where the need is. That is where the contracting out of maintenance is being done and where it is not being adequately supervised with people who have adequate training. A modest $1 million out of this excess amount in the office of IG will address this vital funding deficiency. I urge support for my amendment.”