TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

FAA Takes Heat For Jet Approval Despite Flaws

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 18, 2008

WASHINGTON - A government watchdog said Wednesday that federal officials approved a new type of small jet despite problems with the plane's design and production, and overruled safety concerns.

The Transportation Department's inspector general, Calvin Scovel, told lawmakers the Eclipse 500 won certification despite "unresolved design problems." He cited significant production troubles and said the manufacturer, Eclipse Aviation of Albuquerque, N.M., had difficulty reproducing the Federal Aviation Administration-approved final design.

His investigation did not try to make a judgment on the jet's safety. But Scovel said he was concerned about "alarming" problems with the FAA's certification process.

"I am very concerned that we have another example here that complacency has crept into the highest levels of FAA management," said the House Transportation Committee chairman, Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn.
FAA officials pointed to poor communications between agency managers and employees who worked on the certification.

The Associated Press

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT