Aviation Safety

Six months after the March 1992 crash of USAir Flight at LaGuardia Airport, in which 27 people were killed during an unsuccessful takeoff possibly caused by ice buildup on the plane's wing, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued tougher regulations on airline ground operations during icy conditions--a considerable accomplishment considering that rulemaking can take as long as 7 years. Airlines had until November 1992 to implement the new regulations. The new regulations mandate more thorough inspection of aircraft and ice removal before takeoff. These guidelines take into account the length of time deicing and anti-icing fluids can effectively keep planes free of ice. Earlier regulations stipulated only that aircraft could not take off if ice, frost, or snow were sticking to critical surfaces, such as the wings. The new regulations clearly spell out the information and training that airline personnel will need to ensure safety during icy conditions. GAO has concerns, however, about allowing pilots to check for ice from inside the aircraft. Obstructed views, distance, and poor lighting could make it difficult, if not impossible, to detect ice from inside the plane. In addition, the regulations exempt commuter airlines, which are also vulnerable to icy conditions. Commuter pilots have reported five incidents during the past 4 years in which they aborted flights during or immediately after takeoff because of ice problems. Finally, FAA needs to take a more active role in verifying that airline personnel have actually received and understand the training information on the new regulations.

GAO found that: (1) FAA issued interim final regulations within 6 months after a major accident that may have been caused by icing; (2) the new regulations require more thorough procedures for inspecting aircraft and removing ice before takeoff, and incorporate guidance on the length of time deicing fluids are effective; (3) the regulations also detailed the training airlines should provide to their personnel on safety during icing conditions; (4) despite improvements, the regulations allow pilots to check for ice from inside the aircraft; (5) the new regulations do not apply to commuter airlines; and (6) FAA could more proactively verify that airlines have provided the required training.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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