As Government Shutdown Continues, FAA Recalls 800 Workers

As the U.S. government shutdown enters its eighth day, the FAA announced this morning that it is recalling 800 employees from its office of aviation safety this week to provide oversight across the country. These recalls are part of a contingency plan that would see up to 2,500 employees recalled over a two-week period, but only if their positions provide for “the protection of life and property.”

The FAA is recalling some 200 at its aircraft certification service, more than 600 FSDO employees and about 25 at its the office of aerospace medicine. There appears not to be any reprieve in the first wave of recalls for staff at the agency’s aircraft registry office in Oklahoma City. This means that aircraft registrations and title searches–and by default aircraft sales transactions–are still on hold.

This has raised the ire of NBAA, AOPA, GAMA, EAA, NATA and HAI, which sent a joint letter today to DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx. They urged him to reopen the FAA registry office, saying these “essential services” are needed to ensure aviation safety, protect security and to fulfill international obligations under the Chicago Convention and Cape Town Treaty.

NBAA has also set up a government shutdown resource webpage and is asking its members to contact Congress.