Federal Reports

DHS’ capability to counter illicit Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) activity remains limited. The Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans did not execute a uniform department-wide approach, which prevented components authorized to conduct counter-UAS operations from expanding their capabilities. This occurred because the Office of Policy did not obtain funding as directed by the Secretary to expand DHS’ counter-UAS capability. We made four recommendations to improve the Department’s management and implementation of counter-UAS activities. The Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans concurred with all four of our recommendations.

What We Looked AtThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for the safety and certification of all civilian aircraft manufactured and operated in the United States. However, two accidents in late 2018 and early 2019 involving Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft raised significant safety concerns about FAA's certification of this aircraft. On March 19, 2019, Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao requested that we compile an objective and detailed factual history of the activities that resulted in the certification of the 737 MAX 8. We also received similar requests from the Chairmen of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and its Subcommittee on Aviation; the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies; and Senator Richard Blumenthal. They requested that we review aspects of FAA's approach to certifying the MAX series of aircraft, its reliance on the Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program, and the Agency's actions following the two accidents. Our overall audit objective was to determine and evaluate FAA's process for certifying the Boeing 737 MAX series of aircraft.What We FoundIn this report, we provide a detailed timeline of the activities resulting in the certification of the 737 MAX 8, beginning in January 2012, when Boeing submitted its initial application for an Amended Type Certificate to FAA. This report also compiles a timeline of events following the October 29, 2018, crash of Lion Air Flight 610 up until the crash of Ethiopian Air Flight 302 on March 10, 2019. In addition, during the same time period as FAA's certification efforts, Boeing, FAA, and our office were identifying issues that--although not specific to the 737 MAX 8--may have impacted the original certification of the aircraft. As such, we also provided a timeline of concurrent related oversight actions and events related to FAA's ODA program.Our RecommendationsWe are not making recommendations in this report. The data gathered are informational and represent our observations in response to the Secretary's and other congressional requests. We will report further on FAA's oversight of the certification process and other related matters, as well as make recommendations as applicable, in future reports.

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