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IV. Agency Budget Summaries

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION


  1. RESOURCE SUMMARY

  2. METHODOLOGY

    • The drug budget is based on the number of workyears dedicated to drug-related activities resulting from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) action.

  3. PROGRAM SUMMARY

    • The FAA was created by the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended. It controls the use of navigable airspace, develops and operates a common system of air traffic control and navigation for civil and military aircraft, regulates air commerce, and coordinates research and development that pertains to air navigation facilities.

    • The FAA assists in identifying airborne drug smugglers by using radar, posting aircraft lookouts, and tracking the movement of suspect aircraft.

    • The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 mandated that FAA assist law enforcement agencies "in the enforcement of laws relating to the regulation of controlled substances, to the extent consistent with aviation safety."

    • The FAA drug-related programs primarily address the areas of drug prevention, interdiction, investigation, and research.

    • Random Drug Testing: Each year, the FAA conducts preemployment testing of all applicants for safety-related and critical positions, as well as random drug testing of 25 percent of all employees in safety/security critical positions.

    • Interdiction: These efforts include the development and correlation of flight plans and transponder codes to enhance communications between air route traffic control centers and U.S. Customs/Coast Guard facilities. This enhanced communication also assists in identifying airborne drug smugglers by using radar, posting aircraft lookouts and tracking the movement of suspect aircraft.

    • Intergovernmental Assistance: FAA has in place a drug interdiction unit to provide assistance to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies engaged in the investigation and interdiction of drug smuggling via general aviation aircraft.

    • Airmen and Aircraft Registry Program Improvements: This program is aimed at improving the registration process of general aviation aircraft and the certification process of airmen.

  4. BUDGET SUMMARY

    1998 Program

    • The FY 1998 estimated budget includes $22.6 million and 183 FTE focused in the areas of prevention, interdiction, investigations, and research ($10.4 million to support interdiction, $2.8 million to support investigations, $8.5 million to support drug prevention efforts, and $1.0 million to support research activities).

    Goal 3: Reduce health and social costs to the public of illegal drug use.

    • $4.3 million to support FAA regulatory oversight of the anti-drug and alcohol misuse prevention programs administered by approximately 5,000 aviation industry entities and individual commercial operators.

    • $1.0 million to support the analysis of post-mortem tissues and fluids from transportation accidents/incidents and assess the effects of drug on performance of pilot and controller tasks.

    • $4.2 million to provide for random drug testing of approximately 25 percent of employees who are designated to be in safety/security critical positions.

    Goal 4: Shield America's air, land, and sea frontiers from the drug threat.

    • $3.4 million to support improvements in the Airmen and Aircraft Registry program.

    • $5.3 million to support the development and correlation of flight plans and transponder codes to enhance communications between air route traffic control centers and U.S. Customs facilities and to provide other services as part of the Air Traffic program's involvement in the interdiction program.

    • $1.7 million to support FAA's Drug Investigative Support Units.

    • $1.5 million to support investigations in the Airmen and Aircraft Registry program.

    • $1.3 million for liaison with other law enforcement agencies.

    1999 Request

    • The FY 1999 request for the FAA totals $25.1 million and 213 FTE. The request reflects a net increase of $2.5 million and 30 FTE over FY 1998 levels.

    Goal 3: Reduce health and social costs to the public of illegal drug use.

    • The total drug control request for Goal 3 activities for FY 1999 is $10.0 million, a net increase of $0.5 million over FY 1998.

    Goal 4: Shield America's air, land, and sea frontiers from the drug threat.

    • The total drug control request for Goal 4 activities for FY 1999 is $15.1 million, a net increase of $2.0 million over FY 1998.

  5. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

    • FAA reports no new program accomplishments for the fiscal year just ended.