According to a Department of Transportation (DOT) Inspector General (IG) report, the FAA’s new staffing model for flight safety inspectors and the number required has some serious flaws reminiscent of the old system.

The new system was instituted in 2009 following the recommendations of a 2006 National Research Council study mandated by Congress. The IG found that the problems with the FAA’s new model are rooted in its “failure to fully address all aspects” of the NRC report, including identifying performance measures. The IG called the new model “faulty,” containing incomplete, inaccurate, and outdated data, and said it cannot be relied on for its intended purpose.

The FAA concurred with six of the IG’s seven recommendations for strengthening the program and said it fully understands the limitations of its program and has been working to address them. The FAA noted that the model the IG reviewed was only an initial effort and was intended to be refined as the project matured.