Longer intervals are carrying part of the workload
GAO reported that the number of simulators under FAA oversight rose more than 500% from 1990 through 2025 while National Simulator Program staffing stayed steady. FAA’s Extended Evaluation Interval program can move qualifying simulators from annual reviews to intervals as long as 36 months.
Six of ten selected sponsors raised concerns about how FAA communicates eligibility and interval decisions; two cited potential safety issues. The ten sponsors owned or operated more than 62% of simulators, but GAO describes the sample as nongeneralizable.
The record does not show that longer intervals caused an accident or that every extended simulator is unsafe. It shows that the workload strategy expanded without a feedback mechanism GAO considered adequate.
| Indicator | Record |
|---|---|
| Simulator growth, 1990–2025 | >500% |
| Standard evaluation interval | 12 months |
| Maximum extended interval | 36 months |
| Selected sponsors raising communication concerns | 6 of 10 |
Two recommendations remain open
GAO recommended a sponsor feedback mechanism and a process to address all mission-critical skills gaps, including standards development. The Transportation Department concurred.
This analysis identifies the pressure point—growth handled partly through less frequent inspections—and preserves the limitation that sponsor interviews were selected rather than statistically representative.