US: FAA safety inspectors unable to make surprise inspections

A govt watchdog says US safety inspectors are generally unable to conduct unannounced inspections of foreign repair stations where most airlines send their planes for major repair work. Instead, inspectors have to give the countries where the repairs stations are located advance notice of their plans. The govt Accountability Office said in a report released Thursday that FAA inspectors also complain that they've had to cancel inspections because of the agency's tight travel budget. The report also criticises the FAA for not collecting data from airlines on the amount of work that's performed at both foreign and domestic repair stations, saying the information could significantly enhance the agency's oversight. <br/>