FAA Investigating State Police Aviation Unit

BALTIMORE -- The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the Maryland State Police aviation unit, according to the WBAL TV 11 News I-Team.

David Collins Reports

The probe is not related to the National Transportation and Safety Board investigation of the Sept. 27 fatal crash of a state police Medevac helicopter, I-Team reporter David Collins said. A whistle-blower complaint filed in September with the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Transportation prompted the investigation.

The FAA has an office in Baltimore, but they are not involved. The complaint alleged a conflict of interest between the FAA's Glen Burnie office and the state police. Inspectors from Oklahoma and South Dakota paid a visit to aviation command on Tuesday.

State police spokesman Greg Shipley confirmed that investigators with the FAA met with the units' commanders on Tuesday to look at maintenance records.

The FAA is seeking material regarding Medevac transports and its support missions, including search, rescue and Homeland Security. Investigators are also interested in pilot training and the aircraft inspection process as it relates to FAA standards.

Another area of scrutiny concerns the state police's previous policy regarding ride-alongs, promotional demonstrations and executive transport, Collins reported.

According to the whistle-blower complaint, two state police pilots work part-time for the Glen Burnie FAA office.

There is no word on a timetable or what the consequences would be if the FAA finds something that's not to their satisfaction.

Investigators won't submit a report to the U.S. Inspector General's Office until they're finished.