Government Funding Gap Impacts on Commercial Aviation Safety President Carter through Trump (1978-2020)

Abstract

Government funding gaps are common and have occurred throughout the years. Each funding gap will lead to the stoppage of government agencies. This paper studies the relationship between funding gaps and commercial aviation safety during 1978-2020. It showed that the funding gap has no statistically significant impact on commercial aviation safety in terms of accidents, however through the literature review it does affect aviation negatively through both safety and economy. The recommendations to avoid funding gap fallout include prioritizing crucial services such as aviation and national safety, and addressing matters which may compromise the security of the public during the budget process. Government agencies, including the FAA, should be mandated to develop contingency plans that would address such funding gaps, such as designating the emergency fund to keep the aviation safety function running during the shutdown and purchasing insurance against the government shutdown.