GAO Takes Issue With NASA Airplane Use

NASA Administrator Statement Regarding GAO Report on NASA Airplane Use

"We at NASA have accepted the Government Accountability Office's findings and have embraced new guidelines and procedures for the use of our airplanes that have been set by the Office of Management and Budget. Going forward, all airplane use will be within those guidelines."

GAO Report: NASA TRAVEL: Passenger Aircraft Services Annually Cost Taxpayers Millions More Than Commercial Airlines (PDF)

"Use of NASA passenger aircraft services can save time, provide more flexibility to meet senior executives' schedules, and provide other less tangible and quantifiable benefits. However, GAO's analysis of available reported data related to NASA passenger aircraft services during fiscal years 2003 and 2004 showed NASA reported costs were nearly $25 million compared with estimated commercial airline coach transportation costs of about $5 million.management of this program."