Senate Passes NTSB Reauthorization; Bill Creates New Management Structure
he U.S. Senate passed the National Transportation Safety Board Reauthorization Act of 2006 on Sept. 26, a measure that establishes a new management structure to oversee hiring, firing and compensation of NTSB officers and employees.
The new management structure would be headed by a “managing director,” who will supervise the staff, track the investigations and report to the chairman of the NTSB, according to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
The bill also calls for a new national accident investigation tracking system, which, when online, will enable all board members to determine the status of an investigation at any time. It also allows NTSB to issue no-bid contracts if necessary to get contractors to help complete an expedited accident investigation.