The Use of ResearchThe agency in which I am employed is the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA is responsible for administering the safety procedures of the National Transportation Safety Board. To implement procedures and ensure safety, we conduct limited research that allows us to make general decisions regarding public and travel safety. One of the FAA's signature programs is National Transportation Week. During this exciting week, educational and informational events highlighting important transportation achievements take place across the country. The FAA encourages employees to participate in planned activities, with a particular focus on the annual National Transportation Week Transportation and Travel Expo. This conference is a great opportunity to hear directly from Department of Transportation officials, transportation industry leaders, and the defense transportation community on important issues such as surface and air reauthorization, the logistical history behind Operation Iraqi Freedom and the future of travel and transportation. industry. Dedicated to ensuring a safe and efficient transportation system, the FAA has much to celebrate and be proud of during National Transportation Week. Civil aviation in the United States is by far the most common form of public transportation safest in the world. Part of this exceptional record comes from the 50 years of continuous improvement that have made general aviation safe for those who fly and those on the ground. Each pilot must complete formal training using an FAA-approved curriculum at an FAA-certified and inspected flight school using FAA-inspected airplanes and FAA-certified flight instructors. The same goes for mechanics and all formal aviation professions. Pilots must pass several mid-level checks throughout their training, and no fewer than four different formal exams before they can obtain their pilot license (this is actually called a pilot certificate). All aircraft must undergo mandatory periodic maintenance and inspections every 50 hours, 100 hours or annually. The plane is taken to a hangar and literally taken apart, so that every component can be inspected and tested. Worn components are replaced and complete records are entered into the aircraft logbooks..