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MDOT says state aircraft operations paused amid HR staffing issues; agency operates four planes
Summary
MDOT’s aeronautics chief told legislators the department operates four aircraft but has paused passenger flights because of HR-related staffing problems; MDOT normally schedules aircraft for state business and bills user agencies for flights.
Brian Buds, head of MDOT’s Aeronautics Division, told the appropriation subcommittee that MDOT operates a small fleet of aircraft used for state-agency and legislative travel, but that service is temporarily paused due to human-resources related staffing issues.
Buds said MDOT owns four aircraft: three used for passenger transport and one single-engine aircraft used by inspectors. “Within MDOT, we own four aircraft altogether. Three are used for passenger transportation in the service that we mentioned. One is used by our inspectors,” Buds said. He added MDOT has operated the fleet with two pilots dedicated to flight operations and additional agency staff with pilot licenses who occasionally support flights.
MDOT schedules aircraft on a first-come, first-served basis and bills individual agencies when flights are used for state business, Buds said. The department had operated under a legislative boilerplate restriction in the past that was later removed; Buds said the change allows the department to provide airfare alternatives to agencies while charging them for use.
On staffing, Buds told legislators MDOT is working “on a daily basis” through civil service and other HR processes to resolve personnel issues and hopes to resume service in the short term. Representative Wharton asked how many pilots the agency normally has; Buds said MDOT is allocated two pilots dedicated to fleet operations but has benefited from other staff who hold pilot licenses.
The pause affects MDOT’s internal scheduling of aircraft for state business; Buds did not identify any specific flights canceled in the transcript and described the problem as personnel-related rather than mechanical.
Committee members did not take formal action on fleet operations at the meeting but requested more information about capital plans and other program details.
