Originally Posted by
flapshalfspeed
PRIA records are still held by airlines. Airmen records are supposedly being digitized in OKC.
For a government agency to undertake a massive IT effort such as scanning millions of documents or setting up a massive database (like a centralized PRIA database), funding is required. Manpower is required.
The FAA operates on a shoestring budget with a minimal staff that is constantly fluctuating with every reauthorization act/administration. After repeated series of Republican budget cuts at the Federal level over the last decade, it shouldn't surprise anyone that things are still stored on microfilm in OKC.
Airlines were instructed to turn over records to the FAA to be digitized. The central PRIA database will house all the records. Airlines will report, not store. One request is the future method of access.