Florida state aircraft are decentralized among six state agencies. The Department of Management Services is statutorily authorized to coordinate these agency aviation programs but only serves an advisory role. This fragmented system hinders coordination, reduces efficiency, and increases costs. In addition, some agency practices may increase state costs; these include not seeking cost reimbursement for aircraft services provided to other entities, underutilizing aircraft, and using aging and surplus aircraft.
The Legislature could consider several options for improving state aircraft management and reducing costs, including centralizing all state aviation programs into a single aviation authority, consolidating all law enforcement aviation operations under a single agency, directing the Department of Management Services to exercise its statutory authority to centralize aviation operations, and creating an agency coordinating council for aircraft management. Each option has advantages and disadvantages as well as varying fiscal impacts.

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Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.