FAA has used eBay, 3D printers to replace parts for aging systems, transportation secretary says

The Federal Aviation Administration has resorted to buying replacement parts on eBay and making new parts with 3D printers, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told lawmakers Thursday — as the air safety system draws scrutiny for decades-old technology and persistent staffing problems.

"We do try to buy replacement parts on eBay for this really old equipment," Duffy told members of a Senate Appropriations subcommittee Thursday. "Sometimes, we can't even buy it on eBay, so we're trying to use 3D printing to craft replacement parts for the system that we use."

Duffy made similar comments on "Meet The Press" last weekend, saying the FAA has turned to eBay because "we can't buy parts for new" for some of the agency's aging systems.