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GAO reviewed the efforts of the Department of Defense and the services to standardize flight life-support equipment.

While formal management structures and informal agreements have resulted in several standardized life-support items, GAO found a proliferation of tactical aircraft and helicopter seat systems, the most expensive items of life-support equipment. GAO stated that greater standardization of aircraft seating systems could substantially lower acquisition and support costs of modern aircraft. To accomplish greater standardization and realize the savings, increased emphasis by the officials involved and the services is required. This includes defining activities and developing master plans, insisting that life-support equipment plans for each aircraft be coordinated with the service life-support program office, assigning responsibility for the development and acquisition of standard equipment, and supporting funding when development of standard items is determined appropriate. Finally, a current assessment of planned ejection and crashworthy seat use in ongoing or emerging aircraft or helicopter programs may provide opportunities to achieve near-term standardization or use of existing seats.