State has supported foreign governments throughout the world to locate  and eradicate illicit drug crops. The aerial eradication program operates in an often-hostile environment  that requires helicopter gunships and a search and rescue helicopter to  accompany each aerial eradication mission. Eradication spray planes and  the supporting helicopters are often shot at from the ground. In 2001 and most of 2002, the number of ground-fire  hits on spray aircraft averaged fewer than 10 per month. The number of hits  peaked at 73 in January 2003, and 46 hits were reported in March 2003. In general, this meant the spray aircraft and accompanying  helicopters were exposed more frequently to the threat of ground fire;  although other factors also came into play, such as the proximity of  eradication areas to insurgent locations. According to the Office of  Aviation, spray aircraft flew about 5,450 hours in 2001, nearly 9,400 hours in  2002, and more than 11,300 in 2003. State Has Taken Several Actions to Address Operational Safety Concerns

State/INL and NAS have taken several actions to reduce the risk to the  aircraft on aerial eradication missions. In response to the increased number of ground-fire hits on aerial  eradication aircraft in late 2002 and early 2003, the Colombian National  Police began providing two or three helicopter gunships for each  eradication mission; this was in addition to the two Office of Aviation  gunships that already accompanied every mission, and the NAS Director  directed spray operations away from areas where the hits were occurring. In addition, throughout 2003 and early 2004, State/INL and NAS took  several actions to make greater use of intelligence information regarding  the ground threats to the eradication aircraft. Funding for the aerial eradication  program in Colombia increased from about $49 million in fiscal year 2001  to over $100 million in fiscal year 2003. NAS funds for the aerial eradication program  increased more than fivefold, from about $11 million in fiscal year 2001 to  more than $58 million in fiscal year 2003. Number of Aircraft Increased

From the end of fiscal year 2001 through May 2004, the number of spray  aircraft and helicopters supporting aerial eradication in Colombia  increased from 22 to 35, with 12 additional spray aircraft and 1 additional  helicopter assigned. State/INL’s Planning and Budgeting Process Does Not Provide for All of the Office of Aviation’s Needs

State/INL does not develop a specific budget for the Office of Aviation  addressing all of its programs and does not plan for the long-term costs of  the Office of Aviation’s programs, such as providing for replacement  aircraft. As a result, the Office of Aviation has to request those funds from the  respective NAS Director, which may adversely affect those programs.
Why GAO Did This Study

The Department of State supports foreign governments' efforts to eradicate illicit drug crops. In recent years, State's Office of Aviation has maintained aircraft and provided support for the aerial eradication program of the Colombian National Police. However, eradication aircraft are often shot at from the ground requiring helicopter gunships and a search and rescue helicopter to accompany each mission. In 2003, the Office of Aviation fumigated more than 132,000 hectares of coca, a record amount. GAO examined (1) how the threat to the spray planes has changed since 2001, (2) what actions State has taken to address any operational safety concerns, and (3) what resources State provided for the expanding program during fiscal years 2001-04 and how it planned and budgeted for the program's growth.

What GAO Found

In 2001 and most of 2002, the number of ground-fire hits on spray aircraft averaged fewer than 10 per month. But in late 2002 and during 2003, the number of hits increased--peaking at 73 in January 2003 and averaging more than 26 per month--and, in 2003, two spray aircraft crashed and two were forced to land because of ground fire. Moreover, the number of flying hours for spray aircraft more than doubled--from about 5,450 hours in 2001 to over 11,300 hours in 2003. In general, this meant the aircraft were exposed more frequently to the threat of ground fire, although other factors came into play. In response to the increased number of ground-fire hits, the Colombian National Police began providing two or three helicopter gunships for each eradication mission; this was in addition to the two Office of Aviation gunships that already accompanied every mission. Also, since January 2003, State has taken several actions to help reduce exposure to the threat of ground fire by making greater use of information about armed insurgents' proximity to spray targets. Since fiscal year 2001, State has significantly increased resources for the aerial eradication program in Colombia. Funding for the program doubled from about $49 million in fiscal year 2001 to $100 million for fiscal year 2003. In addition, from fiscal year 2001 to May 2004, personnel in Colombia who were directly involved with the program increased from 179 to 298, and the number of aerial eradication aircraft increased from 22 to 35. However, State does not prepare budgets that address all of the Office of Aviation's program requirements. Consequently, State often moves funds from one program to another, which may adversely affect those programs. In addition, State does not plan for the longterm costs of the aerial eradication program, such as aircraft replacement. As a result, State has postponed requesting funds for new aircraft.