Assigned to crews consisting of two pilots and a technician, she is flying missions in FAA's specially equipped flight inspection aircraft. Now a fully qualified aircrew member, Thomas, a native of Georgia, is operating onboard computer systems which analyze the quality of ground-based air navigation signals on which aircraft depend. Thomas is the daughter of Mrs. Clara Wimberly Tharpe, of Macon. FAA's Aviation System Standards assures aviation safety by flight checking navigational equipment used in instrument flight procedures in the national airspace system and at some overseas locations. The unit is headquartered in Oklahoma City, with aircrews located in Atlanta, Atlantic City, N.J., Battle Creek, Mich., Sacramento, Calif. and Anchorage, Alaska.
International support is coordinated form Oklahoma City.