Sun, Nov 16, 2008
Cover-Up Of Controller Mistakes Continues
An investigation by the Department of Transportation determined
Federal Aviation Administration officials again misrepresented
numerous breaches of safety at Dallas-Fort Worth International
Airport, according to a new report released by the US Office of
Special Counsel.
In the second such finding in three years, FAA managers
allegedly shifted blame for proximity violations from air traffic
controllers at DFW 62 times between November 2005 and July 2007, by
deliberately misclassifying incursions as pilot error or
non-events, according to Associated Press reports.
Requested last spring by former Special Counsel Scott Bloch, the
report details a persistent cover-up of misconduct. 10 corrective
measures were also outlined, including reorganizing ATC management
at DFW and an overall review of the FAA's air traffic safety
management.
In a letter to President Bush, Acting Special Counsel William
Reukauf said that increased "scrutiny of FAA and its implementation
of the corrective measures proposed to resolve the continued
misconduct and mismanagement is critical."
Spokeswoman Laura Brown said the FAA has already complied with
all of the inspector general's recommendations not related to
personnel matters, which she is prohibited from discussing, the AP
said. "I can tell you we take them very seriously, and we're taking
appropriate action on those as well," Brown said.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said airport
towers and other traffic control facilities are currently
understaffed and many experienced controllers are leaving the FAA,
contributing to the rise in safety errors made by controllers.
First reporting in 2004 that FAA officials had covered up safety
violations, whistle-blower and controller supervisor Anne Whiteman
came forward again last year with new allegations that FAA managers
were still under-reporting controller safety violations and
misreporting incidents as caused by pilot error.
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