Tue, Aug 23, 2011
Places Restrictions On Companies That Employ Former Aviation
Safety Inspectors
The FAA issued a final rule late last week that
prohibits air carriers and other certificate holders from employing
certain former FAA aviation safety inspectors as company
representatives to the agency for a period of two years after they
have left the agency. “The flying public can rest assured
that our aviation safety inspectors will remain focused on
protecting the flying public without any conflicts of
interest,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
“This rule establishes clear restrictions that will
improve our safety culture here at the FAA and throughout the
aviation industry,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.
Certificate holders will be prohibited under certain conditions
from employing, or making a contractual arrangement with, certain
individuals who have worked for the FAA in the previous two years
to act as an agent or a representative in any matter before the
FAA.
These restrictions will apply if the former FAA employee
directly served as or was responsible for the oversight of a Flight
Standards Service aviation safety inspector and had direct
responsibility to inspect, or oversee the inspection of, the
operations of the certificate holder. This rule will also apply to
persons who own or manage fractional ownership program aircraft
that are used to conduct certain commercial operations.
This final rule follows an NPRM which was published on November
20, 2009. The rule responds to concerns raised by Congress and the
DOT Inspector General in 2008 about the FAA’s oversight of
Southwest Airlines. The DOT Inspector General concluded that that
the FAA office overseeing the airline had developed an overly close
relationship with the airline and recommended that the FAA create
post-employment guidance that includes a “cooling-off”
period to prohibit an air carrier from hiring an aviation safety
inspector who previously inspected that air carrier.
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