FAA Whistleblower Says He Was Threatened

Tells Congress Agency Viewed Airlines More Like "Customers" Than Companies To Be Regulated

(CBS/AP)  A House committee reported the findings of its investigation into the Federal Aviation Agency's safety oversight Thursday and heard testimony from airline safety inspectors and the Transportation Department's inspector general.

The whistleblowers who exposed maintenance and inspection problems at Southwest Airlines told Congress their jobs were threatened and their reports of noncompliance were ignored for years by their superiors.

FAA inspector Douglas Peters choked up Thursday at the hearing and needed a few sips of water to tell lawmakers about how a former manager came into his office, commented on pictures of Peters' family being most important, and then said his job could be jeopardized by his actions.

Rep. James Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said FAA managers' actions displayed "malfeasance bordering on corruption," adding that if presented to a grand jury, the evidence would result in an indictment.

The Minnesota Democrat led Thursday's hearing.

The FAA last month took the rare step of ordering the audit of maintenance records at all domestic carriers following reports of missed safety inspections at Dallas-based Southwest. The airline was hit with a record $10.2 million fine for continuing to fly dozens of Boeing 737s that hadn't been inspected for cracks in their fuselages.

Both FAA whistleblowers - Charalambe Boutris and Peters - said the agency views the airlines as its "customers" instead of companies to be regulated. They said the FAA's chief maintenance inspector at Southwest, Douglas T. Gawadzinski, knowingly allowed Southwest to keep planes flying that put passengers at risk, and that another inspector knew of the problem and did nothing.

Gawadzinski is still employed by the FAA, but has no responsibility for safety decisions, said Nicholas Sabatini, the agency's associate administrator for aviation safety. The FAA will "take whatever action the law will allow" when the investigation into the Southwest episode is complete, he added.

Gawadzinski was not asked to testify at Thursday's hearing because he was considered to be a hostile witness who would most likely refuse to answer questions that could have incriminated himself, according to a spokesman for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Chairman Oberstar said as long as the FAA views the airlines as customers "that culture of safety will not take hold and is not going to permeate the organization."

Southwest is not the only carrier that has benefited from a "cozy" relationship with regulators, said Tom Brantley, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union that represents FAA inspectors.

In testimony prepared for the hearing, Brantley details maintenance and safety issues at United, Continental Airlines Inc., Northwest Airlines Corp., Hawaiian Airlines Inc. and elsewhere where the carriers were given great leeway by the FAA to correct problems that inspectors on the ground said merited more serious attention. Financial penalties for infractions suggested by inspectors against United and other carriers also were ignored or significantly reduced by the time they were assessed, he added.

Adding to the airline industry's problems is the growing number of U.S. air travelers who have endured longer lines, more delays and the loss of amenities like meals and blankets.

And now they are getting hit with a wave of schedule disruptions caused by airlines scrambling amid increased regulatory scrutiny to ensure that the expanding air transport system stays safe.

The latest complication came Wednesday, when United Airlines temporarily grounded dozens of Boeing 777s to test their cargo fire-suppression systems.

United said it canceled 41 flights and delayed dozens of others as it carried out work on the long-haul jets after a review of maintenance records showed that a test on a bottle in the fire suppression system hadn't been performed.

The move affected thousands of passengers around the world, as United's 777s mostly fly international routes from its major hubs. Among those grounded was a 777 used by many members of the White House press corps, who were traveling with President Bush in Romania - though it wasn't set to fly again until Friday.

United, a subsidiary of UAL Corp., said Wednesday that the 777s have "intuitive" self-diagnostic systems that would have detected any malfunction with the fire suppression system. The company said it alerted authorities after the missed test was discovered.

Testing on all 52 of United's 777s - 11 percent of its overall fleet - was expected to be completed sometime Thursday. The Chicago-based carrier said 36 of the jets had been inspected and cleared to fly by late afternoon Wednesday. The planes fly mostly from Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Washington Dulles, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

United carried out unscheduled maintenance on seven of its Boeing 747 jets last month but said it found no safety-related issues.

Schedule foul-ups due to inspections have been commonplace since early March, including hundreds of flights canceled last week by American Airlines and Delta Air Lines as they checked wiring bundles on some planes. Stepped-up inspections began when the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a check of maintenance records at all domestic carriers after revelations surfaced about missed safety inspections at Southwest Airlines Co.

The FAA said Wednesday that four U.S. airlines are under investigation for failing to comply with federal aviation regulations, but would not name the carriers. Officials said three airlines had missed inspection deadlines and that penalties could be levied, though it would be several months before the probe was complete.

Industry experts warned that passengers can expect more headaches as the FAA and airlines work to guarantee safety amid the rise in air travel - though federal officials are quick to note that this has been one of the safest periods in aviation history.

The last U.S. crash of a jumbo jet was Nov. 12, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 587 lost part of its tail and plummeted into a New York City neighborhood, killing 265 people.

[tedhaggis]

The truth about the real FAA. www.theoandavirus.com

[ranger1948]

jd2408
Maybe because then we could charge presidents under this law

[jd2408]

Our Congress refused to pass the law to protect whistleblowers does anyone know why ?

[oldpilot954]

Ever since the Civil Aeronautics Board was disbanded in the late ''70s or early ''80s and "deregulation" took place the airlines have been financially hemmorhaging to death. Deregulation allowed anyone who could buy an airplane to start service to any city where they could find a runway. They could also (as they do now) charge anything they wanted for tickets. So it goes like this -- Airline A is paying the bills and showing stockholders a small profit. Airline B decides to move into the market and take over part of Airline A''s business. Airline A''s has a longer history and, therefore, pays employees higher wages allowing Airline B to operate more cheaply. Airline B charges lower fares and takes business until Airline A bankrupts. Under the reorganization agreement Airline A does not have to make payments on it''s airplanes which are financed so they can lower ticket prices below actual costs and get business back from Airline B. Therefore, Airline B bankrupts. The ones that stay in business have to cut corners in service, personnel, parts usage, etc. If the airlines were to raise prices to make them profitable, they lose business to those who do not. If they decide to change prices together then they are "price-fixing". As much as I hate government influence on private business, I''d like to see the government set minimum average ticket costs. That would level the playing field so airlines could attract new people and improve service and safety.

[keithle1]

How many jets take off & land at all the airports in the USA in a given year? How many crash?

Pretty good record, no? No crashes in almost seven years.

How many accidents on our roads/highways in a given year?

[swwils]

I don''t understand the phrase (whistleblower)the guy was trying to save lives and keep some junk out of the sky.He should get the Medal of Honor for having Morale courage.He could have possibly saved thousands of lives.I know that I don''t want to fly in a plane that has things wrong and the maintenance people just sweep the corrections under the rug.Fire and prosecute all involved with this.Look at all these airlines that are filing bankruptcy,you know their planes are flying scrap metal.

[flajoe1]

When will folks see that Term Limits will help to stop such cronieism and help to bring back some Moral authority.
One Term then out they go. It would go a long way to helping to solve some of those kinds of issues.
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Posted by hissteps4u at 02:22 PM : Apr 04, 2008

We do have term limits. We call them elections.

[mcvet]

When will folks see that Term Limits will help to stop such cronieism and help to bring back some Moral authority.

One Term then out they go. It would go a long way to helping to solve some of those kinds of issues.


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Posted by hissteps4u at 02:22 PM : Apr 04, 2008
+ report abuse

Oh come on Term Limits aren''t the anwer! These people are APPOINTED by the PRESIDENT for God''s sake we don''t elect them!! Geeeeeeezzzzz

[mcvet]

From that right wing paper USA Today. Oh those evil neo cons.



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Posted by mjvw2 at 02:30 PM : Apr 04, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL You poor simple minded Fascist what are you babbling about? LOL Are you still trying to find some Wedge Issue? LOL This is about your fuhrer and his corruption... corruption McSame sat back and allowed to go on right under his nose... amazing huh?? Sieg Heil Bush

[Latrocinor]

worked for a State Highway Department. I was called into the Directors Office and was told not to enforce specifications if I wanted to keep my job. Over the years inspectors were pulled off the projects because they were inforcing road building specifications. The same thing you are reporting about with the airlines is happening in State Government also. That is why the roads fall apart so fast.

Posted by hunterdon6 at 06:31 AM : Apr 04, 2008

-----------------------------
Years ago as a new engineer I was hired as an inspector to overlook government inspectors but not supervise.

Inspectors and contractors had a slap each other on the back and shake hands friendship relationship.

I filled thousands of pages with photo''s and notes detailing contract and safety violations and even had my life threatened several times.

I take my vehicle or the bus for trips.

[mjvw2]

Clinton''''s campaign manager, Maggie Williams, earned at least $175,000 serving from 2000-07 on the board of Long Island-based Delta Financial, which filed for bankruptcy last year after a history of high-cost loans to low-income borrowers, according to public records.

Obama''''s national finance chairwoman, Penny Pritzker, was chairwoman of the board of a Chicago-area bank in 1993 when it adopted a subprime business strategy that regulators say ultimately led it to collapse in 2001.

From that right wing paper USA Today. Oh those evil neo cons.

[hissteps4u]

Corruption indeed has become the Norm but it is not a republician or a democratic issue it is a Government issue and those who are trying to line their pockts.

And they wonder why we the Public are fed up with Politions and the government as a whole the ccorrupt lot of them.

When will folks see that Term Limits will help to stop such cronieism and help to bring back some Moral authority.

One Term then out they go. It would go a long way to helping to solve some of those kinds of issues.

[stn_sage]

Federal agencies that have been co-opted by corporate America---federal inspectors who are threatened by their bosses'' when they do their job and tell the truth?!

Geez, where''s the shock value in this story? There isn''t any---because, corruption has become the norm in government under this Republican administration!

This may be new news---but it doesn''t surprise most---because we''ve come to expect with Bush and the GOP!

[sistatee-2009]

The airlines purchase the planes, skimp on maintenance, then sell them to foreign carriers before the wings start falling off. The FAA, ever fat, dumb and happy, looks the other way, content to regulate from afar.

[mcvet]

Same OLD story with the Bush Administration. Corporations are running our country people of this there is no longer any argument. They care ONLY for people that are needed... folks who tell them they have to spend money or it will cost them money to make a flight safe is NOT a person they want to hear from. That''s why the FAA was created in the FIRST place!! We need to get our country back and start the process of making it America again. Sieg Heil Bush

[gkc99]

But "deregulation" is good and only "liberals" would would object, right Repugs?

Your god Ronny Raygun told you so, and so did Rush Limpbough!

That''s all you need to know.

[rushlimpdrug]

If safety is important to you, SWA should be top of any fliers itinerary. American and United have lost DOZENS of planes fully loaded with passengers and crew, even before 9/11.
Posted by TracyMorg_an at 10:31 PM


Once again. It is a testament to the plane MANUFACTURER that the planes hold up without proper inspections.
SWA and others have nothing to do with the planes degree of manufacture.
Would you drive a car without proper maintenance?
Hop in a plane with me that has not had proper inspection and we can discuss it.
If you fly you know how many times they will change planes, delay, and play "hide the ball" tricks with some of these planes.

[hunterdon6]

I worked for a State Highway Department. I was called into the Directors Office and was told not to enforce specifications if I wanted to keep my job. Over the years inspectors were pulled off the projects because they were inforcing road building specifications. The same thing you are reporting about with the airlines is happening in State Government also. That is why the roads fall apart so fast.

[kaluca]

Join the club, I was threatened and lost my job for blowing the whistle, that''s how our government works. The honest are weeded out and the corrupt move to the top.

[drinuk]

lastdance51, You forgot the merchants of Genocide, the cozy incestuous relationship which involves politicians, administrators, lobbyists and corporate America. I refer of course to the FDA, Big Pharma and all those taking big bucks whilst they pump our kids full of untried, untested poisons like MMR. FDA approved junk killed more folks last than Bin Laden did, so who are the real terrorists.