Time Too

The pressure on the FAA just keeps on building. They managed to make Time magazine this week.

Air Traffic Controller Sounds Alarm

With air traffic controllers having operated for more than 600 days without a new contract from the FAA, morale among them is at an all-time low, and with just 11,100 fully trained professionals serving the entire country — the smallest number in 16 years — a combination of fatigue and frustration is laying a dangerous groundwork.

Because of the cover up at DFW, a lot of incidents across the entire country are under review by more people than would normally review them. And sooner or later, an incident is going to come across the desk of somebody that hasn’t partaken of the FAA kool-aid. Or, more likely, somebody will blow the whistle on others before others can blow the whistle on them. The phrase “no honor among thieves” comes to mind. Perhaps one of my mother’s favorite sayings fits better: “Be sure your sins will find you out.”

The truth always comes out -- sooner or later. Better that it come out sooner -- rather than after an accident.

Don Brown
April 29, 2008