No Need to Panic

Some of you have already written me, others have written in over at The FAA Follies. Yes, Todd took his blog down over at Vanity Fair Musings. No, it doesn’t have anything to do the FAA’s manager Mr. Gilding and his attorney’s law firm Curry, Pearson, and Wooten.

I can see why some might jump to that conclusion. There’s the timing. And I’m sure that some have noted that Mr. Pearson works at Phoenix Tower and Todd worked at Phoenix Tracon. I believe those are actually two different facilities but I’m not even going to bother checking it out because it isn’t relevant.

As I noted earlier, Todd had increased his blogging volume substantially after being terminated as an instructor at the FAA Academy. Doing that much writing takes time. It’s more time that many people would think. Todd doesn’t do things halfway. If you were paying attention, you noticed that he put a lot of research into his blog. It takes time to be thorough. Todd simply decided he’d rather spend that time on something other than a failed Administration in it’s last days that has already assured it’s place in the dark chapters of history. In other words, Todd decided to enjoy his retirement. And I say good for him.

I know many of our readers are relatively new to the idea that the FAA bears watching. There’s nothing even remotely new about it. Todd and I have been struggling with the FAA for over two decades. And the struggle began long before we even knew what the FAA was. We came in after the PATCO strike in 1981 and had another union in place (NATCA) by 1987 -- during Reagan’s Administration. That doesn’t just happen. People have to get involved and they have to work. There’s the obligatory blood, sweat and tears that have to be shed. There are families that have to be neglected while the work is done. Money has to be coughed up. And fears have to be conquered.

At the risk of stating what should be really, really obvious -- the FAA is part of the Federal government. That’s THE Federal Government. You know, the world’s only remaining superpower. The one that has all the guns and virtually unlimited resources. The one that can lock you up and let you rot while they debate on whether or not we want to have a Constitution this week. Consider facing that kind of power (and Todd did) or facing some part-time lawyer.

Like I said, Todd just wants to enjoy the fruits of his labor. In my book, he’s earned them and he’s earned the right to enjoy them now. Happy Retirement my friend.

Don Brown
July 29, 2008