Surely, protecting public safety is a form of social action. For FAA whistle-blowers, information they provide to outside agencies or the media can reduce accidents and save lives. Whistle-blowing, however, is not for the faint of heart. Most whistle-blowers, despite laws to the contrary, suffer at least some form of retaliation. Many lose their jobs, their careers, even their families. Whistle-blowers face health issues related to stress and anxiety. Their reputations often suffer. Fundamentally, the only payoff is knowing they've done the right thing.
Today, NPR broadcast a story on whistle-blowers at the FAA. A number of employees--32--have come forward with information this year, already twice the number as in 2007. They featured two FAA whistle-blowers, Peter Nesbitt and Anne Whiteman. Nesbitt blew the whistle on unsafe runway construction at the Memphis airport, while Whitman, ten years ago, revealed to the public problems with the air traffic control system at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport. One of the issues she revealed was controllers allowing planes to fly too close together. Sadly, she said that knowing what she knows now, she may not have blown the whistle ten years ago.
The negative consequences endured by whistle-blowers are sobering and should concern us all. Serious and important reform often comes only when insiders reveal problems within organizations.
NPR.org Story
There is NO accountability at the FAA these days. Managers harass and intimidate Controllers on a daily basis -- yet the FAA talking heads state that they do not tolerate retaliation against whistleblowers.
ReplyDeleteInstead of being focused on weather, equipment issues, or separating aircraft filled with passengers and cargo -- Controllers are now focused on defending themselves from their own employer -- the FAA.
When the FAA says that they have "removed" an FAA Manager, that is code for "promoted" or "transferred" to another cushy job. They are playing musical chairs with rogue FAA Managers.
Congress needs to clean house at the FAA!
Peter
http://faa-whistleblower.blogspot.com/
ReplyDelete