NCPASS

FAA's handling of controller losses questioned

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House lawmakers are questioning whether the government's response to a flood of retirements and resignations among air traffic controllers is eroding safety and aggravating airport delays.

House aviation subcommittee chairman Jerry Costello told a Wednesday hearing: "It is clear the Federal Aviation Administration was not and is not ready to deal with the situation."

The Illinois Democrat says the agency has lost 954 experienced controllers since last October because of a labor dispute and growing retirements. Costello said that working the remaining controllers longer hours risks safety and efficiency.

The panel's top Republican, Thomas Petri of Wisconsin, said "everyone would be well-served if the controllers union and FAA management could settle their outstanding labor issues."

Panel doesn't expect letup in air traffic congestion

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., attacked Gribbin for what he saw was the department's "proposing to propose" to take action, and accused officials of waiting to hand the problem off to a new administration. He said the idea of letting the free market play out was not working.

"Why do we fear regulation so much?" he said, suggesting forcing airlines to notify customers of chronically delayed flights at point of purchase and letting customers know of hidden fees, such as meals and additional luggage checking.

Transportation and Infrastructure ranking member John Mica blamed the Senate for not passing an FAA reauthorization bill, and chided the Senate for not voting to confirm Robert Sturgell as FAA administrator.

Full Article HERE

PASS Pride April Edition

The attached document is the April monthly effort to communicate issues that are happening in PASS. The National President or VP author an update to be distributed to all bargaining unit members.. not just the Membership. We have asked the PASS Reps to utilize the provision in Article 64 section 4 of the agreement that allows them to place literature into the FAA mail slots of bargaining unit employees. I have asked that they print copies of this document and put one in each mail slot of all bargaining unit employees at their facility (or work center/SSC). We believe that it will not only benefit our Membership, but will give those that do not currently support us an opportunity to reconsider, based on facts.

PASS Pride April Edition

WHERE FAA SEES ROSES IN NEW TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, CONTROLLERS AND TECHNICIANS FEEL THE PAIN OF THORNS

FTI replaced all existing telecommunications networks with one that would cost less to operate. The FAA touted FTI as a new way of doing business: One that shifted more responsibility to the contractor, reduced reliance on the agency’s own technician workforce, outsourced network maintenance to a third-party vendor and slimmed down communications backup.

To reduce costs, 90 percent of 1,100 air traffic control services deemed critical under LINCS have been paired back to less than 120 under FTI. This means that in many places, crucial air-to-ground communications, flight plan and radar data and communications between facilities are now run with single points of failure because backups have been removed.

Press Release HERE

As a sort of 'final' post....

Go figure. Browsing the Yahoo News section this evening as I so frequently do I ran across the gem of gems in news stories...

The headline read "Schumer: FAA chief should resign"

Reading through the story I am elated and saddened all in the same breath.

You see, I couldn't have asked for more out of a US Senator, but on the same hand I hate to see that it's taken all this time for one of them to open their eyes enough to see Blakey's errors. And that their scope is narrowed on the delays at the 3 New York area airports...

But I digress. She's nothing more than a White House pawn and ill equipped for the boat she captains. She is handing out the Bush Admin's agenda of Union busting and in the process destroying our nations coveted aviation system. She's more concerned with looking good upstairs than dealing with the real problems the NAS is encountering and all the while outsourcing every job she can possibly imagine....

My hope is, that with a Democratic majority in both chambers they can get in gear and make it part of the pubic record that she's worthless, and even more so, clean up the mess that Blakey's FAA has created.

Uncle Bush and National Security

Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12

What it I you ask? Well, you see, you my friend are not suitable to work for Uncle Sam anymore. Something about a speeding ticket back in 1974. By the way, it's still unpaid.

Really though, HSPD 12 states that ALL federal employees and contractors are required to have new "high tech" ID cards, but there's a catch. You must have your identity verified and have a complete background investigation on file before it will be issued.

And what does this mean? Some GSA employees are having racial, ethnic, financial, and medical details taken down as part of these investigations. Sorry pal, but that irritable bowel....it's a threat to our freedoms. Th whole scope of these investigations is not yet know since apparently, it's classified as to just what goes on in these investigations.

Check out the full story on GovExec.com

Update: Pet Project Disclosure

I spoke about his a little in this post. However, some sad, but not all that surprising, news is seeping out of Washington contrary to the intent of House disclosure rules.

The article linked above references Senate action on Disclosure, but the House approved a measure on their first day in power that said they clearly had to identify pet projects.

Seems now they are circumventing the rule.

Instead of following the rule and adding the projects to the bills they are holding off until there is no time for scrutiny.  They will be added when the House and Senate get together to finalize a bill. After this is finished the bill can not be amended and is only open to 1 hour of debate.

Rest assured that the 1 hour will not be talking about a community pool in Somewhere, Nebraska run by a certain politicians biggest campaign supporter. Especially when such a project would be buried in a Defense Authorization Act or other major legislation.

This was ordered by Rep David Obey (D-Wis), who is the House Appropriations Committee Chairman. His reasoning?

He's taking this step because Committee members and staff haven't had the opportunity to vet the more than 36,000 requests.

Aside from the Committee's inability to perform their job, it's counter to the House's rules, and in the end, we all may pay taxes for useless items, and more disheartening, those that could be deemed as payback for supporters....

Interesting Article on FAA Pay

Check out the story here on GovExec.com.

I've always thought it was a crock that an employees pay raise was based on many factors outside of their control. Make note of the two of the dumbest, nearly retarded, targets of improving Employee Attitude Survey scores and shortening the processing time for employee grievances.

One of them is essentially punishment for letting the agency know they are doing a sub par job, almost hinging on retribution in my opinion. And the other 'target' is inherently a function of management.

So Blakey, please explain this to me...when Uncle Sam hands you a nice little check for raises, how is it you lower the true 'workers' pay based on half-handed performance by management, and then turn around with the money left over and give management bonuses?

Blakey, I congratulate you and your 'glorious' team for getting the FAA in to the 92nd percentile. Too bad it's the opposite direction any sane Administrator would like. Do you realize that only 8% of Federal Agencies rate lower than yours?

If I were Mary Peters or in the White House I'd have you mowing the lawns around the Academy in no time. But of course you'd probably find a way to screw that up too....maybe you're best suited behind a McDonald's counter. I hear they have some management training programs that might do you some good.

-Ben

Changes in the works at TSP

Much talk is on-going about new ideas with the TSP program. Some of the items include a Roth-IRA addition as well as setting the default to the Life-cycle programs.

The biggest thing being considered is automatic enrollment for new employees.

Things that you will begin to see in the near future are password changes that include the use of numbers and letters. Annual statements will be sent out beginning next year (They will include 2007 activity). And the transition from SSN for log in to actual account numbers.

What do you think about each of the changes/proposed changes? Sound off and lets see what the general temp is on each.

Ben

House Armed Sevices Committee makes strides

The House committee approved a 3.5% raise for the men and women in uniform. This move will help in getting federal employees the same. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md, added that he would urge his congressional colleagues to back an equal pay raise for federal civilian employees.

Also of note is that this also contains provisions that would ensure collective bargaining rights as well as appeal rights for NSPS employees. It would also require bargaining with labor unions before implementing changes to the pay-for-performance system under NSPS.

The Senate still has to take this matter up.

Full Story