| Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today made the following opening statement at the House Transportation and Infrastructure hearing on "Critical Lapses in FAA Safety Oversight of Airlines: Abuses of Regulatory ‘Partnership Programs’":
"Thank you Mr. Chairman.
"I want to thank you for holding this important and timely hearing on the issue of critical lapses in the Federal Aviation Administration’s oversight of aircraft inspection and maintenance.
"Mr. Chairman, as most of us know, FAA’s stated mission is ‘to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.’
"Regrettably, the events over the past weeks regarding whistleblower disclosure of outright negligence within the Agency’s oversight and enforcement of essential Airworthiness Directives (ADs) calls into question whether or not the Agency charged with protecting the flying public is living up to its mission.
"I think it goes without saying that over the years, the standing of our nation’s aviation system as one of the safest in the world can be directly attributed to the diligent efforts of dedicated inspection and maintenance personnel.
"However, these respective personnel are only as good as their managerial and operational framework, and according to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel and our own Oversight and Investigations staff, serious flaws exist within the management of FAA’s safety inspection framework.
"In a letter dated December 20, 2007, to Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters outlining allegations of two FAA inspectors, now known as the whistleblowers, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel states, ‘The whistleblowers allege that safety and adherence to regulatory compliance have taken a back seat to personal friendships and favors at the Southwest Certificate Management Office.
"‘They have disclosed serious allegations of a compromise of the public safety mission at FAA.
"‘Even in the face of investigations substantiating wrongdoing and safety breaches [with respect to the ADs] FAA does not appear to have held management and safety inspectors appropriately accountable for their actions and inaction. The information disclosed by [the whistleblowers] reveals a substantial likelihood that serious safety concerns persist in the management and operation of the inspection and maintenance programs at FAA.’
"Mr. Chairman, this type of behavior is simply unacceptable and warrants a complete overhaul of how the FAA goes about its business of safety inspections and over-reliance on Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Programs.
"When it comes to the proper adherence of safety protocols, FAA should be in the business of zero tolerance.
If a plane is out of compliance for whatever reason, it should be grounded until it comes into compliance—period.
"Southwest Airlines is based in my congressional district and I am proud of their safety record. I have no doubt that upon the conclusion of the necessary audits, Southwest, in addition to the host of other airline carriers that have addressed compliance issues over the past months, will incorporate all appropriate changes to existing processes to guarantee that their fleet is well-maintained and in accordance with government standards and their own high standards of safety.
"Yes, the American economy is dependent on the movement of people and goods, but this movement should not and can not come at the expense of safety. Given the current, delicate nature of the airline industry, I can not imagine that there exists an airline executive in this country that would sanction the operation of a non-compliant or unsafe plane.
"I feel confident in saying that this experience has served as a wake-up call to a number of entities¯particularly the FAA.
"If the FAA has taken away anything from this volatile experience, it is my hope the following are included: 1.) The potential for collusion between FAA inspectors and carrier personnel must be eliminated; 2.) The revolving door between FAA and airline carriers must end, and end post-haste; 3.) To ensure objectivity in compliance assessments, senior-level inspectors should be periodically rotated between CMOs; 4.) Protecting personnel from baseless reprisal for reporting adverse safety practices should be a top priority for the Agency; and lastly 5.) If any ambiguity exists regarding the interpretation of ADs between the FAA and airline carriers, FAA should move swiftly to ensure these ambiguities are eliminated immediately.
"As I close I want to thank our witnesses that have come before us to testify this morning, particularly Mr. Peters and Mr. Boutris.
"I look forward to their respective testimonies and learning how we can move forward together in strengthening FAA’s Safety Inspection Oversight Programs.
"Thank you Mr. Chairman and I yield back the balance of my time."
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