tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post6278741782267631069..comments2024-03-19T09:47:02.249-05:00Comments on Say What?: Politics and More Thoughts/Rants About the FAAKevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-78474089595102273202007-09-30T00:04:00.000-05:002007-09-30T00:04:00.000-05:00I've lost a lot of confidence in Bush since we've ...I've lost a lot of confidence in Bush since we've last talked about him. There are some things he's done which I continue to support but they're being obscured by other important matters.<BR/><BR/>I don't think our union, Natca, has done a very good job of publicizing our plight. We seem to be in the shadow of all the negative public sentiment surrounding air traffic delays.<BR/><BR/>There was a Wall Street Journal editorial this past week which laid much of the blame for delays with Air Traffic Controllers. The editorial suggested that we're part of a work slow-down. Nothing could be further from the truth. Nowhere in the editorial did they interview a person who actually works the planes...an Air Traffic Controller. <BR/><BR/>I still love my job; it's the management people who make coming to work a job.<BR/><BR/>The Faa has also reclassified the way we report separation errors. They've loosened the standards so that management can show a reduction in the amount of close calls. It's called rebaselining and it's a scam.Kevin Gilmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-65250625861015858172007-09-29T23:48:00.000-05:002007-09-29T23:48:00.000-05:00Hi Kevin,I don't know what to say to you to ease y...Hi Kevin,<BR/>I don't know what to say to you to ease your frustration. All of the media attention to the plight of air travelers and airline expansion seems to weigh heavily on the FAA. The management, the workforce and the equipment and system antiquation.<BR/>The administration is now asking for close to $200 billion to manage the Iraq war and continue and increase the support for the troops.<BR/>I heard this week and I don't know if it's accurate but it will take about $2 billion to get the FAA to where it needs to be right now.<BR/>Do you think we could take some of the money designated for the war effort and apply it to where it will have a tangible effect, safe, timely air travel?<BR/>I wonder how US business would be effected should one or two air disasters occur due to the limits of the FAA.<BR/>I look at the amount of active flights on the East Coast and cross my fingers that nothing bad happens.<BR/>I used to fly that corridor from Charlotte to New York and Boston almost every week. I watched many, many planes flying above and below my plane thinking that all is well, they know what they are doing. I'm actually afraid to fly these days. I used to look forward to getting on the plane and getting up above the clouds.<BR/>How things have changed.<BR/>I hope that things do get better for you and your fellow controllers.<BR/>Bush seems to be thinking along those lines this week. Time will tell.<BR/>BryDavid Bryan Gilmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08954058198438593014noreply@blogger.com