The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, (Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security) is holding a hearing today entitled: Aviation Safety: FAA’s Role in the Oversight of Air Carriers. Surprisingly, the subcommittee, according to its witness list, has failed to include any FAA whistleblowers to testify. This is indicative of a perpetual problem for the federal government – the continual failure to address the role that whistleblowers can play in safeguarding the flying public.
Last week, the newly formed FAA Whistleblower Alliance – a strong coalition partner of GAP – sent a letter to the Committee highlighting several “likely preventable tragedies” where members of the Alliance made safety disclosures well before the accidents occurred. The letters further details problems with the current structure and status quo of the FAA, along with remedies of how to address the historical lack of FAA oversight and accountability.