NATCA Slams FAA for Purchasing Toaster
This one certainly needs a disclaimer…. I have a huge respect for air traffic controllers. They have probably helped most every pilot out of a jam at one point or another. Having an extra set of eyes, even while VFR, is wonderful. They are worth their weight in gold and should probably be paid double.
With that said, I nearly laugh at every press release the NATCA sends out. They seem to talk about fish-tales rather than plane-tails. You know that friend of yours that tends to exaggerate with every story they tell…. so then you start believing that everything they say is true? Unfortunately that is how I’m starting to feel about the NATCA.
Again, I have a huge amount of respect for every controller out there and I hope they convince the FAA of their worth. But put out a press release complaining that the Boston Tower purchased a toaster? That is when I stop taking the NATCA (but not controllers) seriously. Surely some of the items listed in the press release sound a little over the top, but here are some other select excerpts of the press release:
“If the FAA moved as quickly to address the controller staffing crisis and install new technology as it did to spend its so-called ‘leftover’ money at the end of the fiscal year, then we’d have a much safer and more efficient air traffic control system than we do today,” National Air Traffic Controllers Association President John Carr said. “Financial accountability was one of the themes of FAA Administrator Marion Blakey’s speech to employees on Tuesday. But this shopping spree runs counter to that message and reaffirms our contention that the FAA is mismanaged.”
Among the items gobbled up by the agency’s recent mad dash:
ALBUQUERQUE CENTER: The agency also had to purchase four power screwdrivers
BIRMINGHAM: Two new, expensive pair of binoculars that the facility did not need, and a brand-new refrigerator.
BOSTON TOWER: electric griddle pan, toaster oven, coffee pot and four-slice toaster.
CLEVELAND CENTER: new filing cabinet and new fax machine.
COLORADO SPRINGS TOWER: two new coffee makers, two end tables for downstairs break room, new coffee table for downstairs break room, two new office chairs and two new printers.
DENVER TRACON: A new table a chairs for the break room.
ONTARIO (Calif.) TOWER: coasters for cups and drinks to protect the finish on the desk.
WASHINGTON CENTER: coffee-table style books on how to recognize certain types of aircraft.
You can read the full press release here.
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1 opinion for NATCA Slams FAA for Purchasing Toaster
John Adams
Apr 20, 2006 at 07:42 \109\u\Thursday\u
There are several fatal flaws in the FAA workforce:
1. They are living in a dream world completely split from reality.
2. They are certain they are the only ones in the world with problems.
3. Since the FAA treats them as sacred cows, they get to believe that
this must be true, and the whole world is deeply in love with them.
They therefore can do anything and get away with it.
4. Some of the EMail names reflect a complete split with reality.
5. Apparently none have heard of Bush’s “republican agenda”.
This so called agenda involves the transfer of all assets from some
275 million Americans into an American aristocracy of some 25 million
Americans.
6. Unless you get real, and come up with a legitimate approach toward
controlling government corruption, you are dead meat.
++++++++++++++++++++
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