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Return to Article: FAA urged to improve maintenance of air traffic facilities

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  The FACILITIES are not the problem. NATCA is the problem. The rest of the world is fine, but where the natca pukes roam, there is always trouble. Why o why do you suppose that is???

  Walter Smedlowski Posted September 3, 2008 12:38 PM
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  Wait a minute... You think the FAA or Government cares? That is laughable. If they did they would not be endangering lives in different regions by consolidating radar facilities.

  Blakey was hired to cut cost and destroy the union. That is what she did and in that she destroyed the aviation industry. She never asked for enough money to hire new controllers and now with the shortage you have delays. These guys and gals are professionals and will not take chances no matter how bad things get.

  She never asked for enough money to do the maintenance on the buildings or the equipment. But then again when the controllers went to congress Mr. Mica didn't care and still doesn't.

  faahope Posted July 26, 2007 5:48 PM
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  It was nice to see the truth surface in front of Congress, yesterday. Despite Congressman Mica's weak attempt to marginalize the conditions of the ATC facilities (by reminiscing about how depressing the Fed building in Miami was to him 25 years ago), the message was factual and clear: Most of the ATC facilities have big problems. Toxic molds, water leaking onto control tower equipment (see video), cracked footings on navigation towers, carbon monoxide poisonings at several facilities, infestations, etc.

  This is not union rhetoric; these are the facts. It is also a fact that the FAA doesn't even know how many of them are in dis-repair or just outright dangerous. Bruce Johnson and his sidekick, admitted that by saying they had only evaluated less than 25% of the facilities! He looked like a deer in the headlights testifying and he should have!

  While he has spent nearly two years berating the employees he "manages", he's neglected his duty as a boss, to oversee all aspects for which he is responsible - including facility integrity. Glaring mistake!

  Mark Posted July 25, 2007 11:35 AM
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  Many of our Government facilities are in trouble this way, not only the FAA. There is lack of understanding by maintenance personnel and management as to the problems, all of it having to do with the culture that has been established within goverenment. After working on an Interagency Agreement, for the last eight years, watching how culture can be changed, and seeing the improvement in facilities operation and upkeep, there is going to have to be a driving force that will help educate other agencies to achieve better upkeep of their facilities. This will have to be done by people that are knowledgable in the how to achieve the culture cahnge. Until that time, everything will remain the same.

  With this culture that is established, the usual way of working with these problems, such as poor running ventilation systems and mold build-up, is to wait until the systems are beyond repair then ask the tax payers for more money to replace the facilities. This has been the status-quo for years. With the use of improved technologies, such as Infrared Thermography,High Frequency Ultrasonics, and Vibration Analysis, along with work process improvement and proper use of data collection, existing facilities could be improved. Addtitionally, because of the established culture of maintenance in government facilities, based on processes and procedures developed in the 1960's, there will be no change without that driving force.

  I see these changes taking place, reducing costs, improving operations, improving employee morale throught this change. So, why is the FAA looking to mass-replace facilities, and why are they waiting until a health study is completed before making changes? The answer is, the established culture used with maintenance.

  Kenneth C. Gilliam Sr Posted July 25, 2007 8:10 AM
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  The reason the ATC facilities in the FAA are in the shape they are, is that the FAA in their "management wisdom" decided that they no longer needed environmental and safety personnel in the new service areas. In the past each region had a dedicated environmental and safety staff. In the new service areas the environmental and safety staff no longer exist. The FAA may have the money but they have no one to manage the work!

  Environmental Engineer Posted July 25, 2007 8:07 AM
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  Yeah, they've been "analyzing" the buildings since 1999. And done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING with the data! Spent Millions of $$ and all they have to show for it is a bunch of books. Wonderful leadership, FAA style.

  A. Veteran Posted July 25, 2007 7:54 AM
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  If the environmental working conditions are so dangerous and unbearable for the controllers, I think they should walk out! - Oh, wait a minute they already tried that back in the 80's didn't they.

  Paul Knuthingham Posted July 24, 2007 9:04 PM