“The FAA should every day wake up and say, how am I going to make the flying public safe?”
[VIDEO]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, demanded that Federal Aviation Administrator (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford fully implement the 50 recommendations issued by the National Transportation Safety Board following last year’s tragic mid-air collision in DCA airspace that took the lives of 67 people. One of the most important NTSB recommendations is the full implementation of ADS-B In technology for all aircraft required to be equipped and operating with ADS-B Out, which will give pilots the stronger situational awareness to nearby traffic they need to avoid collisions in the air and on the ground.
“I think we get full ADS-B In and Out for all commercial aircraft, and we’ve known this for a long time,” said Sen. Cantwell said to Bedford during yesterday’s subcommittee hearing on the FAA’s progress in fully implementing NTSB’s safety recommendations. “The NTSB [Chair] told us to do it. But I think what we owe the families who are here in the audience today…is an answer where we know how long something’s going to take, and what technology we’re going to try to standardize on, and an answer by the FAA.”
Sen. Cantwell continued to press Beford for specificity, making clear that a promise without a deadline for implementation of ADS-B In and only requiring ADS-B In portable devices – including for the commercial fleet – is not enough.
“I’m definitely thinking the FAA should every day wake up and say, how am I going to make the flying public safe?” said Sen. Cantwell. “And I’m saying we want a deadline [for ADS-B In]. And then people said, oh well, it costs too much and the airlines can’t do it. And I’m pretty sure my attitude after this crash is the lives of these individuals were worth it and if we don’t fix this, it is on us.”
Sen. Cantwell also spoke to the importance of listening to frontline workers and protecting whistleblowers when they report potential safety issues associated with the implementation of new technology, such as Time-Based Flow Management.
“I love new technology, it can always help, but what I want from you is a commitment that you will correct this and not discipline employees who bring this up as a safety concern,” said Sen. Cantwell. “So, I just am looking for your commitment that you will have greater oversight over the Air Traffic Organization to make sure that there are not risks that the American public are taking right now, given this situation without the next implementation of technology.”
“I’m very accessible to the front-line workforce,” responded Administrator Bedford. “I haven’t heard of this particular whistleblower issue but I would encourage them, if they’re not getting support from the management team, I’d like to hear about it.”
Video of Sen. Cantwell’s Q&A is HERE. A full transcript is available HERE.
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