Inspectors Pressured to Accommodate Business

An independent survey of FAA safety division employees suggests they feel pressure to accommodate industry demands at the expense of safety. FAA safety workers painted a picture of a regulatory agency influenced by the companies it regulates. The survey was sent to Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., chairman of the House Transportation Committee. He said it revealed “a disturbing pattern of senior officials at a Federal agency rolling over for industry.”

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, who fared pretty well in the survey for his posture of standing up to Boeing, agreed with DeFazio and said the “problems” revealed by the survey will be addressed.