Schumer: FAA chief should go

Source: Business Week

As more travelers find themselves waiting -- and waiting -- in airports this summer, Sen. Charles Schumer said Tuesday that the head of the nation's aviation agency should get the ax.

Federal Aviation Administration chief Marion Blakey came under fire from the senator over seemingly constant backups at New York City's major airports, which cause cascading delays across the country.

"It falls clearly in the lap of the FAA and the FAA administrator," said Schumer, D-N.Y.

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Earlier this month, the leading U.S. airlines urged the FAA to impose delays on corporate and private jets in New York to help relieve the congestion surrounding the Fourth of July holiday -- though advocates for the private fliers insist they are not contributing to the crowded commercial skies or getting any special treatment from the government.

Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8QEEDS81.htm

--but what about the guys (FAA, NORAD, USAF, Secretary of Defense) who let four airplanes get away, and failed to follow even step one of standard operating procedures in the case of non-responding aircraft (getting AF jets up in the air, next to them, for visual contact). They had plenty of time to do this for the 2nd two commercial jets. Why didn't they?

Until we know the answer to that question, air travel will remain unsafe, which is a lot more important than it being inconvenient. And if our air defense system can be made to stand down at any time, for whatever nefarious purpose, with no serious investigation and no heads rolling, then our entire country is very unsafe, indeed.

Where are the tapes, FAA, and why were they shredded? I'd be a lot happier if Schumer were asking THAT question, rather than advocating for the haves who are forced to wait for the have-mores' private jets to take off.

It seems those are the only two qualifications one needs in order to land a big job like head of the FAA, or VA.