Marion Blakey - Go Away!

[GAHorn]

In her speech to the Electronics Assn, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey stated
(in regards to the face-off between her office and the air traffic controllers):
"If we really wanted to undermine our controllers, as some allege, we wouldn’t
be paying them $50,000 after a year on the job or $94,000 after five years.
That’s pretty good money by anyone’s standard."
(It doesn't sound too good to me, considering the job and the locales they
must work! NYC and LA doesn't have exactly cheap living.) And, according to the controllers blog, they actually start at $31K and do not make $50K except in certain areas and even then, only if upgraded after 5 years.

I wonder what SHE makes? Her office has a current job-posting for
an assistant bean counter* in which the salary offered is $114,600 — $161,300 starting.

How many lives and airplane crashes do bean counters protect/prevent?
(Answer: None. But they can generate all kinds of "data" that may appear
to support a goofy funding plan!)
Wonder who put her in-charge, and what she makes, anyway?

*Announcement Number:AWA-ABU-2007-1-10252
Assistant Administrator for Financial Services

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Her recent remarks given in recent speeches I've read about make little sense either.

Unfortunitally I have little faith either party would replace her with anyone better.

I do think a requirement for the job should be to at least hold a private pilot rating or perhaps an A&P. In fact at that level they probably should be required to have an ATP and an A&P with IA.

[GAHorn]

Not intending to politicize the issue unecessarily, but there's one party much more likely to privatize gov't services, and a different party more likely to support gov't services with taxes instead of fees, ...which is at the root this issue. IMHO
She has failed her private pilot exam for the fourth time now. But I suspect her motivation for obtaining that rating is wrong anyway. She's clearly not in love with aviation. And THAT should be the motivating factor for the administrator, in my opinion. Blakey is in love with corporate greed.

[jrenwick]

... She has failed her private pilot exam for the fourth time now....

George,

Wasn't that the story that was datelined April 1st? I suspect a hoax has been successfully perpetrated -- or do you have factual knowledge of this?

John

[N2865C]

I do think a requirement for the job should be to at least hold a private pilot rating or perhaps an A&P. In fact at that level they probably should be required to have an ATP and an A&P with IA.

And at leat 500 hours PIC in a 170

[jrenwick]

I do think a requirement for the job should be to at least hold a private pilot rating or perhaps an A&P. In fact at that level they probably should be required to have an ATP and an A&P with IA.

I'm not sure those are the best qualifications for the job of Administrator, but I take your point. The current administration hasn't built a strong reputation for appointing highly qualified administrators overall. The remedy is to vote early, and often, for people who strongly believe that government has a vital role to play in many areas, not simply limited to national defense. The disease begins when the government is run by people who believe that government is the problem rather than a potential solution. In my unqualified opinion....

[flyguy]

SPEEKIN OF OVERPAID AND SUCH . . . THEM PORE AGGIES OVER THAT AT COLLEDGE STASHUN JES LOSS A COACH AFTER GIVIN HIM A SHOT AT A $750,000.00 RAISE!!! THATSA COACH FOLKS NOT AN ENGLISH PROF OR A MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT HEAD OR A LIBERAL ARTS TEACHER - - A COACH FOR BADD ASS BALL PLAYERS. IT WOULD HAVE BROUGHT HIS TOTAL SALARY TO OVER $1.4 MIL. NOW ARE WE OUT OF WHACK OR WHAT? GO-O-O-O AGGIES

BACK TO THE "HEAD" OF THE FAA. WONDER WHAT KIND OF FAVORS SHE DONE THE DUBYA TO GIT THAT APPOINTMENT? TOO BAD THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY NEVER GET CLOSE TO JOBS THEY ARE REALLY QUALIFIED FOR. WE GET SOME HI-DOLLAR FUNDRAISER OR SOME CRONY IN BUSINESS OR SOME KNOW-NOTHING POLITICAL BUDDY PUT IN CRITICAL LOCATIONS AND AS SURE AS WIND BLOWS IN KANSAS THEY SCREW UP

[N8293A]

George,
Thanks for your kind endorsment of controllers. As a 23 year Chicago center controller it is nice to see that knowledgeable people in aviation recognize and appreciate our hard work and dedication. Even though FAA management thinks we are the cause of all their problems.

Steve
N8293A '53 C170B

[iowa]

hi steve
i see you live in plainfield, IL
i just found out that boyd clow died last year!!
i flew out of clow airport back in the late 70's.
i remember one day
i climbed my C140 up to 10,500ft
and flew right above o'hare airport for about an hour.
just on top of the upside down birthday cake!!
it was fun to watch the airliners come and go.
don't suppose one can do this anymore
dave

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Dave I haven't checked but I don't see why one couldn't do this today. I know I can at Philadelphia, Newark, Laguardia and Kennedy. in fact at Philadelphia I only have to go to 7001 ft.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

George you are correct and that is why (one reason) there are two parties.

John I think there needs to be a balance between the philosophies of both parties. The extreme of either party is is the disease.

[jrenwick]

John I think there needs to be a balance between the philosophies of both parties. The extreme of either party is is the disease.

Bruce, I agree. I think that's what a lot of voters were saying in the last election.

John

[iowa]

what voters?
the fact that less than half
the eligable voting pop vote
should tell one what most
really think about politicians!
dave

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

I just found one unoffical source that reports Blakey makes $165,200 before any bonuses.

[N8293A]

Iowa,
I don't think you would recognize Clow today, it is surrounded by development. I fly in there occasionally to have lunch at "Charlies" the little eatery on the field. On final to 36 you think your main gear are going to knock the shingles off the roofs of the two and three story townhomes built at the edge of the airport. Several developers have been itching to get rid of the airport and build more homes and strip malls, but fortunatly the mayor of Bollingbrook has a soft spot for the airport and realizes its value to the community. How about that a politician sympathetic to GA.

Steve
N8293A '53 C170B