Safety Inspectors, Engineering Technicians Off The Job

Due to the government shutdown, 15,000 Federal Aviation Administration employees continue to be off the job. PASS, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO, says over 4,000 of those employees are represented by the union.

"Every day that Congress allows this shutdown to remain in place is putting the safety and efficiency of the aviation system at risk," said PASS National President Mike Perrone. "These unnecessary FAA furloughs are decreasing the safety margin and cannot be allowed to continue. Congress must put partisanship aside and allow the government—and all of its workers—to get back on the job now."

PASS says that for each day the government shutdown persists, the following work will not be completed:

• Nearly 3,000 aviation safety inspectors are not providing oversight of commercial and general aviation aircraft, pilots, flight instructors, domestic and foreign repair stations; conducting in-flight cockpit inspections or ramp inspections; overseeing third-party designees performing critical work on behalf of the FAA or air carriers; and issuing new or renewing current certificates.
• Manufacturing inspectors are not providing manufacturing production approval and certification, evaluating aviation mechanics, facilities, training programs and equipment, or addressing issues related to manufacturing facilities.
• Computer specialists are not on duty to provide support through data analysis, networking, web development, troubleshooting and other areas critical to seamless operations.
• With the majority of engineering technicians off the job, the organization and progression of projects related to air traffic control operations, including evaluating safety procedures, is being impacted.
• Legal instrument examiners, program analysts and compliance specialists are not issuing registration certificates for U.S. civil aircraft and airmen or providing valuable information in support of aviation safety activities.
• Flight inspection operations specialists and airspace system inspection pilots are not conducting flight checks or airborne inspections of space- and ground-based instrument flight procedures and other navigational aids.
• Aeronautical information specialists and flight procedure evaluation specialists are not, among other duties, constructing and publicizing aeronautical charts/publications in support of commercial, military and general aviation and collecting or verifying aeronautical data.
• Administrative employees and support staff are not providing logistical support on projects resulting in a backlog of essential services.

PASS says it represents more than 11,000 employees of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense who install, maintain, support and certify air traffic control and national defense equipment, inspect and oversee the commercial and general aviation industries, develop flight procedures and perform quality analyses of the aviation systems.

FMI: www.passnational.org