Uncovered Problems During 2005 Mechanics Strike
Mark Lund, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation
safety inspector and Professional Aviation Safety Specialists
(PASS) member who uncovered serious safety issues during the August
2005 aircraft mechanics strike at Northwest Airlines, was honored
this week by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
(ACFE).
PASS tells ANN Lund was at the forefront of exposing safety
concerns during a 2005 mechanics strike at Northwest Airlines.
After his findings fell on deaf ears at the FAA -- and, the union
says, the agency "became more interested with discrediting him as
an inspector" -- Lund enlisted the aid of former Sen. Mark
Dayton, who helped to engage the Inspector General (IG) to conduct
an independent review of Lund’s concerns and possible
mistreatment by the FAA.
In October 2007, the IG validated Lund’s concerns and
admonished the FAA for its treatment of him during this time. The
IG report concluded that the FAA needed improved internal
procedures to ensure that “comprehensive, independent
investigations of safety allegations and recommendations are
consistently performed.”
PASS -- which represents more than 11,000 FAA employees,
including aviation safety inspectors -- congratulated Lund on his
dedication to safety, and said it appreciates ACFE’s
recognition of him.
"We commend Mark Lund for his continued efforts in bringing
forth serious safety concerns and on his commitment to the safety
of the flying public," said PASS President Tom Brantley. "FAA
aviation safety inspectors take their oversight role to ensure
public safety very seriously and they should never be quieted when
it comes to bringing forward safety issues involving airlines. The
flying public is well served by aviation safety inspectors such as
Mark Lund, who believe their ultimate responsibility is to the
flying public."
At a time when news of
too-friendly relationships between FAA inspectors and
airlines continue to make headlines, PASS says Lund's
story is particulatly apt.
"If there is a lesson to be learned over the last few years, it
is that the attitude of the FAA must change to one that puts the
flying public’s safety above an airline’s solvency,"
said Brantley.
"The bottom line is that aviation safety inspectors should not
have to risk their jobs to have the FAA take them and their safety
concerns seriously," said PASS Vice President of Flight Standards
and Aviation Safety Inspector Linda Goodrich. "It is our belief
that the actions of trailblazers such as Mark Lund will enable
other aviation safety inspectors to come forward without having to
face such adversity from the FAA in the future."