David Pardo Says He Documented Problems On His Blog

A former attorney for the FAA says he was fired for refusing to "break the law," and for keeping track of his attempts to alert safety officials about what he says are serious violations on his blog "FAA Whistle Blower."

David Pardo, 27, says he was also hit with a restraining order which bars him from any FAA facility. He was escorted out of FAA headquarters on September 20 by security guards.

The Washington Examiner reports that the focus of the 2008 Georgetown graduate's problems is what he calls a "smoking gun e-mail" from FAA assistant chief counsel Rebecca MacPherson which allegedly offers Pratt & Whitney suggestions for getting around the FAA's mandate for one day of rest out of every seven for maintenance personnel. MacPhearson allegedly told the company that it should "... not ... create the appearance requiring an employee to work during off hours for another facility that is just a corporate sister...."

Pardo, a pilot, says he was dismissed in retaliation for calling attention to the letter. He said co-workers told him his situation regarding the blog was discussed at a staff meeting while he was away at a training session. His blog recounts his being met in the lobby when reporting for work by several security guards, the termination notice, and the permanent restraining order.

The FAA said it would not discuss an internal personnel matter.

FMI: http://agcwhistleblower.wordpress.com/author/reglawyer/, www.faa.gov