Senator Asks Blakey To Assure Him Northwest Airlines "Is Meeting All Necessary Standards Of Reliability And Safety"

The problem with being perceived as riding roughshod over the help is that the help tends to get mouthy. An FAA inspector-turned-whistleblower has reportedly sparked a major investigation into Northwest Airlines' maintenance efforts as last month's mechanics' strike continues.

The Wall Street Journal reports the whistleblower contacted both the FAA and Senator Mark Dayton (D-MN) about a massive jump in the number of reported defects since the mechanics went on strike eleven days ago. Dayton, in turn wrote FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, demanding she "assure me and the public that Northwest Airlines is meeting all necessary standards of reliability and safety."

The inspector who was reassigned to other duties prior to his complaint, said the rate of reported defects in workmanship and materials jumped from three-to-five percent to 58-to-90 percent after the strike got underway.

Northwest refused comment, except to say, "Safety is of paramount importance to every employee at Northwest Airlines."

Northwest has been using non-union labor to replace the striking workers, claiming its operations have been largely unaffected.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.nwa.com