New York, USA (CWBN)_ Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senator Roger Wicker, released a “troubling” report on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) involvement in the two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft crashed that occurred last year.
“Twenty months ago, the Commerce Committee launched an investigation into FAA safety oversight. We have received disclosures from more than 50 whistle-blowers, conducted numerous FAA staff interviews, and reviewed over 15,000 pages of relevant documents.” Wicker said.”
The report asserted several serious allegation brought forward by whistle blowers, and are as follows.
- The FAA’s senior management was not held accountable for its failure to develop and deliver adequate training in flight standards.
- The FAA continues to retaliate against whistle-blowers acting in the interest of safety.
- The General Counsel of the Department of Transportation has failed cooperate with the investigation by providing documents requested as Chairman Wicker under a Constitutional mandate.
- The FAA allowed Southwest Airlines to operate aircraft without required certifications over several years.
- During 737 MAX recertification testing, Boeing inappropriately influenced the FAA.
- The FAA’s senior management have obstructed an investigation conducted by the Department of Transportation with regard to the crashes.
The report maintained that “It is clear that the agency [FAA] requires consistent oversight to ensure their work to protect the flying public is executed fully and correctly.”
