Memphis Split

illogical Junior Member orlando

just wondering if anythign happened to stop the split..

brownchickenbrowncow Newcomer

Yes they did. Babbitt did nothing to stop it.

I wouldn't put much faith in this guy until he shows us something he can do to change the culture of the FAA. So far, his inaction shows he'll be no better than the last administrator.

Don't get your hopes up on this guy.

BoomerSooner77 I am rubber, you're glue. Plano, TX

He just started and this was in the works way before he started.

I don't really feel it's appropriate to judge his abilities to lead the agency based on one event within the agency that was decided upon without his initial input.

ATCinWI Senior Member Illinois

Babbitt may only have been sworn in for a week and a half, but he's been at FAA headquarters since he was confirmed. He didn't walk in the door not knowing the full details about what was going on ahead of time.

We have given the benefit of the doubt to everyone over the last several years (Krakowski, Sturgell, etc...) right out of the gate, and a lot of controllers are doing the same thing for Babbitt, but he's already got one strike against him. At a minimum, he could have delayed it for 3 months so he could examine the situation and determined what would be the best for the FAA. HE was the administrator when MEM tower and tracon were split.

brownchickenbrowncow Newcomer

Dude, if we don't have leadership that will step up and do something to stop something that was done as a kneejerk reaction, then we don't have the leadership that we hoped for.

He's perhaps the only one who could have delayed or stopped this. I do feel it's appropriate to judge his abilities to lead if he just sits by and watches sh** happen.

And even if it was decided on before he stepped through the front door, he should figure out WHY. We want someone who's proactive and willing to smack the FAA around, not sit there with a thumb up his ass.

Raydon Happy Camper OKC

FAA REJECTS CONCERNS FROM CONGRESS, NATCA; SPLITS MEMPHIS AIR TRAFFIC FACILITY

NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION (NATCA)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2009
CONTACT: Doug Church, 301-346-8245


WASHINGTON ? The Federal Aviation Administration last Sunday moved forward with a rushed plan to split the tower and radar control functions at Memphis International Airport, advancing a controversial management agenda and rejecting a torrent of concern from Congress and air traffic controllers who continue to urge the agency to delay this and future facility realignments until a process is put in place that is fact-based, transparent and includes all stakeholders.

The move was the second such split of a major U.S. airport control facility this year in which the FAA completely disregarded the concerns of a bipartisan coalition of Congressional members and air traffic controllers who see the split as driven by power-hungry FAA management looking to put a band-aid on a gaping wound of staffing shortages, training problems and the pursuit of cost savings yet to be identified or proven. In January, the FAA split Orlando?s tower and radar functions -- citing understaffing as the primary reason -- thus reducing the margin of safety, degrading the efficiency of the operation and depriving new trainees of having the critical experience of knowing how the entire operation at a major airport works.

NATCA President Patrick Forrey said the FAA?s decision to ignore Congress and NATCA?s pleas for a moratorium on realigning facilities until a common sense approach to the issue can be developed only increases the urgency with which Congress must act to pass a final FAA bill to hold the FAA accountable on this important safety and operational issue. Last month, the House passed its version of the FAA reauthorization bill that does just that.

?The FAA is moving forward on ad hoc air traffic control facility and service realignment efforts without a comprehensive review procedure to determine whether the realignment provides an operational benefit to users, increases safety and efficiency, and/or saves the taxpayer money,? Forrey said. ?FAA Reauthorization is needed to provide that review procedure and compel the agency to subject all current realignment efforts to this needed layer of oversight, accountability and transparency. Just as with technological development, realignment efforts completed in a collaborative environment will ensure benefits are realized rather than squandered.?

Added Victor Santore, who represents controllers in both Memphis and Orlando in his role as NATCA?s Southern Regional Vice President: ?The FAA defied the wishes of over 150 members of Congress and severed operations at the Memphis air traffic control facility. FAA management officials consider themselves accountable to no one. Administrator (Randy) Babbitt should be able to bring accountability back to the FAA and we hope to meet with him soon on this issue."

The FAA is plowing ahead with more facility realignment plans, including those in Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada and Ohio, unless the FAA listens to Congress? overwhelming opposition to this plan.