ATW Daily News

FAA proposes 'cooling off' period before airlines can hire ex-inspectors

Friday November 20, 2009

US FAA yesterday issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making "to put limits on airlines and other operators hiring FAA safety inspectors and their managers for two years after those employees leave the agency." It said the proposed rule "would prohibit air carriers, flight schools, repair stations and other certificated organizations from employing or contracting with former FAA inspectors and managers to represent them in agency matters if the former employee had any direct oversight of the certificate holder in the preceding two years."

The proposal is in line with a recent decision by FAA to stop referring to airlines it regulates as "customers" and follows more than a year of scrutiny from US lawmakers who accused agency inspectors of being too "cozy" with airlines (ATWOnline, Sept. 18). "We're committed to making sure operators don't hire their former FAA inspectors and create even a perception of inappropriate activities," Administrator Randy Babbitt said. "The 'cooling off' period we're proposing actually exceeds the restrictions applicable to most businesses that hire former federal employees." Public comments on the NPRM will be accepted through Feb. 19.

Other headlines: