New FAA Administrator Named
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Southeast USA
New FAA Administrator Named
According to Government Executive.Com
Meet The New Boss -- Babbitt Confirmed As FAA Administrator
Fri, 22 May '09
With An Extensive Airline Background, Will Babbitt Be Fair To ALL of Aviation?
Late Thursday, as the Senate hurriedly wrapped up business before the coming holiday, J. Randolph Babbitt was confirmed as the next Administrator of the FAA.
Babbitt was, most recently, a partner at Oliver Wyman, an international aviation consulting firm. A former airline pilot, Babbitt has also been the president and CEO of ALPA.
He was the former Chairman and CEO of Eclat Consulting until they were acquired by Oliver Wyman in 2007. The White House noted that "Babbitt is internationally recognized as a leader in the field of aviation safety and policy, and labor relations with almost 40 years of experience in the industry. Babbitt began his aviation career as a pilot for Eastern Airlines and flew for more than 25 years. He served as President and CEO for US ALPA, the world’s largest professional organization of airline pilots. In 1993 he served as a Presidential appointee on the National Commission to Ensure a Strong Competitive Airline Industry."
Babbitt is well familiar with the inner workings at the FAA. President Clinton appointed Babbitt to FAA's Management Advisory Council in 2000. Last year, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters appointed him to the independent review team of aviation and safety experts that examined the FAA's approach to safety. That team offered recommendations to improve the agency's safety culture and the implementation of an aviation safety system.
The announcement of Babbitt's nomination was originally well received within the FAA. In a broadcast message to all employees, acting Administrator Lynne Osmus said, “Randy is no stranger to the FAA, and many of us have had the pleasure of working with him over the last several years.”
Meet The New Boss -- Babbitt Confirmed As FAA Administrator
Fri, 22 May '09
With An Extensive Airline Background, Will Babbitt Be Fair To ALL of Aviation?
Late Thursday, as the Senate hurriedly wrapped up business before the coming holiday, J. Randolph Babbitt was confirmed as the next Administrator of the FAA.
Babbitt was, most recently, a partner at Oliver Wyman, an international aviation consulting firm. A former airline pilot, Babbitt has also been the president and CEO of ALPA.
He was the former Chairman and CEO of Eclat Consulting until they were acquired by Oliver Wyman in 2007. The White House noted that "Babbitt is internationally recognized as a leader in the field of aviation safety and policy, and labor relations with almost 40 years of experience in the industry. Babbitt began his aviation career as a pilot for Eastern Airlines and flew for more than 25 years. He served as President and CEO for US ALPA, the world’s largest professional organization of airline pilots. In 1993 he served as a Presidential appointee on the National Commission to Ensure a Strong Competitive Airline Industry."
Babbitt is well familiar with the inner workings at the FAA. President Clinton appointed Babbitt to FAA's Management Advisory Council in 2000. Last year, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters appointed him to the independent review team of aviation and safety experts that examined the FAA's approach to safety. That team offered recommendations to improve the agency's safety culture and the implementation of an aviation safety system.
The announcement of Babbitt's nomination was originally well received within the FAA. In a broadcast message to all employees, acting Administrator Lynne Osmus said, “Randy is no stranger to the FAA, and many of us have had the pleasure of working with him over the last several years.”
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,693
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From: fairly close to the colonial capitol
Good news. Sturgell made for a good interim administrator.
Blakey presided over one of the worst declines in the FAA's history.
Marion is long gone, but her damage to that agency still remains to this day.
Blakey presided over one of the worst declines in the FAA's history.
Marion is long gone, but her damage to that agency still remains to this day.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,896
Likes: 1
From: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
Years ago Randy was a DC-9 FO at Eastern, lost his job during the strike. He was elected president at ALPA after Eastern went out of business, perhaps as repayment for the sacrifices of the EAL pilots in the noble cause. He succeeded Hank Duffy who was a Delta pilot.
As a consultant he has worked for both sides during airline contract negotiations in recent years.
I've only met him once, years ago at Eastern strike headquarters on Virginia Avenue in ATL. Seems like he was EAL MEC VP, don't remember if he was EAL MEC chairman before being elected ALPA president. Wasn't Jack Bavis EAL MEC chair during the strike? Ancient history for sure.
Hope he does a great job as Administrator!
As a consultant he has worked for both sides during airline contract negotiations in recent years.
I've only met him once, years ago at Eastern strike headquarters on Virginia Avenue in ATL. Seems like he was EAL MEC VP, don't remember if he was EAL MEC chairman before being elected ALPA president. Wasn't Jack Bavis EAL MEC chair during the strike? Ancient history for sure.
Hope he does a great job as Administrator!
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,896
Likes: 1
From: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
The record of labor leaders who have gone into government leadership positions is certainly open to some debate. Remember Ronald Reagan and Bob Hawke?
Randy helped UAL ALPA do the ESOP, maybe Obama's got some more GM style government-union takeovers coming for the airlines, perhaps?
Randy helped UAL ALPA do the ESOP, maybe Obama's got some more GM style government-union takeovers coming for the airlines, perhaps?
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,053
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From: alameda
having lost all respect for alpa a few years ago when we lost our pensions, had to start carrying guns (and not to defend the US Mail either) and watch pay get slashed 50% I can only say to the controllers:
watch your 6
watch your 6
