system

Okay, I raise the “BS” flag here. Not about the idea of the test but about the test vehicle used. The F-28 has about as much relevance to today’s regional aircraft as a bulldozer does to riding lawnmower. The F-28 was designed in the mid-60s, well prior to the advent of computer design done at today’s levels. The materials utilized to make the aircraft are completely dissimilar as well! I currently fly a DC-8 in private use. That lady was also built in the same time period as the F-28. She is a real sturdy machine with skin as thick as bridge components. I jest somewhat there but the fact remains that today’s computer designed aircraft are far lighter in weight and with far thinner materials used. Now, I am not saying that today’s aircraft are less crash worthy than the F-28, heck, they might do even better. But, to crash a cabbage then tell be how well an apple will do just doesn’t pass the sniff test.

system

What a BS test… proved NOTHING and totally a waste of money. You drop any plane from 150 feet, you’re gonna have issues.
and who cares about an ancient F28 anyway?

system

I see that it’s of Canadian registry …

system

There was an unexpected, for me, amount of forward velocity by the time of ground contact. Seems like a drop form 300’ or even higher might produce some interesting and significantly different data.

Raf

Is it me or…?

1 reply

pilotmww

That last quote in this article is similar to what was said when Mr Huerta was appointed FAA administrator and look how that worked out. Now we have two clueless about aviation, career government bureaucrats running aviation safety agencies (FAA and NTSB). What could go wrong?

1 reply

sandy_murdock

Russ–inartful word choice. “CONFIRMED” is a technical word connoting that the Senate has consented to the “nomination”. Polly is only acting AOA-1 That term can refer to both “fill-in” and “dramatic”. Her time in this office will be a bad play so “drama” is more apt.

HTV

How does a person not qualified to fly an aircraft end up running the FAA? I know there will be those that say you don’t need to be a pilot to administer the FAA, like not being a licensed truck driver to run a trucking company. It seems it would be a lot easier if you know simple things like how a wing works. At least a person running a trucking company knows how a truck works. Just saying…….

EltonInAtlanta

The immediate issue is you can’t just appoint anyone.

“ Under the Vacancies Act, acting officials generally may come from three categories of government officials: (1) first assistants to the vacant positions; (2) Senate-confirmed officials designated by the President; and (3) certain senior agency officials designated by the President.”

“ Under the Vacancies Act, for instance, certain actions taken by an acting official not serving under its terms “shall have no force or effect” and may be susceptible to legal challenge.”

https://www.acus.gov/recommendation/acting-agency-officials-and-delegations-authority

1 reply

pilotmww

In other words nothing will change!

johnbpatson

Only two and a bit years to the election when FAA boss will probably be one of the presidential presents, like ambassadors.
Most ambassadors have never worked in foreign affairs, so the similarity is there.

Larry_S

It’s Memorex, Raf … sadly!
Haven’t we already done this before?

1 reply

Larry_S

You forgot DOT, Matt

Bruce_S

This may provide some evidence for why we are mired in such a governmental mess. Politicians in power appoint people to positions for which they are unqualified simply for optics.

Gone are the days in which the most qualified were selected based on performance. We are sliding into the abyss at an exponential rate based on diversity, equity, and whatever.

I’m old and perhaps it won’t affect me, but I weep for my children and grandchildren.

gliders

This is what you get when “authorities” adhere inflexibly to the myth of spiral dynamics; perceiving themselves at that uppermost spiral concerned with the administration of an activity rather than the activity itself. It’s amazing how many people have been conditioned to accept regulation by nonparticipants.

rickjunkin

I turned down advancement opportunities presented to me throughout my aviation career when the people who would be calling the shots were not credible due to lacking training, experience and credentials in the field of operation.

To be regulated by one of them is chafing. I’ll be communicating with my congressman and anyone else who will listen to at least make an effort toward a better solution when the next office holder is confirmed.

granburyaircraftserv

This “Appointee” has as much experience in aviation as Hunter Biden in the energy sector. And we wonder WHY we are in the position we are in.

vspeed96480

That’s what we have in the FSDO’s and other offices, inexperienced and worthless inspectors for the most part, so why would we want someone at the top to be experienced? There are some that are from the industry but they are few and far between.

jonsisk

In private industry, even among the smallest companies, one draws up a list of minimum qualifications and experience as an initial filter for vetting potential candidates. Is our dysfunctional government incapable of even this most basic management practice? Clearly, when the appointee has no practical aviation experience, either commercial or GA, the appointment to lead the FAA serves some unrelated interest and we the people get get screwed, again. The incompetence is metastasizing, stage 4.

William_Copp

Surprised? Can anyone name anything this inept administration has done that hasn’t been a colossal failure?

2 replies

FlyerDon

They can’t if all they watch is Fox News and NewsMax.

sgrillo

Just what we don’t need, another politico. Unfortunately our DOT secretary is plain out of touch.

I suppose if Billy Nolen had been offered the full administrators position, he would’ve stayed. But, who can blame the guy for leaving; it’s just so long a guy can be ‘acting’.

Unfortunately Steve Dickson chose to leave before his term was up. (Though considering the skeletons in his closet from some of the things he did at DL were eventually going to catch up to him). At least he was an aviator, and an able administrator.

Right now, with ongoing aircraft certification issues, 5G radar altimeter interference and a NOTAM system that is a joke, we need someone in the position that understands aviation. While Ms Trottenburg may be an able bureaucrat, she will be dependent on input from sources that at more politically motivated than operationally.

Hoping our President actually proposes a real administrator, not a political hack next time

1 reply

bucc5062

First, the FAA Administrator is a political appointee thus will always be politically bias. For all those who want some square jawed military top gun, fly tail draggers at 3 and 747s at 30 type administrator that somehow understands both the needs of the private pilot and the needs of Boeing…get real.

Regarding this line “and a NOTAM system that is a joke”, what does a pilot, even Capt America now about complex computer systems, data integration, and software archetecture design and development. Seems you want a IT guy as head of FAA to fix that one…or maybe someone who can get the right talent to begin analysis.

Then there is this “5G radar altimeter interference”…So now our FAA administrator, already able to dead stick a shuttle to a short field landing is also an Electrical Engineer, because given the logic on this page, they need to be an expert in RADAR and broadband wave concurrences and how that propagates to electronic devices…or maybe that person has the ability to put the right scientists, engineers, and pilots to come up with solid tests and answers.

Finally, " aircraft certification issues"…Well that ain’t a overly generic statement, but let’s figure it is in regards to the time it takes to get certification or perhaps the rules and regulations that apply to getting a certification. Should we go back to having corporations and individuals “sign off” on certifications (aka Boeing) and just shrug when planes fall out of the sky? Maybe the FAA Administrator has to to have good administrative skills to unravel why there are delays and again find knowledgeable people to perform regulation reviews that include public comment.

I know nothing about this lady, but as always seems to be there case when these articles appear, the knee jerk reaction is to say “she didn’t do stick time so she’s a hack” before she even starts the job. If y’all think you know who is best for the position tell your damn political representative to pass it along. Maybe if the senate stops F’ing around with nominees for their own political gains and does their job of advise and consent and gives names that are the best, maybe the President can work with that list.

mach0017

Rephrase the question: what has this administration done that has been a success? All the reported successes I hear from the MSM are total lies.

1 reply

chip1

Damn straight, Justin! It’s simply amazing how many commenters on this forum conflate the activity with the management of that activity. They seem to think that the head of a federal agency should have the skills that the agency regulates. Who do I want to run such a bureaucracy? A well-seasoned, thick-skinned, knife-fighting, bureaucrat is my choice. If s/he has years of experience keeping gears grinding in the government trenches, as Trottenberg does, all the better. An analytic mind, ability to wrangle competing interests, and loyalty to her staff and boss are far more valuable traits than any aviation skill, aside from making decisions under pressure.

jpw

You’re wrong, Mac. Just ask Flyer Don!

1 reply

frank.tino

Well, I was close in my May 2023 ‘guestimate’ posted here that Pete Buttigieg might be plopped in-
This appointment is as close to THAT as it gets.
Unleaded fuel initiatives ? Do I hear 2040 ?

frank.tino

Ms. Trottenberg served under Mayor Bill de Blasio as New York City’s transportation commissioner from 2014 to 2020. In that role, she oversaw the city’s Vision Zero program to reduce traffic fatalities, and she expanded bike and bus lanes.

She was also a top transportation official in the Obama administration, serving as an assistant secretary at the Transportation Department and then as the departments undersecretary for policy review.

FlyerDon

Here’s one. The infrastructure bill included 25 billion for airport improvements.

Raf

Yep, it seems like the government’s decision to appoint Trottenberg as Acting Administrator is a bit of a head-scratcher. The government head-hunters must have missed the memo on listening to the concerns and opinions of the aviation community. ?

William_Kelly

I think aircraft carrier Captains still have to be Naval Aviators, unless that went away too…?

chip1

Do you think that might have something to do with the necessary separation of the civilian FAA from the military DOD? As in, totally separate mission, mandate, risks, employee pool, public interface, budget, accountability, etc., etc., etc. You could have made a more cogent argument by asserting that Broadway choreographers are, or were, dancers.

maule

Hopefully the next president will drain the FAA swamp.

Lets_think_before_we

§ 106. Federal Aviation Administration
(c) The Administrator must—
(3) have experience in a field directly related
to aviation.