As Marion Blakey Gets Ready to Leave FAA ...

... the vultures are circling. An article in USA Today questions her decision to become president of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), suggesting a potential conflict of interest. The article charges that Blakey has made decisions that impact AIA members. Fair enough. Yet, look at her bio and becoming president of an industry trade group seems like a logical next step in her career. She has been a presence in D.C. much of her life and knows the workings of Washington. Consider: Blakey has served as chair of the NTSB; held four previous presidential appointments; served as Administrator of the DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and, has held positions at the Departments of Commerce and Education, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the White House, and DOT. It’s hard to imagine her going back to her hometown of Gadsden, AL to become the head of the local Chamber of Commerce. Now, I’ve been critical of FAA Administrators in the past. I used to marvel at how Blakey’s predecessor, Jane Garvey, could captivate an audience. At the end of any of her speeches, however, I would look down at my notes and there was little of substance there. Garvey’s predecessor, David Hinson, was arguably the most qualified person to ever head up the FAA. Yet, my criticisms of Hinson for not taking tough, industry-leading positions of hot issues led to him refusing to talk to me at trade shows. Blakey has never been one to back away from making tough leadership stances. I have yet to meet any aviation person or group who has had close dealings with the Administrator who did not respect her integrity. Look at the ongoing reauthorization debate and FAA’s position on new user fees (actually, the Administration’s position) – while general aviation groups are vehemently opposed to the FAA proposal, I have never heard one question Blakey’s integrity. Blakey gets high marks from industry on her leadership in getting the NextGen air traffic control system moving, for taking the agency toward a more business-like operation, and for holding the line on controller salaries – an area in which cost control has been an ongoing concern. At this week’s National Airports Conference in Tucson, FAA’s Ben DeLeon, director of planning and programming, related how when Blakey first arrived at FAA she challenged the agency’s management to clearly define a long-range national plan, which didn’t exist. The result was the FACT 1 study and the recently released FACT 2, which clearly define regions of the country that will be challenged in the future to meet capacity needs. Everyone seems to agree that this is much needed planning information. In August, Blakey called together industry and government representatives to challenge them to come up with solutions to runway incursion issues at U.S. airports. The result was a Call to Action that industry and airports are taking, within 60 days, to meet the problem head-on. As industry awaits the Administration’s nomination for the next FAA Administrator, we can only hope that we get someone as serious (and as tough-minded) as Blakey to address the serious issues facing aviation. Thanks for reading. jfi