This guy is now a ramp manager for US in PHL!
Alaska Air transfers manager after safety-related complaint
Friday, April 14, 2000
By PAUL SHUKOVSKY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Alaska Airlines has moved, to a new job with no supervisory responsibility, a maintenance manager who allegedly pushed mechanics to take shortcuts.
Robert Falla has been on administrative leave with pay since last month when 64 mechanics who worked for him sent a letter complaining about pressure from Falla to get the job done too quickly -- to the detriment of safety considerations.
Alaska spokesman Greg Witter noted that the company interviewed all 64 mechanics after receiving the letter and is certain that no unsafe planes went back into service.
Beginning Monday, Falla will oversee maintenance done for the airline by outside contractors in the Seattle area, Witter said. A company source characterized the move as a demotion.
Falla could not be reached for comment. But his lawyer, Scott Engelhard, said, "We don't consider it a demotion."
One of the mechanics who signed the letter expressed concern yesterday that Falla remains in a responsible job.
"Most people are not too excited that he is still employed by the company," the mechanic said.
Many of the 64 mechanics are being contacted by FBI agents and investigators for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation who are investigating Alaska's maintenance practices.
The investigators are also questioning the mechanics about the company's relationship with the Federal Aviation Administration to determine if the FAA either condones or ignores violations of safety regulations.
The investigation into maintenance practices has been under way at least since December 1998, when agents raided Alaska's maintenance hangars in Oakland, Calif. and Seattle. Since the Jan. 31 crash of Alaska Flight 261 in which 88 people were killed, a separate criminal investigation has commenced into the circumstances surrounding the maintenance of the doomed aircraft. Falla had no connection with that plane.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P-I reporter Paul Shukovsky can be reached at 206-448-8072 or [email protected]
Alaska Air transfers manager after safety-related complaint
Friday, April 14, 2000
By PAUL SHUKOVSKY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Alaska Airlines has moved, to a new job with no supervisory responsibility, a maintenance manager who allegedly pushed mechanics to take shortcuts.
Robert Falla has been on administrative leave with pay since last month when 64 mechanics who worked for him sent a letter complaining about pressure from Falla to get the job done too quickly -- to the detriment of safety considerations.
Alaska spokesman Greg Witter noted that the company interviewed all 64 mechanics after receiving the letter and is certain that no unsafe planes went back into service.
Beginning Monday, Falla will oversee maintenance done for the airline by outside contractors in the Seattle area, Witter said. A company source characterized the move as a demotion.
Falla could not be reached for comment. But his lawyer, Scott Engelhard, said, "We don't consider it a demotion."
One of the mechanics who signed the letter expressed concern yesterday that Falla remains in a responsible job.
"Most people are not too excited that he is still employed by the company," the mechanic said.
Many of the 64 mechanics are being contacted by FBI agents and investigators for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation who are investigating Alaska's maintenance practices.
The investigators are also questioning the mechanics about the company's relationship with the Federal Aviation Administration to determine if the FAA either condones or ignores violations of safety regulations.
The investigation into maintenance practices has been under way at least since December 1998, when agents raided Alaska's maintenance hangars in Oakland, Calif. and Seattle. Since the Jan. 31 crash of Alaska Flight 261 in which 88 people were killed, a separate criminal investigation has commenced into the circumstances surrounding the maintenance of the doomed aircraft. Falla had no connection with that plane.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P-I reporter Paul Shukovsky can be reached at 206-448-8072 or [email protected]
