Babbit resigns- political fall-out?

[John Pleisse]

User fees, next gen... was this guy on our side or not? Impilications, if any?

 

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/69800.html

 

 

[GeorgePerry]

In my line of work, when a senior leader gets a DWI, they call it getting "fired" not a resignation.  I suppose the non-military public sector is more touchy-feely.

It's too bad really.  Mr Babbit seemed to have a good head on his shoulders and was a clear supporter of GA.  Hopefully his successor is just as reasonable.

 

[fantom]

Quote: GeorgePerry

In my line of work, when a senior leader gets a DWI, they call it getting "fired" not a resignation.  I suppose the non-military public sector is more touchy-feely.

 

[Shadrach]

I've not dealt with Babbit personally. However, I don't think he had a lot of fans at the agency and I know of at least 2 senior AMEs that thought he was a horrible administrator. I personally that think he presided over some lousy changes for GA. When a person (especially in his position) is stopped for driving down the wrong side of the road with a BAC >.08 it is not indicative of someone with a "good head on his shoulders".  Alcoholism is nasty stuff, but my guess is that he's an old pro and knows what he is. He should have known better than to get behind the wheel. I'd bet that he has been doing this for years all the while pushing for stronger DUI/DWI penalties for all medical holders. 

[GeorgePerry]

Quote: fantom

To be fair, civilian or military, Babbit isn't in your line of work, is he? It's been my observation that both lines of work have gotten very PC and touchy-feely in recent years. 

[John Pleisse]

He had a distinguished airline career. His boss discovered the arrest from a Fairfax County Police Press Release. Not good.

[FlyDave]

Quote: Shadrach

I've not dealt with Babbit personally. However, I don't think he had a lot of fans at the agency and I know of at least 2 senior AMEs that thought he was a horrible administrator. I personally that think he presided over some lousy changes for GA. When a person (especially in his position) is stopped for driving down the wrong side of the road with a BAC >.08 it is not indicative of someone with a "good head on his shoulders".  Alcoholism is nasty stuff, but my guess is that he's an old pro and knows what he is. He should have known better than to get behind the wheel. I'd bet that he has been doing this for years all the while pushing for stronger DUI/DWI penalties for all medical holders. 

[fantom]

Quote: GeorgePerry

 

[Shadrach]

Quote: FlyDave

How do you come to the conclusion that he's an alcoholic? I've seen nothing in the new reports that say anything like that. He could very well have just been out with friends and had too much to drink.

I believe someone must be pretty drunk (at least I would) to drive on the wrong side of the road. But just because someone is drunk doesn't mean they're an alcoholic.

[xftrplt]

 I must respectfully disagree with George Perry’s assertions that: “… I don't think military leadership is touchy feely at all.  We hold one another to a standard.  Depart from that standard and the punishment is swift and irrevocable.”

First, the military is highly politically correct. 

            It follows orders (operational and philosophical), which come from the civilian leadership.  The failure, in 1991, of the flag officers of all the services to “fall on their swords” over the travesty of Tailhook was an example of PC at the highest levels.  (It could be argued, though, that Adm Mullen and the JCS’s recent kitten-like capitulation over DADT now holds the prize.)   

           

            The most tragic case of military PC is how the Army handled Maj Nidal Hasan.  As GenJack Keane testified, the military "failed to deal with radicalization" as Hasan's "open displays of violent Islamist extremism was a violation of military rules," and (he) should have been discharged.

 

Second, that “my service has fired 23 Senior leaders for various lapses in judgment” can indicate a process of promotion and selection for command that has been vitiated by PC.  Would Capt Holly Graf or Cmdr Etta Jones been selected for command, were it not for PC?

 

Third, punishment is not always swift.  Capt Graf had a long history of erratic, bizarre, and sub-standard performance but retired as an O-6 last year (six years after being relieved of command), despite a panel of three admirals having recommended she be cashiered.  (Of course, it helps to have an admiral for an older sister.) 

 

Fourth, I am certainly no apologist for drunken driving, but relieving a highly experienced officer with combat experience for a DWI sacrifices the mission and personnel safety on the altar of PC.

 

Fifth, Babbit, though he “was resigned,” not fired, isn’t, to my knowledge, being paid.

 

Pardon the rant.  It’s rainy and cold in the NE.

[orangemtl]

This is extremely straightforward: even for a political position.

DUI. Certifiably drunk. High ranking position in US transportation, which includes rule making for impaired operators. Gone.

Now, if only it was Ted Kennedy, upside down in a creek with a dead passenger, he'd be at his FAA desk the next morning. DUI? What DUI? Never happened. Move along, folks; nothing to see.

 

[Ncbosshoss]

I agree with George. He was most likley asked for his resignation. It is semantics. He offered it and they accepted it. End result is the same. He was not going to be the FAA Administrator any longer.

 

Chris

[PilotDerek]

Quote: xftrplt

First, the military is highly politically correct. 

      

[PilotDerek]

Quote: orangemtl

Now, if only it was Ted Kennedy, upside down in a creek with a dead passenger, he'd be at his FAA desk the next morning. DUI? What DUI? Never happened. Move along, folks; nothing to see.

 

[1964-M20E]

Anyone looking for a new career?

If the office was not in DC I might be interested. ;-)

[Hank]

You reckon being the Administrator might make your SFRA clearances a little simpler to get, and easier to navigate?

[NotarPilot]

Quote: Shadrach

"My number one priority is to focus on safety. This is a business where one mistake is one too many."

Randy Babbitt

March 2009

[Shadrach]

Quote: NotarPilot

 And if he took a blood test, those results would not likely come back from the lab for about two weeks.  Therefore I'm going to have to disagree that it's a doozy based soley on that.

[scottfromiowa]

I really don't care if he was an alcoholic or not.  Terrible disease.  He knew the ramifications of his actions took the risk and failed.  He is HUMAN.  The loss of his job was ABSOLUTELY proper.  With regard to N4352H original question...Fallout?  Any speculation?  A lot on the burner for FAA

-Next Gen

-Light Squared

-User Fees

-Alternative fuel for No-Lead

I hope someone with a solid understanding of GA issues/concerns is the next apointee.  We shall see.

[Seth]

Now is your chance - Apply for the position.  Send a letter - see what happens.

 

And yes, I realize that is not how it's done.

-Seth

[John Pleisse]

Ross brought up a good point. If he had a problem, will anybody look to to his AME or Babbit's signed medical paper work? DWI is immediately disqualifying for all classes and student pilot cert.

[danb35]

A single DWI is not necessarily immediately disqualifying.  Multiple DWIs are likely to be.

[John Pleisse]

Quote: danb35

A single DWI is not necessarily immediately disqualifying.  Multiple DWIs are likely to be.

[danb35]

It is a required response, and the AME is required to obtain the relevant court documents if it was within 5 years of the date of the medical exam.  If those are available, and BAC was <= 0.15%, the AME can issue.  If it was over 0.15% or refused, the AME can't issue, and must defer it to OKC, who will probably require a psych eval.  So, reportable, yes.  Disqualifying, not necessarily.  But he will be required to report the next time he goes to renew his medical.

He's also required to report the arrest, within 60 days, to the Airman Security Branch.  Missing this one could land his certificates in a world of hurt.

Of course, the BAC hasn't been made public yet.  I'd personally suspect that if he were sufficiently far gone to be driving on the wrong side of the road, it was considerably higher than 0.15%, but that's just my guess.

[John Pleisse]

Quote: danb35

It is a required response, and the AME is required to obtain the relevant court documents if it was within 5 years of the date of the medical exam.  If those are available, and BAC was <= 0.15%, the AME can issue.  If it was over 0.15% or refused, the AME can't issue, and must defer it to OKC, who will probably require a psych eval.  So, reportable, yes.  Disqualifying, not necessarily.  But he will be required to report the next time he goes to renew his medical.

He's also required to report the arrest, within 60 days, to the Airman Security Branch.  Missing this one could land his certificates in a world of hurt.

Of course, the BAC hasn't been made public yet.  I'd personally suspect that if he were sufficiently far gone to be driving on the wrong side of the road, it was considerably higher than 0.15%, but that's just my guess.