Mary Rose
Diefenderfer (FAA inspector)
Her posts to
http://www.fltstd.org/bboard/archives/toc.htm
Alaska
Form Results Inserted Here
Name: Mary Rose Diefenderfer
Email:
Member: No
Date: 2/6/00
Remote Name: 208.230.117.49
Comments
Here are brief highlights
of two Seattle obituaries:
Rodney L. Pearson....he was
devoted to his family...Sarah K. Pearson...they will be remembered by their
many friends and family they touched. They are joined in this last journey by
their children, Rachael and Grace...Rachael was a first grader who loved her
cat and ballet...Grace enjoyed being a baby.
Janice Sylvia Stokes...from
If these obituaries don't
tear your heart out and make you want to take action, nothing will. Most likely
the FAA management won't read the obituaries because they don't seem to care
about the beautiful lives of the people aboard those airplanes. However, they
will read these obituaries on the PASS site because the paranoid bunch want to
see what PASS is up to these days.
I read your posted articles
that have been stating the same theme for years....FAA management must be held
accountable. How is PASS going to do that when the interest in promoting the
big airlines (and failing to remember the "souls") goes all the way up
to Ms. Garvey? There is ONLY one way, ladies and gentlemen...Congress and the
press. If you get the press going, you will get Congress going. Congress MUST
do something. The big airlines are using their influence every day on FAA
management. In the American and
Congress must also know
that their 1996 decision to exempt the FAA from Title IV is killing safety. The
must know that there is no whistleblower protections for inspectors. I am here
to tell you that the internal FAA whistleblower system doesn't work. How could
it when the very people you are blowing the whistle on are the ones that must
address your whistleblowing concerns! Even stupid people like some of those we
see in FAA management understand this concept!
The FAA organization is
sick. It need to be "remedied". Certain FAA management names need to
be known by Congress and the press. These unethical men and women not only need
to be run out of the agency, but they need to go to jail for their criminal
interference with aviation safety. They have played "God" too long!
PASS please do something!
Do it for Rodney, Sarah, Rachael, Grace, and Janice. Do it for all the others
who might end up in a pile of smoldering wreckage.
Mary Rose Diefenderfer
ex-POI Alaska Airlines, twice
removed from the position, unilaterally removed from PASS, and run out of the
agency by harassment for whistleblowing.
[../_private/bboard_aftr.htm]
"spin doctoring"
Form Results Inserted Here
Name: Mary Rose Diefenderfer
Email:
Member: No
Date: 2/8/00
Remote Name: 12.18.135.130
Comments
Well, if anyone read the
Newsweek site today (www.newsweek.com), you will notice that there is an
appearance of some "spin doctoring" going on, apparently by the FAA
and/or (nameless) Airlines. I wonder if they are working together.....?
Although the last paragraph of the article mentions me by name, it fails to
mention the other inspectors that Mr. Hoy "invited" to leave the
(nameless) Airlines CMS. It's funny how the inspectors who were reassigned,
were only done so after complaints from (nameless) Airlines. Any connections?
And it fails to mention that a couple inspectors received disciplinary actions
as a result of complaints from (nameless) Airlines. It also fails to mention a
FAA Security report that documented the "appearance of (nameless) Airline
exerting undo influence into internal FAA personnel matters" in the
Seattle FSDO (and the inspectors who worked for Mr. Hoy). Well, that is for the
judge, Congress, the NTSB, and public opinion to decide, I guess.
The article mentions that I
demanded payment to keep my mouth shut? Anyone who knows me realizes just how
absurd that "spin doctoring" statement is!!! Me keep my mouth shut
about safety issues? Not a chance! That's why you harassed me, removed me, and
subsequently harassed me some more, isn't it Mr. Hoy, Ms. Livack, and Mr.
Pearson?
Sounds like they are
getting nervous!
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Re: Why don’t we
(AFS-PASS) do something.
Form Results Inserted Here
Name: Mary Rose Diefenderfer
Email:
Member: No
Date: 2/8/00
Remote Name: 12.18.135.130
Comments
I second the motion, please
form an VERY ACTIVE, PASS Press Committee. The one thing that FAA management
understands and fears is the press informing the public that the FAA is egregiously
interfering with flying safety. It is the ONLY way to get enough public outrage
so that the unethical "leaders" are removed and punished. It is the
only way to capture the interest of Congress. The politicians don't want the
heat of the public knowing that they were aware of an unsafe situation and failed
to act.
When Pass forms the press committee,
the committee must consistently identify safety interference, mismanagement,
abuse of employees, unethical conduct, and then advertise it for all it is
worth. Letters must be sent to newspaper editors, aviation subcommittees,
groups like the Air Disaster Relief Organization, network news programs, etc.
Mary Schiavo may not be too popular with PASS, however, she certainly is a
strong mouthpiece to whom the flying public listens. She probably would be only
too happy to team up with PASS.
The pressure must never
cease for even a moment or FAA management will take committee members and
safety contributors on one at a time.
PASS should also be
speaking to the NTSB, and encouraging the NTSB and Congress to subpoena current
and ex-Alaska Airlines CMS inspectors to tell their stories of FAA management
interference, threats to inspectors, and removal of inspectors. Believe me,
management in the NWMR will start bailing out if that happens!
Don't talk about forming a committee-
do it! Do it for all those who died in all the recent air disasters; the
children who no longer have mommys and daddys, for the wives and husbands who
are left alone, for the friends who will never return, for the employees who
fly on the airplanes every day, and for the good, honest, FAA inspectors who
are punished for their safety concerns.
In spite of the unethical
FAA management who are a detriment to safety, I must say, I have met some
management individuals who are responsible, responsive, and dedicated to enhancing
safety. There are some management officials out there, even in the Seattle
FSDO, who care about the concerns of the inspector force and do not buy into
the "status quo".
Unethical FAA management,
you know who you are. You are partially responsible for some of the worst air
disasters in this countries history, and you disgust me.
I will be the first in line
to testify for PASS in an effort to identify these unethical individuals.
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1997 Accusations from
ex-Alaska Airlines Mechanic
Form Results Inserted Here
Name: Mary Rose Diefenderfer
Email:
Member: No
Date: 2/14/00
Remote Name: 12.18.135.130
Comments
In June 1997, the Alaska Airlines
Certificate Management Section received a copy of a letter, which was sent to
Mr. John Kelly (CEO Alaska Airlines). This letter was written by an ex-Alaska
Airlines mechanic named Gustafson. Mr. Gustafson cited instances of Alaska Airlines
management forcing mechanics to sign off maintenance that wasn't performed. He
also cited many other unsafe practices and irregularities. The instances he
cited were the catalyst for Mr. Gustafson leaving Alaska Airlines. His mechanic
certificate, career, and integrity were more valuable to him than to falsify
records for the airline, according to Mr. Gustafson.
Early 1998, the news broke
about the alleged falsification of maintenance records at Alaska Airlines
Oakland base.
This morning NBC stated
that about that timeframe, the ill fated Alaska Airlines MD-80 was due to have
parts replaced in the tail of that airplane. Allegedly, the parts were never
replaced.
Also in that timeframe
(June 1997), I was removed as POI for the second time in four years after my
supervisor told me that I was too "hard on Alaska Airlines" and he
"felt compelled to change that." When I was removed I had many open
items, including follow up on enforcement actions and self disclosures. I was
banned from having anything to do with the airline or the inspectors who
oversaw the airline. I sent an e-mail to the appropriate FAA management
officials and informed them of my open items and grave concerns of the
consequences of leaving so many issues open for a brand new POI. I was ignored.
Later, under FOIA, I learned that most, if not all, of the open items
"disappeared."
I was replaced by one of
the inspectors who had a great deal of airline experience and insight. He
lasted ONE DAY as POI. His mistake was telling the supervisor that he had some
issues he wanted to straighten out at the airline. That must have been
unacceptable because the supervisor then told him that he had made a
mistake...someone else would be the POI.
The supervisor shortly
thereafter pressured two other inspectors to leave, including the "POI for
a day". One of the inspectors found the airline taking credit for line
checks that were never performed, and the other was the inspector who
investigated the case and wrote the EIR. Of course they had to be removed- the
airline was unhappy. This became evident when an Alaska Airlines official (allegedly)
later expressed his great happiness that he finally had the inspector team in
place that he wanted.
Of course, that FAA
supervisor remains in his position, assuring that the airline has the
"right people" for the job. And, of course, the line check EIR was
closed with "No Action".
Some of these events are
documented in PTRS, under inspector MRD, Seattle FSDO. It would make
interesting reading, I am sure, in the unlikely event that the "higher
ups" decide to do the right thing and hold the appropriate management
officials accountable.
Someone in Washington
should start asking the Alaska Airlines Certificate Management supervisor what
follow up was done on Mr. Gustafson's complaint. That question also should go
to the Division Manager, who allegedly also knew of this letter, and other
instances similar to the events that Mr. Gustafson cited.
It is time the public start
laying the blame for all the bloodshed and altered lives at the very root of
the problem- a too friendly FAA relationship with some the big carriers. Some
FAA management officials are trained to "jump" when the airlines
yells "jump"! Yet the small airlines, repair stations, etc. are being
arbitrarily run out of business every day so that these FAA management
officials can puff up their chests and say, "Look, we are doing our
jobs."
So, Northwest Mountain
Region, Flight Standards Division and Seattle FSDO 15's- what did you do to
follow up on Mr. Gustafson's report, as well as all the other reports you
received from your inspectors? Did you do the same type of follow up that you
did with my reports and the reports of my team? Did you ever consider that
ignoring the reports, removing inspectors, and allowing enforcement actions to
disappear or die, might contribute to an airline becoming lax in their internal
safety programs?
You ought to think about those questions and the beautiful lives that
were lost in airplane accidents.
Congratulations Terry
Hurst (I think!)/EEOC/Federal Digest
Form Results Inserted Here
Name: Mary Rose Diefenderfer
Email:
Member: No
Date: 2/11/00
Remote Name: 208.230.117.48
Comments
Congratulations for
sticking to your principles and prevailing, just watch your six! The FAA is a
very dysfunctional place to work.
In response to your 12/23
message, EEOC is the only way to go right now. As you know, the internal
whistleblower system doesn't work when the fox is guarding the hen house. The
EEOC system is not perfect, but it does get the issues out into the public
arena, and keeps the offending officials busy. And retaliation for exercising
your right to file an EEO complaint is another EEO complaint. The way this
agency retaliates for an employee exercising their EEO rights, one can keep the
offenders very busy for a long time! The complaints can be eventually consolidated
and taken to court, where the "whole story" paints an ugly picture.
However, you never seem to ultimately win because they keep retaliating. Who's
going to stop them? I will keep you posted on my EEOC cases.
Another point, the Federal
Digest, as usual, only tells a part of the story. Naturally it is a slanted
version at that. We were ruled against, however, there is more. I don't want to
go into details, however, I want everyone to know that good things are
happening as a result of my case, although, again, the FAA is "spin doctoring".
Aside from their "spin
doctoring", I wonder if they know how they advertise their stupidity by
publishing articles like the one in the Federal Digest. They might as well say,
"We have taken away our employee's right to make aviation safety a
priority, and we reserve the right to abuse any inspector who thinks safety our
goal. We are proud of our abuse."
I guess the stupid people
are put on this earth to help the good, ethical, smart people to grow.
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Re: Model Work Environment
Form Results Inserted Here
Name: Mary Rose Diefenderfer
Email:
Member: No
Date: 2/3/00
Remote Name: 208.230.117.48
Comments
I hear you! For two years,
I appealed to the same individuals for intervention to stop the harassment,
retaliation, and other nice things management is capable of doing. I was not
only ignored, but further retaliation ensued. I eventually had to leave the
agency for my health.
For years, I have been a
safety advocate in the Seattle FSDO as POI of Alaska Airlines. Sadly, I believe
this accident will be the catalyst to bring out the horrible mismanagement the
employees suffer as a result of attempting to do their jobs as the public
trusts us to do.
Several supervisors deserve
to go to jail.
Don't give up- integrity
will win out.
M.R.D.
Nightmare fairy tale!
Form Results Inserted Here
Name: Mary Rose Diefenderfer
Email:
Member: No
Date: 2/11/00
Remote Name: 208.230.117.44
Comments
I just had a nightmare! It
went like this:
Once upon a time, there was
a cute little airline tucked away in a remote part of the country. It was such
a nice little airline- flew to some rather interesting and fun places. People
liked to fly this little airline, so the airline grew by leaps and bounds.
The FAA especially liked
this little airline. It became a regular "good 'ol boys" club. In
fact, so many FAA people liked the little airline, that they went to work for
the airline while having oversight responsibilities. What a nice arrangement
for everyone!
The little airline was well
protected by the FAA, because the FAA really liked the little airline. It grew
by leaps and bounds. But then something began to happen. The good 'ol boys made
a mistake. They hired an outsider into the "club" who didn't quite
fit in. He was able to read the regulations and believed they applied to every
airline equally. He believed passengers had a "Bill of Rights" to fly
safely. He did not believe the airline was the customer, as the good 'ol boys
did. The good 'ol boys reminded him often.
He began to see things. He
began to correct things. His career in that FAA office began to end.
He saw many things. In one
instance, he saw the little airline tell him that the remote airplane simulator
was equipped with windshear detection instruments. These instruments were
required for pilot wind shear recovery training. Without these instruments,
pilots received no training.
One day a remote inspector
called. He mentioned that he had been in this simulator and it didn't have any
of this required windshear equipment. How could that be, said the first
inspector!? The little airline told me several times that it was installed!
They even described it in a letter! What happened to all those pilots who were
not trained? What will happen to the passengers?
And his career was
ended........
Then the good 'ol boys made
a second mistake. They hired someone else who didn't quite fit in. This was
apparent very quickly. That inspector's career had to end, also, according to
the good 'ol boys. Only one thing was different this time- this inspector was tenacious
in the quest for safety for the little airline's passengers.
Almost immediately, this
inspector found things the good 'ol boys had "missed". More pilot
training not completed but recorded as such, "irregular" instrument
approaches, using funny de-icing fluids (the kind you could actually drink, if
you were so inclined!). And finally, pilots of the nice little airline waiting
until they got to home base to write airplane mechanical problems in the
logbook so the mechanics could look to see if the passengers might be in jeopardy.
The "good 'ol
boys" exclaimed, "how creative this little airline is! We really like
them! They can do no wrong!" Oh, how this distressed this inspector! How
could it possibly be?! And how could the FAA possibly think all this was OK? But
it soon became apparent...it WAS OK, and the inspector's career would soon be
ended like the last inspector.
One day this inspector got
a tip that pilots of a certain remote base were being "encouraged" by
their manager to fly a mere 1300' below their Minimum Descent Altitude for the
remote instrument approach. The little airline had to get in! There were
passengers on the plane, and the load of fish to be picked up!
So the inspector went to
investigate. The inspector was shocked when it became apparent that the news
was true! How could it be? Big mountains were everywhere. So the inspector did
the right thing- for the passenger, not the fish. The flights were stopped. The
little airline management was furious. By the time this inspector returned to
home base, thinking a good job was done, the inspector was in
"trouble" for upsetting the airline. In fact, the inspector's
supervisor and the inspector's assistant inspector agreed that the instrument
approach chart did say one thing, and the little airline was doing another;
however, both patted one another on the back and told the inspector that they
saw no problem because the little airline "never hit anything" while
on that instrument approach. The inspector was in trouble...
The inspector took the
issue to FAA Headquarters, who in this instance, agreed with the inspector. But
the inspector was still in trouble...one day this supervisor would have the
inspector reassigned and the agreeable assistant inspector would take over. The
"good 'ol boys" club would return! This would be good for everybody,
except the paying passenger.
This inspector saw many
things, but was soon labeled "not a team player". The inspector was
placed in "attitude adjustment sessions" after the airline
complained. The inspector's career would soon end, and the careers of everyone
who agreed with this inspector, as well. More "agreeable" inspectors
would be put in place.
Then I woke up! What a nightmare! Couldn't possibly be true! Or was
it.....?
Re: stuff
Form Results Inserted Here
Name: Mary Rose Diefenderfer
Email:
Member: No
Date: 2/11/00
Remote Name: 208.230.117.46
Comments
Hello, Grant! There are
individuals like me out there who have been arbitrarily removed from the
bargaining unit, and who have been harassed into leaving the agency, again, like
me. I have been a PASS rep. in the Seattle FSDO, and fought many battles along
side the other reps. and RBA's. As the PASS rep., I quadrupled membership in
the Seattle FSDO (at the time). Many, like myself, have pending litigation
against the agency. Many, like myself, may have the opportunity to come back
again and join PASS.
Please don't exclude us
from the website, from keeping up on the news, and from expressing our
opinions, sharing our experiences, and letting the inspector force learn from
the roads we are paving. Information is power. FAA management would LOVE it if
PASS excluded individuals like me!
Your friend in
battle....M.R.
Source
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