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Los Angeles Airport Inspectors to Transfer

Posted on: Tuesday, 22 November 2005, 18:00 CST

By Rick Orlov, Press-Telegram, Long Beach, Calif.

Nov. 22--The Federal Aviation Administration might transfer more than two dozen inspectors from Los Angeles International Airport to offices in Van Nuys and Long Beach Airport a plan that has raised safety concerns.

"We are not moving or closing our offices, we are putting people in those offices where they are needed and there is more work," said Donn Walker, a regional FAA spokesman.

Walker said the workload for LAX inspectors has dropped because it is not responsible for inspecting the major airlines for operating certificates.

"All that work is being done in other areas of the country," Walker said. "All we're doing is putting people where the work is, and there is a lot of work, particularly in general aviation."

The FAA now has 27 inspectors in its Los Angeles office, although three will retire soon and will not be replaced, Walker said.

News of the plans were first obtained by AVweb.com and LAVOICE.org. The two sites quoted unnamed inspectors who complained about the proposal and said it would create a public safety issue if the FAA workers were stuck in traffic.

Walker said the transfers could occur after the first of the year but he downplayed the significance of not having the inspectors assigned at the FAA offices near LAX.

"The fact is, most of these inspectors rarely come in to an office, they go directly to a work site," Walker said. "And, if we need people at LAX, they can work out of these offices."

Officials with Los Angeles World Airport said they have been working with the FAA on the plan.

"We have no concerns or issues on this," spokesman Paul Haney said. "We concur with the plan and the rationale behind it."

Long Beach Airport manager Chris Kunze said there will be no operational impacts on the facility.

"I believe it is just based on cost and efficiency for the FAA," Kunze said. "They have a lot of space at the Long Beach Airport Business Park and can probably better utilize it with the consolidation."

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Copyright (c) 2005, Press-Telegram, Long Beach, Calif.

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Source: Press-Telegram

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