Airport inspectors pay own way amid FAA impasse
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, center, poses with tradesmen after a news conference to discuss the interruption of federal funding for airport construction projects and contractors at LaGuardia Airport in New York, Monday, August 1, 2011. The FAA's operating authority expired at midnight Friday, forcing a partial shutdown of the agency. Dozens of airport construction projects across the country have been put on hold and thousands of federal employees were out of work. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)
NEW YORK >> The administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration says airport safety inspectors nationwide are working without pay and shouldering travel expenses themselves, as the agency’s budget crisis enters a second week.
Randy Babbitt says the 40 workers are in charge of inspections covering runways and navigation aids at dozens of airports.
An inspector may travel to five airports in a two-week period, racking up thousands of dollars in hotel and airline tickets. Babbitt says they’re being asked to put those expenses on personal credit cards.
The inspectors are among 4,000 FAA employees furloughed last week after Congress refused to authorize FAA spending.
On Monday Babbitt and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood visited New York’s La Guardia airport, where work has stopped on a project to demolish an old control tower.
