FAA inspectors: Bosses tried to suppress reports on inspections

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thank you mr bu$h* - FAA another gutted bu$h* agency

~snip~ WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A cozy relationship between Southwest Airlines officials and the manager of a Federal Aviation Administration office put passengers in danger of catastrophe, an FAA whistle-blower told Congress on Thursday.

FAA inspector Bobby Boutris testified that his supervisor, Douglas Gawadzinski, repeatedly rebuffed his reports of inspection requirement violations.

"Allowing an airline to fly passengers in an aircraft with a known unsafe condition puts the lives of the flying public in jeopardy," Boutris told a House committee. "And in my opinion it is dereliction of duty and should be criminal."
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/03/airline.safety/index.html