WRONG FLIGHT PLAN

As part of the plan to privatize the nation’s flight service stations, the facility in Bangor last week was given more work to do with fewer people to do it. With such a formula, privatization will no doubt save money, but safety, for pilots and passengers, will be put in jeopardy. That’s why the House rejected the $150 million in funding for the privatization plan and that’s why the Federal Aviation Administration should put the privatization move on hold to allow the Senate to weigh in.

Flight service specialists help general aviation pilots with flight plans, provide weather and emergency information, advise on flight restrictions and help out in search-and-rescue missions, among other duties. Approximately 27 people work at the station in Bangor, although their numbers are already shrinking. They now work for Lockheed Martin Corp., which assumed management last week of the nation’s flight service station network after announcing in February its $1.9 billion contract with the FAA. Nationwide, about 1,300 jobs eventually would be eliminated through the privatization which consolidates the service at three hubs in Leesburg, Va., Fort Worth, Texas, and Prescott, Ariz.

In addition to opposition from Congress, the FAA also faces a pending age discrimination lawsuit filed on behalf of the flight service station employees. The lawsuit, which lists 15 of Bangor’s employees as plaintiffs, alleges that the network was singled out for privatization because 92 percent of its work force is over 40 and nearing retirement eligibility.

The administration was fairly specific about what qualified for privatization when it began the process of looking for government savings by shedding duties. It said work that could be put out to bid if it were “primarily ministerial and internal in nature (such as building security, mail operations, operation of cafeterias, housekeeping, facilities operations and maintenance, warehouse operations, motor vehicle fleet management operations, or other routine electrical or mechanical services work).”

Jobs that would not be privatized, according to the Office of Management and Budget, would be considered “inherently governmental” if they “significantly affect the life, liberty, or property of private persons.” A flight service specialist who helps guide general aviation pilots could reasonably qualify under such a standard.

The House in June voted 238 to 177 to prohibit the FAA from spending funds on the privatization plan. Both Reps. Mike Michaud and Tom Allen voted for the amendment to the 2006 Transportation Appropriations bill. The Senate has yet to take up the bill.

Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, along with 13 colleagues, sent a letter to FAA Administrator Marion Blakely asking him to delay the privatization plan until the Senate considers the agency’s appropriations. Given the House action, this is a reasonable request.

A delay is also warranted so the Senate can clarify what the administration means by a service being inherently governmental and to prevent the contract from going into effect until it resolves the discrepancy between the OMB language and the decision to

privatize the flight service.