Uncle Jerry’s Understanding
Posted by Paul Cox on January 27th, 2009
Jerry Lavey apparently hasn’t gotten any better about the whole “talking out of his ass” problem, has he?
The Moose under the Table: As Focus FAA reported earlier this week, the labor disagreement between FAA and NATCA came up in the hearing [see “DOT Nominee Wants to Settle Controller Contract Dispute”]. LaHood made no mention of it in his oral or written testimony, as I understand it, but some members of the panel, starting with Committee Chairman Senator Rockefeller, asked what he intended to do about it during the Q&A session. In response, he said something to the effect that he will pick a FAA Administrator who will work with the union to get that issue off the table. And he was emphatic that he wants it off the table. But he didn’t provide any specifics, nor did the Committee members ask him for any. No fresh rumors, either, on who has the inside track to become FAA Administrator.
Sigh. Okay, there’s a number of things to point out here. First of all, Lavey shows that he obviously didn’t actually LISTEN to or WATCH the hearing, because he couches his written piece with “as I understand it”… and he gets the basic facts wrong.
Since Lavey’s supposed to be the head of internal communications in the FAA, when he gets something wrong, he’s broadcasting it as the FAA’s official statement to all of its employees. Hence, booting something like this has effects- namely, Lavey’s characterization of now-Secretary LaHood’s testimony is going to be seen by the folks that read it, and they’re going to have the wrong impression.
The way it really went down was this: The Committee starts off its “hearing” with… over an hour and a half of committee members not “hearing” anything, but instead reading pre-written statements about their impressions of the transportation system, their impressions of Mr LaHood, and basically spouting for the cameras.
Finally, after everyone’s had their say, Chairman Rockefeller gets to LaHood and asks him what he (LaHood) would do in terms of the FAA in general, the air traffic control system, FAA funding, the need to get FAA Reauthorization done, and the need to get an FAA Administrator.
And LaHood, without prompting from Rockefeller and without any mention of the labor issue, LaHood declares that his top priority is to get a good FAA Administrator in there… and he says that he needs to get an Administrator in there who can work out the labor issue. He says that he wants someone who’ll get in there and get the dispute off the table, and that it is a top priority.
You can watch this for yourself (even you, Jerry) at this link: http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.LiveStream&Hearing_id=c6392a99-4cb8-4ffe-b977-ffeb7b858068
(It’s at about 92:30 into the hearing.)
The point here is this: Lavey makes it sound as though it was the Senators who brought the issue up, but LaHood mentioned it first. LaHood is the one who made it clear that the first priority of the new Administrator is to get the contract issue worked out, period.
This is a refreshing shift in focus (from a controller’s point of view, anyway!) Lavey, and the leadership of the FAA, have presented the entire contract issue over the past several years as being more or less settled, and that the only ones who’re making a stink about it are the controllers’ union and a few Congressmen and Senators.
Now, though, we’ve got a Secretary of Transportation who declares straight up that the top priority in the ATC system is actually the PEOPLE in that system- and then moves on to discuss the modernization of the ATC system.
(If you listen to the hearing, Rockefeller goes on to grind his axe- he’s all for user fees and moving more costs away from the airlines and onto general aviation.)
My point here is that our FAA employee readership needs to know that Lavey isn’t a reporter. (I’m not, either, really- but at least I can admit it and do a little basic newsgathering from time to time.) You can’t believe anything that he says- even something as seemingly innocuous as discussing Secretary LaHood’s confirmation hearing, he twists some of the basic facts around a bit and it winds up presenting a skewed view of the reality.
It’d be one thing if he did this because he’s got a position he’s trying to present (which he does) but at least actually educated himself on what happened. Thing is, he didn’t.
Instead, his tell-tale phrase of “as I understand it” makes it obvious- he didn’t watch the hearing and doesn’t actually KNOW what was said, who brought it up, and what it means.
In today’s day and age, when any of the Follies’ readers can now click on that link above, forward the video to about 92 minutes in (where LaHood is wrapping up his opening statement) and spend five minutes watching the actual hearing themselves, Lavey’s slack job of reporting is weak.
I urge you- don’t take anyone’s word for it. Click on the link, watch the video, and see the facts for yourself. I hesitate to say that Lavey outright lied; I don’t give him that much credit, to be honest. I think he’s just repeating what he was told by someone else, and either they got it wrong or they’re lying to him.
Thing is, the falsehood winds up spreading throughout the FAA… except, of course, for the Follies readers (who are smarter than the average bear!)
(Kudos, by the way, to whoever wrote the article in the Focus FAA portion of the employees.faa.gov website; they actually watched LaHood’s hearing, apparently, and got the news story correct when they said that LaHood is the one who mentioned labor peace as his top priority. They even got a quote right when they pointed out that LaHood said he wants the system worked by people who “like going to work every day”. Actual and truthful reporting… coooooool.)
January 27th, 2009 at 4:03 am
WooHoo! First post today. Well, unless I take too long back-typing over my mistakes. Hmmm, perhaps the “Gel-Man” should’ve done some of the back typing. “The Moose under the table”, hmm, was that a slam on Palin, or is he calling NATCA a moose? I am tired of this F’nAA administration treating all of people below management as “hamsters”, and “tools”. Now we are “moose”. Lavey and anyone above a good facility manager (Yes, I agree blue eyed, there are a few left, I hope and pray) has LOST IT!!! I heard that the “hamster” writer was fired. I am in contact with the comm dept to do the same with Lavey. He does not get it.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:01 am
The Washington Post says that Robert Herbert is making progress in his bid for FAA Administrator
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012600745.html?wprss=rss_politics%2Ffedpage
That might be interesting. He comes from a background as an Army Colonel, 7,000+ hours in both rotorcraft and fixed wing. But is known more for treating his people decently while serving as a commander.
That’s something we’ve sorely missed.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:20 am
I thought Lavey was gone. What a disappointment!
January 27th, 2009 at 6:41 am
“Instead, his tell-tale phrase of “as I understand it” makes it obvious- he didn’t watch the hearing and doesn’t actually KNOW what was said, who brought it up, and what it means”.
I would add: He doesn’t actually know or CARE what was said. Lavey is still reeling from the election and is in denial.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:47 am
I can’t believe anybody reads Lavey for anything but his fascinating movie reviews and travelama stories with his wife.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Gerald Lavey – the illegitimate lust child of Baghdad Bob and Tokyo Rose
January 27th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Maybe Jerry fell asleep on his couch in his office during the hearing? Could have been depends changing time? Jerry is a prime example of someone that just needs to retire but won’t let go. He does a terrible job at what he does and always has done a terrible job,
I read that article too (Sick I know) and Jerry is a shining example of what is wrong with the FAA. He hears what he wants to hear and thinks everyone but himself is wrong. He is self centered, egotistical and really does not care what other people think. He proclaims everything is fine in the FAA because someone told him so, yet does not care to look into the facts about anything. He is too lazy to.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Jim Tise at FAA Focus does a good job TRYING to get the real stories out there.
There have been several instances in the past where he wanted to run a story about the handling of the Flight Service employees, but he was not allowed to voice his own opinion, or to post comments that were left.
He definitely tries though. He is a friend of the employees, no doubt.
Maybe now with a new Administrator that is not bothered by little things like the truth, he will have a little more freedom to write and post comments that are sent in.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
When the new sheriff rides into HQ, Lavey will start spouting whatever the party line is. As to Lavey’s reporting talents…you get what you pay for. Well, maybe not when you’re paying six figures for the kind of drivel he puts out.
January 28th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Lavey is another management monkeyd*ck blower. Hack, hack, hack. When I become the new administrator I will put Ingrid in charge of all pr and the world will lick our feet.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Why is this clown even needed? What an absolute waste of taxpayer dollars! And I love the inflated titles they come up with for themselves. Sub-deputy dip**** acting moron for corporate communications. What a joke.
January 29th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I retired but still like to read this garbage and GARBAGE IT IS! Nobody LaHood THE HOOD or anybody else will have the FAA go back to where it was WHEN IT WAS a great place to work and great Agency to work for!
Forget it… Secretary LaHood will get the labor issue “off the table”, but he’ll do it by sliding it off the table into the round file!
Give up guys… its OVER!
January 29th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Larry get back to golf or watching Jerry Springer and let those who give a s*&% talk.