Transportation Chief Raps FAA

In an unusual criticism, Transportation Secretary James H. Burnley told Congress today that his own department’s Federal Aviation Administration has failed to quickly and aggressively promote aviation safety.

Appearing before a Senate aviation subcommittee, Burnley said it takes the FAA, whose job is to keep the skies safe and run the air traffic control system, more than a year and a half to push through safety regulations. Burnley said the agency needs to undergo structural changes to keep up with the growing demands of the aviation system.