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http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9931525/detail.html
DENVER -- The Federal Aviation Administration is scrambling for answers after Colorado's Congressional delegation is questioning how an air traffic control supervisor could be sexually involved with a subordinate controller on the job.
Government leaders want to know how this supervisor still has his job. The real question is what FAA rules and regulations allow a person with this kind of record to continue supervising controllers, they said.
The FAA is now getting rocketed with requests from Congress for information on just how often this is happening and where. In the high-pressure atmosphere of an air traffic control center, lives are on the line and the enemy is distraction.
There are documented instances of Conway having other inappropriate contacts with female employees. His punishment was a 14-day suspension in 2005 but he is still a supervisor.
"Do you think I should be paying for your salary, the taxpayers should be paying for this kind of conduct, from a manager at an air traffic control center?" 7NEWS Investigator John Ferrugia asked Conway.
"Mr. Ferrugia, I think I've made it very clear to you, I have nothing to say to you," Conway replied.
"If an employee feels they can't be comfortable in the workplace, then that's going to affect the safety of the flying public because they can't do their job right," said Mike Fellows, who heads the controllers' union in Longmont.
He said there is double standard for FAA supervisors.
"In 2002, we had a similar case involving a bargaining unit employee and the case was proposed for removal," Fellows said. He said that employee was eventually removed.
"This is serious. This is crazy. We have to worry about personnel problems that's going to affect their attitudes and ability to concentrate on their job," said Sen. Wayne Allard.
After considering the results of 7NEWS' investigation, Allard is asking the FAA questions that extend beyond this one case.
"What kind of lawsuits have been filed? What kind of complaints have been sent to the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission? What kind of internal actions have been taken on these cases that apply to sexual misbehavior?" Allard asked. "So we are trying to really trying to look at this from a systemwide basis."
Conway's case has also grabbed the attention of Rep. Marilyn Musgrave.
"The FAA needs to remove individuals like this from their job. They need to terminate their employment. They need to take very seriously the responsibility they have protecting Americans when they fly. This is just outrageous," Musgrave said.
Musgrave said she has already talked with the deputy administrator of the FAA, who was unaware of the case but who is now investigating.
Allard has given the agency two weeks to respond to specific questions and produce information about sexual harassment and disciplinary action at all the FAA traffic centers. 7NEWS is hoping to hear from other controllers about the issue and will continue to investigate.
Have a question or comment on this story? Or have a news tip or story idea? Call us at 303-832-TIPS or e-mail us.
DENVER -- The Federal Aviation Administration is scrambling for answers after Colorado's Congressional delegation is questioning how an air traffic control supervisor could be sexually involved with a subordinate controller on the job.
Government leaders want to know how this supervisor still has his job. The real question is what FAA rules and regulations allow a person with this kind of record to continue supervising controllers, they said.
The FAA is now getting rocketed with requests from Congress for information on just how often this is happening and where. In the high-pressure atmosphere of an air traffic control center, lives are on the line and the enemy is distraction.
FAA documents show that that supervisor Paul Conway had sexual relations with a female subordinate in his office while planes were in the air. There are documented instances of Conway having other inappropriate contacts with female employees. His punishment was a 14-day suspension in 2005 but he is still a supervisor.
"Do you think I should be paying for your salary, the taxpayers should be paying for this kind of conduct, from a manager at an air traffic control center?" 7NEWS Investigator John Ferrugia asked Conway.
"Mr. Ferrugia, I think I've made it very clear to you, I have nothing to say to you," Conway replied.
"If an employee feels they can't be comfortable in the workplace, then that's going to affect the safety of the flying public because they can't do their job right," said Mike Fellows, who heads the controllers' union in Longmont.
He said there is double standard for FAA supervisors.
"In 2002, we had a similar case involving a bargaining unit employee and the case was proposed for removal," Fellows said. He said that employee was eventually removed.
"This is serious. This is crazy. We have to worry about personnel problems that's going to affect their attitudes and ability to concentrate on their job," said Sen. Wayne Allard.
After considering the results of 7NEWS' investigation, Allard is asking the FAA questions that extend beyond this one case.
"What kind of lawsuits have been filed? What kind of complaints have been sent to the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission? What kind of internal actions have been taken on these cases that apply to sexual misbehavior?" Allard asked. "So we are trying to really trying to look at this from a systemwide basis."
Conway's case has also grabbed the attention of Rep. Marilyn Musgrave.
"The FAA needs to remove individuals like this from their job. They need to terminate their employment. They need to take very seriously the responsibility they have protecting Americans when they fly. This is just outrageous," Musgrave said.
Musgrave said she has already talked with the deputy administrator of the FAA, who was unaware of the case but who is now investigating.
Allard has given the agency two weeks to respond to specific questions and produce information about sexual harassment and disciplinary action at all the FAA traffic centers. 7NEWS is hoping to hear from other controllers about the issue and will continue to investigate.
Have a question or comment on this story? Or have a news tip or story idea? Call us at 303-832-TIPS or e-mail us.
