After my purgatory in West Chicago and three mostly great years in the Indianapolis FSDO, the FAA offered a transfer to Cincinnati. It was a bittersweet decision, and my boss, Jay Peterson, rather obliquely suggested I might want to stay put. He understood I was anxious to get back home, but he also knew the Cincinnati manager’s reputation for being a hard ass. Jay was a good man and an excellent supervisor, and he was genuinely concerned about me and “Capt. Queeg.”
Unusual Attitudes: An FAA Inspector’s Winding Career Path
Key Takeaways:
- The author transferred to Cincinnati for an Accident Prevention Specialist (APS) role, a position often viewed as a career dead-end for problem employees, but she passionately dedicated herself to the work.
- Despite actively and successfully running safety programs and numerous seminars, she faced constant antagonism, micromanagement, and reprimands from her difficult boss.
- The article highlights the author's practical, pilot-focused approach to safety, which frequently clashed with bureaucratic mandates and internal FAA politics, ultimately leading to her retirement when the program was overhauled.
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