FAA official gets free flight training from Southwest

More good news from the cozy couple that is Southwest Airlines and the FAA. Allegedly the manager at the federal office who oversees Southwest's regulatory compliance received $15,000 worth of free flight training from the airline according to USA Today. Bobby Hedlund, who was promoted last year to head up the Southwest office, received months of training gaining him the equivalent of a type rating in the Boeing 737 all on Southwest's dime. The training is under investigation by the FAA according to spokeswoman Diane Spitalieri, but it has already been called an "an arrangement that violates rules of conduct." This, of course, is all on the heels of an already embarrassing inappropriate relationship between the FAA and Southwest that was outed by FAA whistleblowers in March.

Often FAA inspectors receiving flight training to fulfill their inspection duties and to stay on top of changing technologies, but this training is supposed to be done at the taxpayer's expense, not airlines'. Robert Naccache, a former FAA inspector from the Southwest office called it "the most flagrant conflict of interest that I have ever witnessed in my 20-year career in the federal government." At least Hedlund should have a good career in 737 flying if the FAA decides to let him go.

Home to PointNiner