Todos
← Back to Squawk list
Boeing removed a feature that protects its 787 planes during lightning strikes as a cost-cutting measure, even after FAA experts objected
Boeing removed a feature that protects its 787 planes during lightning strikes as a cost-cutting measure even after technical experts from the Federal Aviation Administration experts objected, according to a new report from The Seattle Times. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will today grill FAA Administrator Steve Dickson about why the FAA's managers ultimately approved the change, which involved removing copper foil from part of the 787 Dreamliner's wings. (www.businessinsider.com) Más...
Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
The first clue being the Administrator of the FAA telling congress he doesn't have the required skills, knowledge, or man-power available in-house?
It's the rush at deregulation. The aim to make government look incompetent. By taking inspections out of the hands ot the regulator (FAA) and making them rely on the self-service of the regulated, the hope is that the people will think that 'government is useless'.
An infamous quote backing this is the idea of 'shrinking government to the point it can be drowned in a bathtub'. Yes, government HAS shrunk, but ironically with all of this shrinkage, the deficit has exploded, and the national deficit is surging over a trillion dollars. Where all that money is going should be a major concern for all tax payers. The government is stopping FDA inspections, the EPA is stopping enforcement actions, and inspections, the FAA has just realized (apparently) that listening to the sweet lies of the industry they were created to regulate is a recipe for disaster. Regulatory inspections save lives. Regulatory inspections save money. Regulatory inspectors SAVE HUMAN LIVES! They also cost corporate money after being caught, but BOO HOO. Capitalism, everything has a price, and nothing has any value.
An infamous quote backing this is the idea of 'shrinking government to the point it can be drowned in a bathtub'. Yes, government HAS shrunk, but ironically with all of this shrinkage, the deficit has exploded, and the national deficit is surging over a trillion dollars. Where all that money is going should be a major concern for all tax payers. The government is stopping FDA inspections, the EPA is stopping enforcement actions, and inspections, the FAA has just realized (apparently) that listening to the sweet lies of the industry they were created to regulate is a recipe for disaster. Regulatory inspections save lives. Regulatory inspections save money. Regulatory inspectors SAVE HUMAN LIVES! They also cost corporate money after being caught, but BOO HOO. Capitalism, everything has a price, and nothing has any value.
I work in the medical device industry and I can assure you that with respect to that industry the FDA is as active as ever.
Good, as it should be. And as it should be in the aviation industry as well. Governments role is to make sure regular people arent getting screwed by corporations with money and power. Government is elected by the people, for the people.
Colchicine was introduced to the US by Benjamin Franklin & has been available ever since.
Enter the FDA Unapproved Drug Initiative of 2006
July 30, 2009:
The FDA granted URL Pharma a marketing exclusivity agreement in exchange for URL Pharma doing new studies and investing $100 million into the product, half of which goes to the FDA for the "application fee".
A few days later:
Renamed Colcrys, won FDA approval in the United States as a stand-alone drug for the treatment of acute flares of gout. The approval was based on a study in which two doses (1.2 mg and 0.6 mg) an hour apart were as effective as higher doses in combating the acute flare of gout.
Cherry pick a few studies, same drug, slightly lower dose, change the name, pay the "application fee" then jack the price up from 9 cents per pill to about $8 overnight. Annual costs for the drug to U.S. state Medicaid programs vary from $1 million to $50 million per year. Costs to Medicare have been similar.
Don't get me started on EPI pens. If this is not getting screwed, I don't know what is.
Enter the FDA Unapproved Drug Initiative of 2006
July 30, 2009:
The FDA granted URL Pharma a marketing exclusivity agreement in exchange for URL Pharma doing new studies and investing $100 million into the product, half of which goes to the FDA for the "application fee".
A few days later:
Renamed Colcrys, won FDA approval in the United States as a stand-alone drug for the treatment of acute flares of gout. The approval was based on a study in which two doses (1.2 mg and 0.6 mg) an hour apart were as effective as higher doses in combating the acute flare of gout.
Cherry pick a few studies, same drug, slightly lower dose, change the name, pay the "application fee" then jack the price up from 9 cents per pill to about $8 overnight. Annual costs for the drug to U.S. state Medicaid programs vary from $1 million to $50 million per year. Costs to Medicare have been similar.
Don't get me started on EPI pens. If this is not getting screwed, I don't know what is.
Im not sure what part the FDA has in regulating prices. But, I think they do in regulating drugs, their manufacture and who sells them. The government has done its part there. Now the government still needs to make sure regular people arent getting screwed over by corporations jacking up prices, or succumbing to lobbyist to keep healthcare away from people to allow pharmaceuticals, insurance companies and other private institutions that peddle healthcare at absurd costs to you.
The governments job should be to protect its citizens, and sure it has in some ways, but in the US the fundamentals still lay in the hands of people and corps that look at profits over humans. Some people want that to change and some people are adamant that it doesnt, screaming socialism/communism at every turn, and we should all know what party those people belong to. Same people who advocate for deregulation of the FAA.
The governments job should be to protect its citizens, and sure it has in some ways, but in the US the fundamentals still lay in the hands of people and corps that look at profits over humans. Some people want that to change and some people are adamant that it doesnt, screaming socialism/communism at every turn, and we should all know what party those people belong to. Same people who advocate for deregulation of the FAA.
I'll tell you what part the alphabet regulation agencies have in regulating prices: They raise the barrier for entry into an industry high enough that companies can jack up prices without fearing competition from equally-competent competitors.
In what industry has that happened? Is it worth considering its maybe not always ideal for companies to enter markets with minimal investments, cutting costs in safety, quality, labour, certification etc.?
And of course the US could join the rest of the civilized world where your mentioned problems arent a concern.
And of course the US could join the rest of the civilized world where your mentioned problems arent a concern.
When Boeing is challenged with a critical safety question, and they give an explanation, all the FAA can reply is, “if you say so...”