For Release: Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

COSTELLO BLASTS GRIFFIN ON NASA AVIATION SAFETY SURVEY, IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED TO GET INFORMATION TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

Washington - U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL), a senior member of the House Science Committee and the Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, blasted NASA Administrator Michael Griffin today about the agency’s slow response to getting information regarding an aviation safety survey to the American people. NASA caused an uproar last week when it announced that it would not provide the data from the study, which canvassed 28,000 pilots earlier this decade, to an AP reporter because it might adversely affect the commercial aviation industry.

Costello asked Administrator Griffin whether he had directed the Batelle Corporation, the contractor responsible for the survey, to work as quickly as possible to have the data ready for public release. Administrator Griffin said he has asked the information to be ready by the end of the year. Costello told the Administrator he should order Batelle to work around the clock, 24/7, to get the information released.

“The fact here is that NASA has created a situation by its misstatements that has alarmed and concerned the American people, particularly air travelers,” said Costello. “It is the Administrator’s responsibility to take every immediate action to clear up the confusion that NASA has created and get all of this information out for public review. The longer we wait, the worse this situation becomes. The taxpayers have paid over $11 million to create this database, and it needs to be released so we can learn from it.”

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