Public disclosure is our job

Yesterday in an interview, I told Lois Romano of The Washington Post that people will soon be reading that the Department of Transportation will not keep secret the data we collect on birds striking airplanes.

You may have heard previous reports that the Federal Aviation Administration had planned to withhold public release of airplane-bird collision information. Well, that just isn't consistent with the direction President Obama wants to take this Administration. It doesn't fit our policies thus far, and it doesn't fit the way we see our mission.

When I was in Congress, I sat on the House Intelligence Committee for 8 years. When I saw that the Administration had released the memos on torture, I thought, never in my life did I dream this sort of information would be released. But, if CIA information like that can see the light of day, there is a new paradigm, and making bird-strike reports available should certainly be a part of that new paradigm.

There's nothing amiss about the FAA wanting to keep this information under wraps. Reporting bird-strikes is a voluntary activity on the part of pilots and airlines; the FAA simply reasoned that knowing the data would be made public might lead to reduced reporting of incidents.

In the end, however, the Department of Transportation is, among other things, a safety agency. Public disclosure is our job. The sea change in government transparency is beginning, and we are happy to be a part of it.

Comments

[Dawn]

Was the plane in the Hudson the first time a plane was disabled by birds?

I don't really think anyone sees birds as a "security risk" - maybe a safety risk, but not security.

What is currently done around airports to drive birds away from planes taking off and landing?

[Thomas Sullivan]

This is a refreshing change from the previous DOT Administration and previous policy.

Hiding the facts and obscuring information helps no one. There is something very "amiss" in hiding the truth about very real dangers (whether they be bird strikes, near misses etc).

In any case I salute and thank you for your honesty and courage in to publicly disclose this important information.

[Max Flight]

I strongly believe the logic leading to the release of this data is correct, important, and refreshing. I am particularly pleased to see the perspectives of the new Administration flow down to agencies like the DOT. Well done. This is Government the way I like it!

[MicheleH]

Thank you, Mr. LaHood for
releasing the data. Thank you
also for your open attitude
and realizing that, yes, indeed,
there is a new paradigm in town.

[David Works]

Glad to see this information will be released. I like Obama's policy of keeping the public in the loop. I guess with all the safety issues with flying, birds is now another.

[SEO]

Hiding the facts and obscuring information helps no one. There is something very "amiss" in hiding the truth about very real dangers (whether they be bird strikes, near misses etc).

thanks

[Company Formation]

This is certainly a refreshing change from the previous policies that mainly focussed on keeping the public in the dark, which ofcourse ultimately led to their down fall. If a stone is thrown at you, you are supposed to dodge that not close your eyes and pretend it never happened. I also hope that laws related to Company Formation also change.

[Ralph Jones]

It was a pleasure reading the blog and I agree wtih David on the notion that hiding the facts is unhealthy as the previous government suffered the consequences. It is great to know that a major change has been implemented this time.

[Trading Whiz]

The Obama administration's first order of business was "more transparency" but is it really happening or was it just a bold promise. I am all for being open but isn't it just a pie in the sky ideal?

[Irene]

Hiding the facts has served governments since forever - I think that if we were to know the real truth we will lose faith in the human race. there will always be people covering things up - regardless of policies