FAA names Grizzle ATO COO on permanent basis

US FAA said Thursday that David Grizzle, the agency's chief counsel who had been serving as acting Air Traffic Organization COO, will take over the top ATO post on a permanent basis. Grizzle became acting ATO COO suddenly in April when the controversy over sleeping controller incidents forced Hank Krakowski to resign as head of the FAA unit overseeing the US's ATC system (ATW Daily News, April 15).

Grizzle worked for Continental Airlines for 25 years before becoming FAA chief counsel in 2009. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement that Grizzle is "committed to transparency, accountability and to building a safety culture that encourages collaboration."

FAA this week announced the signing of an MOU with the National Air Traffic Controllers Assn. union regarding management of controller fatigue (ATW Daily News, July 6).