FAA Party Raises Eyebrows

Stranded holiday fliers may not believe it, but the Federal Aviation Administration knows how to throw a party. ABC News went undercover at a three-week-long, $5 million conference that critics view as little more than an excuse for managers to throw a Christmas party on the company tab. “Any time you get a bunch of FAA guys together, it is nothing but a party,” said one manager, and another said, “It beats being at work.” One conference attendee asked an undercover reporter if she was a prostitute, adding that if she had been, “I was ready to reach for my wallet.” Tipsy FAA employees were also caught on tape bar-hopping in Atlanta, though the conference was billed as a training session for managers on a new contract for air-traffic controllers. FAA officials claim the conference was necessary for understanding of new regulations, and released a statement saying, “We expect a level of professionalism from our employees at all times, including after work hours. Reports of unruly public behavior are disappointing for the entire FAA.”