Field McConnell: Letter Regarding Illegal Modifications to Boeing Airliners

Field McConnell
9223 50th Avenue South
Glyndon MN 56547

2 April, 2010

To Whom it may concern,

On 11 December, 2006, I reported to ALPA the existence of illegal modifications made to an undeterminable number of Boeing airliners. It was both my duty and obligation to make this report as mandated by Northwest Airlines Flight Operations Manual paragraph 9.1.1., Federal Aviation Regulation 121.533 and my Oaths of Office sworn by me in 3 separate capacities of service to the United States of America. I have not vacated those Oaths.

ALPA and Boeing did not respond appropriately to the reports of illegal modifications even though, unbeknownst to me, Boeing had paid a $615M 'settlement' to United States Department of Justice in June, 2006 related to illegal modifications and illegal export of Boeing airframes.

Civil Case 3:07-cv-24 [ Pro Se ] was filed by me on 27 February, 2007 in the United States District Court, District of North Dakota, in Fargo, North Dakota. Four days later Boeing acted responsibly and made public the existence of the Boeing Uninterruptible Autopilot. One day prior, Northwest Airlines violated the law by taking me off payroll without cause.

I sought the assistance of ALPA and was rebuffed. Though I had been wrongfully terminated and had asked ALPA to perform their contractual obligation, they did not. Specifically, when ALPA twice asked Northwest Airlines Counsel to produce a document critical to the issue, Northwest Airlines did not respond and ALPA did not pursue.

ALPA never upheld their obligation under the Collective Bargaining Agreement as it pertains to the Northwest response and therefore in December, 2007,  I engaged Butler Law Firm of Washington DC. Butler filed Civil Case 1:08-1600 (RMC). As Attorneys James Q. Butler and Tom Myros worked towards trial, Mr. Butler was removed by the Court. To date, Mr. Butler and Mr. Myros have not responded to phone calls or electronic mail.

In December, 2009, I engaged Zampogna, PC, law firm to represent me in Civil Case 1:08-1600 (RMC). Progress was made and on 19 January, 2010 a Status Hearing before Judge Rosemary Collyer was productive. After that hearing, however, my attorney seemed to be under pressure; and I became concerned for his health and his professional future. Therefore, on 24 March, 2010 Mr. Zampogna received via FedEx an Affidavit requesting he withdraw from my case. On 1 April, 2010 I received an invoice from Zampogna PC documenting that my retainer has been totally consumed and that my account is paid in full. Further, it expressed the implied contract between ALPA and myself to meet and resolve my quest for safety and justice. After putting two Pro Se advisors on 'hold' I am willing to consider meeting in 'in camera' with:

1) ALPA Attorney
2) ALPA President or his Safety Committee designee
3) FAA Administrator of his Safety designee
4) Military liasion of Senator Byron Dorgan
5) Ms Charlotte Bryan (or alternate selected by Field McConnell)

I would ask that a print journalism reporter from one of these three papers be allowed to 'observe and record' but not participate orally:

a) Washington Post
b) Fargo Forum
c) DC Examiner

I would ask that an independent journalist such as Joseph Farah or Fred Barnes would be allowed to 'observe and record' but not participate orally.

If my sister Kristine M. Marcy wished to 'observe but not participate' I would welcome that.

If a research colleague Mr. David Hawkins wished to appear electronically or in person I would welcome that.

If it pleased the Court, and Mr. Zampogna were willing to appear pro bono, I would welcome that.

If such a meeting can be arranged at a neutral site such as the US District Courthouse in Fargo, a conference facility at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis or some other venue suitable to myself, I could indicate at that meeting what action must be completed to satisfy my quest for safety and justice. This is time-critical because the illegal modifications that appear to have allowed AA77, UA175, AA11, UA93, Adam Air 574, Kenya Airways 507, Colgan 3407 and Air France 447 to become hull losses are still deployed.

If such remedy is not achieved, I will re-engage my current Attorney of Record to seek a Summary Judgement in my favor for the amount offered to ALPA on 18 June, 2009, plus 6% interest accruing to day of Settlement.

If my attorney is unwilling to be involved further, for whatever reason, I will re-engage my Pro Se advisors and seek a Summary Judgement in my favor for the amount quoted in original filing of Civil Case 1:08-cv-1600 (RMC).

It is my opinion that ALPA pilots, BALPA pilots [ UK ], VCockpit pilots [ Germany ], SNPL pilots [ France ] as well as IFALPA pilots will be watching this process with great interest.

Very Respectfully,

Captain Field McConnell
Plaintiff, Civil Case 1:08-1600 (RMC)
218 329 6190

Attachment: Ms. Charlotte Bryan bio

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Charlotte Bryan Bio

Charlotte Bryan is a nationally recognized expert in aviation security with over 36 years of Federal experience including senior management responsibilities at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Key assignments at agency headquarters and in Brussels included senior responsibilities for aviation security policies and programs and stakeholder relations with U.S. and international airports and air carriers.

Charlotte recently founded Charlotte Bryan Solutions, Inc. to provide expert guidance to premier airports, air carriers, aviation industry associations and major corporations. She specializes in client representation, aviation policy analysis, and regulatory and strategic advice.

Over the last 10 years and especially since 9/11, Charlotte directed and managed the U.S. airport security program for over 429 airports. As the national manager for FAA’s Aviation Security Regulatory Program, she was responsible for monitoring commercial airports operational compliance with Federal Aviation Regulation Part 107 now Part 1542, and directed special emphasis assessment and inspections. One example of such an assessment focused on airport access controls in response to a Department of Transportation Inspector General’s report. The report identified compliance challenges for airports and their employees. Charlotte met with the airport community and highlighted these vulnerabilities. She assisted them in developing corrective actions and put together an assessment team and protocol to monitor compliance. Increased attention and emphasis on access controls improved compliance.

Immediately following September 11th, Charlotte began crisscrossing the country meeting with airport executives, aviation commissioners, state and local representatives, trade organizations, pilot and flight attendant unions, industry leaders, and airport and air carrier association members advising them on the agency’s progress in meeting Congressional mandates and the proposed organizational structure. As the TSA’s first Stakeholder Liaison, her outreach was vital to the aviation community as the country tried to bring air transportation back to normal. Over the next two years, Charlotte addressed security committee meetings, industry conferences, state aviation meetings and FAA regional airports seminars.

Several industry leaders have said that “Charlotte emerged as the trusted honest broker between the aviation industry and the government. She was someone we could always rely upon for an accurate answer and someone who would get back to us—a valuable commodity during a period of constant flux and transition”.

As the TSA’s first General Manager for Commercial Airports, Charlotte managed and facilitated a communication process and strategy with airports and the major airport associations supporting those airports. Her primary responsibilities for policy development and execution were performed while the nation’s alert level was the highest ever imposed on U.S. airports. This alert level and changing threat conditions often required immediate action to implement emergency security measures.

For example, in August 2006 in response to a terrorist threat in the United Kingdom, liquids, gel and aerosols were banned from being carried on airplanes. The restriction was to be implemented within hours after airports received notification of the threat. This was accomplished nationwide because of the agency’s close working relationship with the airport community and because of the trust Charlotte helped build. As a senior executive at TSA, Charlotte served as a key advisor to the Administrator on all threat assessments and the emergency security requirements for airports.

In early 2006, Charlotte was asked to serve as TSA’s Assistant Administrator for Transportation Sector Network Management, a key organization responsible for ten modal security offices including surface, rail and air transportation. In this capacity, she testified before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation Hearing on “Mishandled Baggage: Problems and Solutions”.

Charlotte recently spearheaded the Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) II review which is an overall assessment of the security requirements and countermeasures in place on the air side of airports. She has also been instrumental in managing the newly required security threat assessments for over 850,000 employees with airport badges, the screening of workers and vendors and duty free items and working with TSA’s Law Enforcement Office on cooperative agreements for reimbursement of services by airport law enforcement officers.

Charlotte also has deep experience working with U.S. and international air carriers on their aircraft operator security program in compliance with FAR Parts 1544 and 1546 formerly Parts 108 and 129. She served as the FAA’s Aviation Security Air Carrier Division Manager working with the major airlines and their Principal Security Inspectors and as the Principal Security Inspector in the FAA’s Europe, Africa and Middle East Office in Brussels with over 75 international carriers. There she performed foreign airport and air carrier assessments and worked with the international aviation community on U.S. model security programs and regulations and the International Civil Aviation Organization standards and practices.

Charlotte is a Board Member of the Aero Club of Washington and an Associate Member of the American Association of Airport Executives and the Airports Council International-North America Chapter. She is also a member of Executive Women in Government. Charlotte has received numerous performance awards including a Leadership Award from the American Association of Airport Executives for her long-standing public service and her many significant contributions to the airport industry and the Vice Presidential Hammer Award for Excellence in Government.

Charlotte graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland and completed Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management Executive Program. She later received a Masters in Public Administration from George Washington University.