FAA brings back some workers as shutdown drags on

[October 08, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal Aviation Administration officials say 800 furloughed employees, including some safety inspectors, are being asked to return to work this week despite no end in sight to the partial government shutdown.

The recalled workers include about 600 inspectors and other safety employees in the agency's Flight Standards office. The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union says that's less than a quarter of all furloughed Flight Standards inspectors. The inspectors check to see whether airlines are maintaining their planes according to FAA rules, among other duties.

Also being recalled are 200 engineers, inspectors and safety staff who approve new plane designs and equipment and register new planes. Manufacturers of small planes and business jets say the shutdown threatens to halt $1.38 billion in near-term deliveries of new planes.

[Associated Press; By JOAN LOWY]

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