FOB-10

About the Book

FOB-10, Federal Office Building number 10, takes its title from the world headquarters building for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It’s a story about national level politics and the big-money backers of the aviation industry, and how they influence the decision-making process of the FAA. It’s also about dedicated bureaucrats, caught in the middle trying to do what is right to insure aviation safety while trying to advance their own careers. Two of the main characters are Larry Carpello, the FAA Manager of Aircraft Certification, and Pete Vesper, the Manager of Advance Technologies Branch. Both work in the FAA Washington headquarters. Condor Composite Aircraft Company (CCAC), located in Roswell, New Mexico, has built an all-composite sixty-passenger regional jet that needs FAA certification. Condorium, CCAC’s proprietary composite material used in the airplanes construction, exhibits some very unique properties that make it different from other composite materials. CCAC has refused to reveal the origin of Condorium or any details about how it is formulated or manufactured. Congressman Bob Clayborn, Republican from New Mexico, is pressuring the FAA to certify the aircraft. Pete, an aeronautical engineer/mystery man, and members of his staff have concerns that the Condorium has not been adequately tested for certification. Under political pressure the FAA Administrator, Jean Farbie, urges them to certify the airplane, and to do so quickly. The President has promised the American people greater cooperation between the federal government and the industrial community. He has pressured all the government agencies to work better with their industrial counterparts. Most agencies have been reluctant to get in bed with their contractors and those who tried, have failed. Congressman Clayborn has convinced Jean that working with CCAC is a perfect opportunity for the FAA to form a partnership with an industrial organization. The congressman convinces her that a partnership can speed along the certification process and if successful, will greatly enhance her career opportunities. Jean accepts the challenge, and forms a team made up of Larry, Pete, herself and her pretty administrative assistant, Barbara Stewart, to work with CCAC to get the aircraft certified. Pete and Barbara decide the best way to work with CCAC is to spend time in Roswell at their plant. They are welcomed by CCAC and given lots of special treatment. The FAA team provides very positive influence on CCAC management that results in better communication and greater cooperation within the company. The problems with Condorium are defined and steps to rectify them put in place. Barbara and Pete get caught up in the CCAC corporate culture and begin to identify more with CCAC than they do with the FAA. Pete gets uncomfortable with the level and amount of cooperation he and Barbara get at every turn. Every place they go everyone bends over backwards to accommodate them and cater to their every need. It seems to Pete that the entire company and the town are involved in a conspiracy to seduce them. He starts to get uncomfortable with what he calls too much magic. He tells Barbara everything has been too easy. He starts too wonder how much Frank, the CEO of CCAC, has had to do with making sure their life in Roswell is wonderful. Adding to the intrigue, members of the team receive mysterious e-mail messages from an unknown person who tries to warn them about the Condorium. The thread of e-mail messages runs through the entire story and adds to the mystery. The message sender finally reveals himself towards the end and Pete has two very interesting meeting with him. The second meeting takes an unexpected turn that leaves Pete wondering about CCAC and the lengths they will go to to protect their secret. Pete and Sandy, a female scientist who works for CCAC, become very good friends. On an over night camping trip, that takes

About the Author

Bob Carter, author of FOB-10, retired from a federal career six years ago with 35 years of government service, 28 years of which were with the FAA. He worked as a technician, engineer and was a senior manager at the time of his retirement. He has worked in Asia, Europe, and numerous locations in the USA, including five years in the FAA headquarters in Washington, DC. He has been involved with aviation since he was a teenager hanging around the local airport, and has flown continuously since then. He holds a commercial multi-engine instrument rating, is an instrument flight instructor, and is a certified aircraft and powerplant mechanic with inspection authority. He owns an airplane and is in the process of building a kit helicopter. Bob lives in Newberrytown, PA with his wife Beth, dog Mocha, and two cats Shade and Dilly.