Expensive equipment at Atlanta Airport lies idle
The interim general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport says she will investigate allegations that $2 million worth of equipment is not being used, which could save the city millions of dollars. The allegation comes from an airport maintenance worker who told Atlanta City Council members he used to operate the specialized equipment and wanted to do so again, but his airport supervisor refused to let him.
ATLANTA – The interim general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport said she will investigate allegations that two pieces of multimillion-dollar equipment are not being used and could save the city millions of dollars.
The accusation came from a maintenance worker at the airport. He said he had previously operated the special equipment and wanted to do so again, but his superiors had refused to allow him to do so.
Aviation employee Michael Jones said he was placed on leave because he reported irregularities he noticed back in June.
“We still don’t know where the money is. We asked you at this meeting to launch an investigation because there is no oversight in the Aviation Department,” Jones said.
The 45-year-old said he was placed on leave after criticizing his superiors at the airport.
Jones said he operated a $2 million device called the “Stripe Hog” from 2012 to 2018, similar to the one shown on Hog Technologies’ YouTube channel.
It removes paint and rubber from runways and taxiways without causing damage. But Jones lost his job.
He said he had lost everything he owned and worked for.
“In 2023, with the help of my attorney James Raiford, I will get my job back,” Jones said at the Transportation Committee meeting.
Although he is back, he described the department as a cesspool and claimed that several of his colleagues were mistreated. He told members of the city council’s transportation committee that airport employees do not have the necessary equipment, such as walkie-talkies or proper uniforms, and live in constant fear of being fired.
“I told them, ‘If we come together, they can’t fire us all at once,'” Jones said.
Runway of Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
During a public hearing on Wednesday, Jones offered to save the city millions by returning to his old job operating the Stripe Hog.
“These machines cost about $2 million a piece. One of them is currently in the aerospace industry and might as well be a paperweight because it doesn’t run. The other one runs sometimes,” the maintenance worker explained.
Jones said the contractor who now has the job is charging the city $7 million a year.
Council members called on the airport to investigate the allegations.
“I don’t want anyone to think we have millions of dollars and equipment lying around that isn’t being used,” said Councilwoman Marci Collier Overstreet.
“I will look into the matter, I will inform myself and obtain the facts,” vowed the airport’s acting director general, Jan Lennon.
FOX 5 Atlanta has reached out to airport authorities for comment on these allegations and we are still awaiting a response.
