Al Schard
Member
The Allied Pilots Association (APA), representing pilots at American Airlines, has reported a notable increase in safety and maintenance concerns within the airline's operations. The union highlighted several issues, including misplaced tools in aircraft wheel wells, frequent collisions between towed aircraft, and objects left in safety zones near jet bridges. Additionally, the APA pointed to pressures on crews to expedite aircraft returns to service to maintain schedule integrity, despite shortages of spare parts.
According to the APA, a recent incident exemplified these concerns when a hammer was discovered in the wheel well of an Airbus A319 at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on March 25, just before its scheduled flight 1654 to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The first officer found the tool during a routine pre-flight inspection and alerted the captain, who then called for a maintenance review. The subsequent inspection also revealed a pair of Channellock-style pliers and a screwdriver in the same wheel well, with no corresponding maintenance tasks open at the time.
APA President Capt. Ed Sicher communicated to union members that the union leadership had engaged with American Airlines' senior management earlier in the month to address these safety hazards. Sicher noted that the discussions had resulted in management agreeing to involve the union more closely in the Safety Risk Assessment (SRA) process and to ensure APA's participation throughout the quality assurance stages. He described the initial response from airline management as "encouraging."
For its part, American Airlines, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, reaffirmed its commitment to safety, emphasizing it as a collaborative effort involving the airline, its employees, regulators, and unions. The airline underscored the importance of its safety management system, which it described as "industry-leading."
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), while not commenting specifically on the APA's claims, highlighted the mandatory Safety Management Systems (SMS) for U.S. airlines. This regulatory framework is designed to help airlines proactively identify, monitor, and mitigate potential hazards before they escalate into significant safety issues.
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According to the APA, a recent incident exemplified these concerns when a hammer was discovered in the wheel well of an Airbus A319 at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on March 25, just before its scheduled flight 1654 to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The first officer found the tool during a routine pre-flight inspection and alerted the captain, who then called for a maintenance review. The subsequent inspection also revealed a pair of Channellock-style pliers and a screwdriver in the same wheel well, with no corresponding maintenance tasks open at the time.
APA President Capt. Ed Sicher communicated to union members that the union leadership had engaged with American Airlines' senior management earlier in the month to address these safety hazards. Sicher noted that the discussions had resulted in management agreeing to involve the union more closely in the Safety Risk Assessment (SRA) process and to ensure APA's participation throughout the quality assurance stages. He described the initial response from airline management as "encouraging."
For its part, American Airlines, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, reaffirmed its commitment to safety, emphasizing it as a collaborative effort involving the airline, its employees, regulators, and unions. The airline underscored the importance of its safety management system, which it described as "industry-leading."
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), while not commenting specifically on the APA's claims, highlighted the mandatory Safety Management Systems (SMS) for U.S. airlines. This regulatory framework is designed to help airlines proactively identify, monitor, and mitigate potential hazards before they escalate into significant safety issues.
American Airlines pilots union warns of "significant spike" in safety-related issues
The union for American Airlines pilots says it's been seeing "a significant spike in safety- and maintenance-related problems in our operation."
www.cbsnews.com