American airlines pilots warn of ‘significant spike’ in safety issues

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An American Airlines pilots union is alerting its members about safety issues onboard the airline’s plane because it continues to watch what it referred to as a “significant spike” in “problematic trends”.

The Allied Pilots Union (APA) stated it had obtained reviews of growing numbers of collisions between plane being tugged or towed, instruments left in wheel wells and the elimination of in a single day upkeep checks in addition to different issues.

The memo was printed on the union’s web site on 13 April.

In an announcement, American Airlines stated, “Safety at any airline is a shared mission and it’s especially true at American. Our robust safety program is guided by our industry-leading safety management system.

“It includes a multitude of collaborative programs — and regular touchpoints — with the FAA and all our unions, including APA, to further bolster our strong safety record and enhance our ever-evolving safety culture”.

The union urged its members to maintain their give attention to safety as an alternative of hurrying to get the job achieved.

“Don’t be pressured into doing something that doesn’t pass the ‘smell test’”, the union’s memo continued. “Just because it’s legal doesn’t make it safe”.

In a separate assertion, APA President Ed Sicher stated that he’d met with the airline’s senior administration to debate the “operational hazards” the group had recognized.

“APA is squarely focused on finding solutions — which will require collaboration between the union and management — and management’s initial response to our concerns was encouraging”, the assertion stated.

The union has 15,000 members and is the licensed bargaining agent for the airline’s pilots.

The group stated that whereas United Airlines has been in the highlight for issues concerning its safety requirements, United Airlines might simply be subsequent.

Last month, United skilled eight safety issues in a two-week timeframe, together with an engine hearth ignited by plastic packaging and a tyre falling from a airplane after takeoff.

The airline business has been affected by safety woes after a door plug was ejected from a Boeing 737 Max 9 throughout an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

The National Transportation Board launched an investigation into the incident and the Federal Aviation Administration has tightened up safety measures, significantly regarding Boeing planes.