American Airlines Pilots Report 'Significant Rise' in Safety Issues: 'A Series of Mistakes'

US News

by Isabel Kane

The Airline Pilots Association of America reported a “significant uptick” in safety issues, raising red flags about fewer routine aircraft inspections and shorter test flights on planes after major maintenance.

The Allied Pilots Association cited a slew of “problematic trends” in an email to members on Saturday, noting a “significant rise in safety and maintenance issues.”

It highlighted incidents in which tools were left in wheel wells and items were left in the sterile area around aircraft parked at airport gates.

The airline noted that the airline has increased the time between routine inspections and ended nighttime maintenance checks unless the aircraft is written up for special attention.

It also said that American is now conducting “abbreviated” test flights on aircraft returning after major maintenance or long-term storage.

“We all recognize that aviation accidents are the result of a series of events – often a series of errors – and detecting just one of these errors can prevent a tragedy,” the union said in the email.

Concerns were raised with the company – “and management's initial response to our request was encouraging,” union spokesman Dennis Tajer, a pilot, said.

He added: “We fully intend to do everything we can to ensure America maintains strong margins of safety.”

In a statement to Bloomberg, American noted that it has a “robust safety program” that includes cooperative programs with the Federal Aviation Administration and all of its unions to ensure the safety of travelers.

The outlet also reported on union complaints of equipment being left in sterile areas as planes are towed to gates and incorrect paperwork being filed when damaged planes are moved to another location.

The APA also warned members to be aware of the dangers “while working on ramps and taxiways at crowded airports staffed by controllers and inexperienced ground personnel.”

The Federal Aviation Administration recently lifted its oversight of United Airlines as part of a broad safety review after a series of recent safety incidents.

With mail wires