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A union that represents American Airlines pilots He is reportedly raising concerns about the new cockpit procedures, claiming that the pilots have not received enough time or training.
In a January 2 statement, the Allied Pilots Association said American Airlines Flight Operations management was trying to circumvent robust safety-related pilot training by unilaterally imposing operational changes via a handout.
According to USA Today, APA spokesman Capt. Dennis Tajer said they had also received updates to the operations manual and a short video overview of the changes he said. It was not specific to the plane that American pilots fly..
“While the APA is not opposed to fleet harmonization, we are steadfast in our commitment that pilots must be properly trained BEFORE operating with passengers. This training must be developed in a stakeholder culture of safety that recognizes and address the concerns raised by the APA. To date, that has not happened,” the union said. “This attempt to train by bulletin, while ignoring serious security issues and well-established best practices, risks drastically eroding safety margins.”
AIRLINES ARE EXPECTED TO OFFER FLIGHT DEALS, BUT THEY WILL BE SHORT DURATION
American Airlines planes sit on the runway at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia on December 23, 2022. ((Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) / Getty Images)
“Simply put, management’s actions are reckless and unsafe,” he said, also noting that the operational changes would alter the way pilots communicate, coordinate and execute flight safety tasks at some of the “moments of flight of greater threat”.
| Heart | Security | Latest | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAL | AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC. | 14.18 | +0.19 | +1.36% |
The statement accused the airline of “putting profit before people,” including passengers, and said it appealed to a Chief Inspector of Operations for the Federal Aviation Administration “Without results or relief of this term.”
They urged pilots to thoroughly review manual and operational changes and discuss any concerns before executing safety tasks.
American Airlines planes parked at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday in New York, USA. 23, 2022. (Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
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“Our commitment to safety is unwavering, which is why we regularly update our aircraft operating manuals to ensure they represent the latest and safest information for our pilots. These changes represent industry best practices and ensure better coordination and crew consistency across fleet types so our pilots can easily transition across different aircraft if they choose,” American Airlines said in a statement to FOX Business.
“These updates have been underway since 2021 and have been a coordinated effort with the APA Training Committee. Also, the approach to familiarize our pilots has been approved by the FAA,” he added.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 10: An American Airlines plane moves along the runway at Laguardia Airport on November 10, 2022, in the New York City borough of Queens. ((Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) / Getty Images)
However, Tajer claimed that there had been no association with the APA on these particular changes, and that the union had asked for a delay in their implementation, which American Airlines refused.
The pilot said an FAA request for intervention was also denied.
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“The FAA requires Airlines must have robust security management systems. that allow employees to report safety issues,” the FAA told Fox Business in an email. “The agency reviews employee reports daily to ensure the safety of an airline’s operations.”
In a January management letter Tajer shared with USA Today, pilots were informed that: “During this learning period, the changes are small enough that mixing the new with our current calls and procedures doesn’t mean an undue risk.”
“In the flight deck, mixing procedures that are no longer valid with others that are is unwise,” Tajer said.
