Holiday week travel snare plus pilots warn that “safety is becoming untenable.”
47 thoughts on “Scores Of Hawaiian Air Flights Canceled + Southwest Pilots Safety Warning”
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Holiday week travel snare plus pilots warn that “safety is becoming untenable.”
Comments are closed.
Why is this now an issue?Has pilots work load increased from what it was pre covid?Are pilots suffering some kind of new ailment?Nothing in this article explains why now fatigue is an issue.
Pilot unions have a history of screaming the sky is falling and is about to impact every time there are contract negotiations. Southwest used to be better than the others but Herb isn’t around anymore.
The unions will cause delay and cause aircraft to be taken out of service unnecessarily. They will do anything but cause a crash. Luckily they have always drawn the line there.
Airline workers here and we are victims as well. Do not act like the customer is the only ones impacted. We are over worked and we do not have the man powered to work every flight. So before you get pissed, remember you are not the only people impacted. Maybe stop flying for awhile!
If people stop flying there will be no airline jobs to go to.
We Did stop flying. For about 18 months. Now people are anxious to catch up. I’m 73. Who knows how many more times I can visit my ohana?
Southwest needs more pilots
First I applaud the SWA staff for all that they do. Safety is always always first. So rather the fatigue reports are false or not. It should be honored and never taken lightly due to the fact too many lives depends on it. Special thank you to the pilots for not taking the risk when you not up to it.
I was a victim of Hawaiian Airlines suddenly canceling on tons of innocent people left stranded at the airport – there is NO aloha spirit with this airlines – I will never forget how they contributed to Aloha Airlines demise – I will do my utmost to fly United, American, or Delta instead of this careless airlines
A couple of days ago my OGG-HNL flight was delayed and Hawaiian accommodated me by providing me a seat on an earlier flight.
Thanks for the important “Heads up” guys!
Hi Kathy.
Thanks. Long time no see.
Aloha.
When will they start longboat service from LA ?
Never, thanks to
the Jones Act
cardiac work up
It’s alway money over human lives.
Wow! These guys at Southwest are becoming just as bad as the prima donnas in the NFL!
As an aviation professional, I assure that pilot fatigue is NOT a “prima Donna” issue and a very real threat to safety.
Note to Rob and Jeff:
There is a way to “stuff the votes” like the above comment. I will share it with you offline if you send me an email to reply to.
MJ
Hi MJ.
Please feel free to leave a private message in a comment. We won’t publish it but will definitely see it. Thanks.
Aloha.
Pilots complaining about fatigue? Really? Considering the amount of automation that modern aircraft have these days all they do is sit there. The work group that could complain about fatigue are the mechanics. They often work very long hours, in varying weather conditions to ensure all aircraft are ready for safe flight. Meanwhile after reaching certain hours, pilots “time out” and go home.
Really? So going on a tangent mentioning mechanics minimizes any concern about pilot fatigue?
You must own a self driving car?
Until planes are flying themselves with no pilots on board, I think pilot fatigue is a valid concern. Mechanics being fatigued and pilots being fatigued can both be possible without and there is no need to discount one or the other.
Maybe on 12 hours flight that’s a concern. But if pilots can’t handle 6-hour flights they need to trade their pilot’s license in for something a little easier. Maybe 3 days in a foxhole without a shower.
These are not just a 6 hr flight. You have to look at all the hrs before the flight and the pressure they have been under from the company trying coverer trips. This is a concern that all should be aware of. This is an accident waiting to happen. I applaud their honesty. We are all worn out! Fatigue is real and unless you have experienced it you will make fun of it . Shame on you. Mechanics as well are a very important part of the stability of your aircraft you fly on. Mistakes are made under fatigue and between mechanics and pilots and flight attendants fatigue and being forced to work could result in a Crash! They are trying to prevent it!
I travel for business all over the world.I recently took Southwest from Phoenix to Kona. I am shocked by the negative comments and name calling ! The chain of employees, everyone of them , are underpaid and overworked taking care of ungrateful,spoiled people who don’t give a damn about employees. Delays,mechanical issues,burnout are a fact of life.how about a smile, a thank you instead of throwing rocks at these hard working people ?
M.T.
I didn’t mean to disparage the pilots, mechanics or anyone else. I just don’t think pilots are under much greater stress/fatigue than so many others.
I looked it up and there are legal limits:
§ 121.481 Flight time limitations: One or two pilot crews.
(a) ..may schedule a pilot to fly in an airplane that has a crew of one or two pilots for eight hours or less during any 24 consecutive hours without a rest period during these eight hours.
(d) No pilot may fly more than 32 hours during any seven consecutive days, and each pilot must be relieved from all duty for at least 24 consecutive hours…
(e) max 100 hours/month
(f) No pilot may fly > 1,000 hrs per year (83 ave/month).
Out of space 4 more & complete quotes.
Mike G,
Fatigue will disappear when additional $$$$ appear.
I agree with you, Rod. It’s a dangerous, untenable situation to work pilots these tough schedules but increase their pay and the danger “magically” goes away! Threatening safety is an old scare tactic used by the industry. Granted, legitimate issues need addressing, but pilot limits are already in place. Makes no sense.
I’m sure you know pilots do much more than sit there. Even if it is true that mechanics work very long hours as you say, that doesn’t negate the pilots concerns. Two things can be true,and I bet mechanics complain plenty.
Really? How about the plane that over flew Hilo. Or the NWA flight that over flew MSP by 300 miles? Fatigue is real!
If pilots are exceeding their legal limit, either they or their supervisor needs firing. If they can’t handle their legal limit, they need another job. Airlines are not allowed to book flights that exceed their pilot count and flight hours maximum. Do you have something to report?
Pilots are unionized so it’s not as easy as you would think it is….we have a different set of rules
Typical Pilot day
5AM-wake up
545-drive to airport, park, take shuttle to terminal
630-arrive terminal, go through security
7AM-Arrive gate. Paperwork, briefing, preflight
8AM-Flight departs. Inflight the pilot is “just sitting there” responsible for a few hundred lives. One wrong flick of the wrist and everyone is dead.
5PM-Flight arrives west coast (3 hour time change)
6PM-Outside terminal for shuttle to hotel
630-Arrive hotel, shower, change clothes, eat
930-bed but your body clock is at 630 so you don’t sleep
11PM-fall asleep
Get up in 6 hours and do it again.
15 hour day. Just sitting there? Maybe think about that when your on that flight the next morning. Nice if the person in control of your life had 2 more hrs of sleep.
Try working for the railroad and never ever know what time you’re supposed to go to sleep, and never know when you’re going to be called to go to work.
What flight attendants don’t matter they re
The ones working on their feet during flights and dealing with prima donna passengers
This is not an “either/or” situation. Sure, the mechanics suffer from fatigue and that’s a safety concern. But we can agree that mechanics AND pilots are challenged in this area. Your comment is very narrow-minded