US flight warning – Air travel becoming UNSAFE, expert claims because of huge shortage of pilots | The Sun

AN AMERICAN pilot has warned that a nationwide staff shortage is making flights unsafe for passengers.

Dennis Tajer, from the Texas-based pilots union Allied Pilots Association, has said there is currently an "inhumane" level of pressure on pilots, something he thinks is a concern for travellers in the US.

Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Mr Tajer said passengers should be worried about their safety because of the effect that the shortage is having on pilots.

He said: “They need to be concerned because I’m on TV as a representative for our union saying, ‘There’s a problem here’.

“I don’t fly the airplane unless I’m fit to fly and the airplane’s ready to go. But the fact that you’re pushing us and pushing us… This is not a safety culture."

The pilot shortage has contributed to thousands of flights being cancelled or delayed, with airlines struggling to meet demands.

Read More on Travel Chaos

Ryanair strike this week – find out if your flight will be affected

All the key Ryanair routes affected by strikes TODAY – is yours on the list?

As of 5pm Thursday, over 3,800 flights were delayed within, into, or out of the US, according to FlightAware.

An additional 776 flights were cancelled across the nation.

Over the Juneteenth holiday weekend, at least 14,000 domestic flights were canceled or delayed nationwide, with more than 900 flights grounded on Sunday alone.

Delta was among the airlines with the most cancellations, with at least 200 flights halted.

Most read in News Travel

STRIKE OUT

All the key Ryanair routes affected by strikes TODAY – is yours on the list?

SUMMER RUINED

More travel chaos with huge queues outside airports – before BA hell hits

AIR WE GO AGAIN!

Brits WILL face summer holiday chaos as BA vote to strike at Heathrow

HOLY SHIP

Incredible £180m luxury cruise ship pulls into British waters for first time

Mr Tajer has urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to get involved, saying the pilots cannot fulfil the schedules they are being given by their airlines.

He said: "When an airline is under financial duress, they [FAA] put them under special monitoring status.

"They ought to come in and look at them trying to fly more airplanes than they can actually fly, and build schedules to an inhumane level.

"We're ultimately letting down our passengers and squandering our investors’ money.

"It’s got to stop."

The pilot shortage has come because of job cuts and buyouts during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as thousands of retirements.

As well as that, an increase in passenger numbers is making things worse.

Foot traffic at airlines has risen to pre-pandemic days as US airports have seen an average of 2.2million passengers a day since the start of June.

Overall, about three percent of scheduled flights have been cancelled this month, up one percent from last year – and the total number of cancelations rose 16 percent to 13,581 flights from one year ago, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Meanwhile, more than 1,300 Southwest airlines pilots picketed on Tuesday in Dallas, Texas to protest pilot fatigue, stress and stalled contract negotiations.

The FAA has said that they have strict regulations to keep pilots safe and that they increase their monitoring during times of tension, such as this.

A spokesperson told Newsweek: “We have strict duty and rest rules for pilots.

Read More on The Sun

Coronation Street fans stunned by age gap between Audrey and Gail actresses

I’m plus size and have found three outfits that won’t cling to your stomach

"When tensions increase between management and labor, the FAA increases its oversight.”

The situation in America is set to continue, with one pilot warning their current problems are just the tip of the iceberg.

    Source: Read Full Article

    Previous post Armed police stop teenage boy carrying a TOY gun
    Next post We've seen UFOs for 75 years – pilots have died chasing them, we are powerless to stop them & need answers, says author | The Sun