USAPA Voices Fuel-Related Safety Concern to FAA

2008-07-25 06:33:01 -

- Concerns over the adequacy of fueling practices at US Airways were raised last week on national news by allegations from the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) which said that the airline was pressuring pilots to carry less fuel. USAPA said that the issue emerged when US Airways singled-out eight Senior Trans-Oceanic International Captains for mandatory "training," based on the Captains using their judgment to add additional fuel. USAPA considers this to be retaliatory discipline.

USAPA stated that the affected pilots were targeted as a result of previous decisions to add fuel, and were called-in on their days off and subjected to hours of simulator work and classroom lectures; neither of which are part of any FAA approved US Airways Pilot Training Program. USAPA believes that the message being communicated to the US Airways pilots is that, if they request additional fuel, they will be subject to retaliatory discipline.

USAPA President, Steve Bradford, said, "US Airways Pilots are seasoned professionals who are well aware of the fact that carrying fuel adds weight to the aircraft. But they also know that the FAA minimum fuel reserves are just that, a bare minimum, and akin to driving your car with the low fuel light flashing; few drivers would be comfortable with that situation." The US Airways Pilots believe that it is important for the public to realize that using just one gallon of the FAA minimum reserve fuel may cause a Pilot to declare a "Fuel Emergency." Air traffic delays, bad weather and unforeseen events are just some of the reasons why the FAA grants Captains the authority to decide how much fuel is carried on their aircraft.

"It smacks of intimidation and harassment; a pilot training department should never be used as a tool for pilot discipline," said President Bradford. "If Management were really interested in fuel conservation, they would adopt the training for all pilots, not just a few. In our view, our pilots are being pressured into loading less fuel in order to avoid what we consider to be retaliatory discipline. We consider Management's attempt to influence pilots' safety-related decisions based on cost-considerations as setting a dangerous precedent for the airline industry."

In a letter to the FAA dated July 16, 2008, USAPA requested a full investigation stating that they consider Management's actions a "dangerous intrusion on Captain's Authority which has the effect of eroding flight safety standards."

USAPA represents over 5,000 US Airways pilots in seven domiciles across the United States.

US Airline Pilots Association
James Ray, 980-875-7642