Pilot Fatigue Flagged
Pilot and flight attendant unions warn that the biggest airline safety risk is fatigue caused by personnel shortages and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 epidemic. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association sent an open letter to executives asking them to fix scheduling problems that compound the health impacts of the return to “normal” operations. “Fatigue, both acute and cumulative, has become Southwest Airlines’ number-one safety threat,” SWAPA told the executives. American Airlines pilots posted YouTube videos outlining scheduling concerns and pilots leaving Alaska Airlines led to system-wide cancellations and delays. The airlines said they are complying with regulations and doing the best they can to maintain service.
