Praise and Caution

Air Safety Week,  Oct 3, 2005  

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Capt. Duane Woerth, president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), said this after the safe landing of the JetBlue aircraft :

"The millions of Americans who watched the suspenseful landing of JetBlue Flight 292 in Los Angeles saw, in living color, a real-life example of what it means to be an airline pilot. The flawless landing and safe outcome that had viewers on the edge of their seats did not happen by chance. It was the result of thousands of hours of training, experience, and preparation by the crew.

"ALPA congratulates the JetBlue pilots and flight attendants for their outstanding performance. ...

"Unfortunately, the high standards of our profession are under attack. Fiscal pressures from our industry's economic crisis have resulted in enormous losses in pilot compensation and jobs. ...

"The exemplary safety record of U.S. airlines was built on the practice of allowing only the most competent and accomplished professionals in the cockpit. By mindlessly pursuing a 'race to the bottom' to slash labor costs, airlines are driving away the best and brightest of our profession. For now, the levee is holding, but we cannot forever withstand these assaults ...

"Airline management must learn the meaning of the adages 'penny wise and pound foolish' and 'be careful what you wish for.' Government must recognize that it has a role and an obligation to assist, rather than exploit, this vital cornerstone of our economic infrastructure. We can fix a flawed aircraft part or procedure after an accident, but we cannot afford this traditional 'tombstone' approach to safety when it comes to the quality of our cockpit crews."

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