Pilots Under Pressure To Conserve Fuel
By Wyatt Earp | July 17, 2008
So, because of high gas prices and Al Gore’s global warming nonsense, planes may start dropping from the sky? Awesome!
Or better yet, maybe the airliners will have to fly so low that we’ll be able to make out the passenger’s faces as they fly overhead. It’s fun for the whole family!
NEW YORK (CNN) — U.S. Airways is pressuring pilots to use less fuel, undermining their authority and possibly compromising safety, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Airline Pilots Association.
Eight pilots and their union have filed complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration, accusing the airline of infringing on their authority and making them fly with less fuel than they feel is safe, said James Ray, a spokesman for the U.S. Airline Pilots Association.
The pilot in command of each flight determines the amount of fuel carried. FAA regulations state that each flight is required to carry enough fuel to reach its destination plus an extra 45 minutes’ worth.
The eight senior captains say U.S. Airways singled them out for carrying 10 to 15 minutes of extra fuel above the FAA mandate and called them in for “fuel conservation training,” Ray said. (H/T - CNN)
Well, if you look at the bright side, I guess you can say that hijackings will soon be a thing of the past. How the Hell can you demand to go to Cuba when there isn’t enough gas to get you there?
Topics: Snarkasm |
July 17th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Undermining their authority? Talk about union-speak. Is it really a matter of authority to use fuel unnecessarily?
July 17th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
RTFR: Wait, I hope I’m not misunderstanding. Are you questioning the ability of the pilot to slightly pad the amount of fuel in their tank? Because if so, then the word “safety dimwit” comes to my mind for your appellation.
What, you think the pilots are siphoning out some Jet-A for their Bimmers? Taking side trips with the 737 to Las Vegas?
Or helping to ensure that they and their charges are provided with reasonable amounts of safety? Let’s see, what would I prefer: companies that run the ragged edge of safety, or those companies who tend to place more emphasis on safety?
BZ
July 17th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Well this will make it much easier to wave goodbye to my hubs when he flies since I can’t get through gate security to walk him to his flight.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
[...] of Wyatt. Don’t fly US Air: NEW YORK (CNN) — U.S. Airways is pressuring pilots to use less fuel, [...]
July 17th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
I obviously don’t think that they should be forced to carry less fuel–but I do think that it’s crazy to suggest that fuel conservation training is an infringement on a pilot’s authority.
July 17th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Frakking insanity.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
I would like to know who is the genius that would even think of such a ridiculous plan. We have enough worries on being blown out of the sky or being flown into a high rise, now we have to worry about not having enough fuel ?
So now my life hangs in the hands of a CEO, that is sitting at home, sipping on Cognac, while my pilot is stressed and wondering if he has enough fuel to land his airplane, that is carrying three hundred passengers.
petes2cents.com
July 17th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
US Air pilots are pissed about being took over by America West who does not have the same union representation. They have tried all the whining they could come up with so now they are playing the safety card. There is no way a senior pilot is going to take off without enough fuel to safely get to his destination. It is sour grapes. These planes burn 2200 pounds of fuel per hour so flying with a few pounds less multiplied by thousands of flights a year can save the company a ton of money. They are doing everything they can to save weight on the planes.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
RFTR - Unions. What’s the point?
BZ - When I fly - which is rare - I want that bird filled to the gills. The last thing I need is to be running on fumes over the Grand Canyon!
Deanna - I still think that’s an idiotic rule. Search us if you must, but waiting outside the airport for a relative to arrive is just dumb, in my opinion.
RFTR - It’s nothing compared to the idiotic training we have to endure every year. This year is was Islamic Extremism, but it was given from the kindler, gentler suicide bomber’s view. Disgusting.
RT - Gotta save gas! We need a plane that runs on methane, so we can poop our way to the West Coast.
Peter - I want my pilots completely in charge and worry-free. I’ll do enough worrying for the flight crew, believe me.
Ingineer66 - I have a better solution: keep the fat chicks on the ground! Ha!
July 18th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Fuel conservation training sounds OK to me. Maybe the pilots have some discretion about the speed of the aircraft, which like cars, could make a big difference in fuel economy.