Originally Posted by
eaglefly
You seem to imply a giddiness that the APA could be fined. Problem is, AA pilots are not doing anything wrong. AA pilots have been instructed by the VP of Flight to fly "aggressively safe" for months so as to ensure stressful conditions don't negatively impact safety. AA pilots are complying with that directive to the letter, especially now that AA pilots are under intense scrutiny from the FAA and explicit threat from management. Additionally, AA pilots are not doing anyone elses job, but only theirs and as dilligently as possible as their certificates may be on the line. Since they aren't being fairly compensated for their own duties, I think that expecting them to accomplish others is an unreasonable demand.
I would think one of the things they'd have to do, is make a request of the FAA that they approve pilots to look the other way on valid mechanical discrepancies, conducting themselves in that area subjectively or operate airborne with lessor margins in the interest of keeping the airline "on-time" ?
It's me again. So I mentioned previously that I am EXPLT. I usually earn that status by flying segments (min is 100). I have been averaging about 140 per year for the past 7 years. So I go up and down alot, but usually not too far.
This past two weeks I have been on 8 AA flights. Of those 8 seven have had MX issues. Over the past 9 months I can only think of one other MX issue. In a nutshell, first 8+ months MX <1% of my flights, last two weeks MX > 87% of my flights.
Granted I ride on alot of MD 8x type planes and some are pretty old. Just like my old car, it needs a little more care than the new one. And trust me I am ok with breaking down on the freeway - not so much at 35K feet, that is not my point.
But why all of a sudden this huge rash of MX issues? I can't believe that the "
pilots [sic] look[ed] the other way on valid mechanical discrepancies, conducting themselves in that area subjectively" over the first 8+ months.
I can't believe that the mechanics have decided to become lazy.
And I can't believe that the FAA would allow these planes to fly if it was known that in the 9th month of 2012 there was a huge chance that they would just fall out of the air.
So what was it?
The pilots looking the other way for the first 8+ months?
The mechanics stopped working hard in the 9th month?
Something else?
I know from talking to others that they are experiencing the same MX issues.