SWA is killing its own pilots on purpose.
 

Actual footage posted on social media of SWA Mx removing the OEM cockpit sunshades on a new Max.

SWA removes the sun shades because then they would have to fix them if they break or pilots write them up. Keeps the cost down for Mx. They don’t care about skin cancer.

Remember: “Pilot Quality of life has no value to SWA”

You are really that worried about skin cancer and think a plastic shade will prevent it? Try aluminum foil under your pants. :rolleyes:

Stan, sun shades block out UV rays you Dumb A$$.

This coming from a guy who thinks seatbelts and helmets do not save lives. You are the poster child of an idiot .

If memory serves, the retired HOU rep, I think it was Howard D, went on a crusade to try and get the company to take responsibility for removing the OEM sunshades. That was the genesis of the SWAPA sunshades - it was to embarrass the company into taking action.

Our pilots prefer. Oh man. That's rich. So there really is a warehouse with a bunch of sunshades in it. It's in PHX! Probably has the Ark of the Covenant in there too along with some old 300 autothrottles. I would go and find out, but I don't what my face to melt off.

I don’t understand how this isn’t an OSHA complaint.

This is why you try and fly as much IMC and as little VMC.

The shades aren't plastic. They are embedded with foil and shockingly effective at blocking UV. The original NG shades were gold foil and $$$ when they would tear.

dude, Aluminum Foil goes outside the pants. Everyone knows that.

This 🤬ing place….

🔥👇

OSHA has no authority over aircrew.

I Demand Lead
 

I demand lead lined cockpits to protect me from the exposure to ionizing radiation as well....

Pilots not getting proper rest and diet is a bigger killer.

And then they have posts on Swalife about skin cancer prevention.

I wonder how cost effective removal of the shades really is when many pilots have routine dermatology issues.

That is correct!

Exactly this. True statement (unfortunately).

🔥👇

This has served as a reminder to me just how much our disability needs to be improved.

🔥👇

I was out last year for knee surgery and depleted my sick bank. I need to have shoulder surgery now but can’t swing it until I build the sick bank back up to bridge to and supplement STD.

This really needs fixing.

if you get hit by a bus your family will be taken care of. If you die of a long illness your family is left desolate, and SWA doesn’t care.

Wrong. They don’t care either way. They could give 2 @&$” about you or your family.

remember when they told us rampers in Denver prefer open deice trucks when it’s -30 and then they asked rampers in denver if they preferred open deice trucks and then they coincidentally bought a bunch of enclosed deice trucks?


pepperidge farm remembers.

I wonder what we will give up for the sunscreen TA part of this contract? Probably taking rickshaws that are scheduled every 45min to the Holiday Inn now for transportation.

Or just cruise at 10,000', much more UV protection down low.

There’s no giving up anything in this contract. For the first time in history we can get whatever we ask for so we would be crazy not to ask for everything we want.

It's OK. We have top men working on it right now.

This, always roll my eyes when CA's want to go as high as possible. Its an exponential increase in UV exposure above FL350.

that’s interesting. Do you have a link with this info?

I don’t know if it’s exponential but the increase of UV-A exposure with altitude is meaningful and small increases in UV-A can result in significant increases in melanoma.

From JAMA:
“The pathogenic role of UV-A in melanoma is well established. UV-A is capable of causing DNA damage in cell culture5 and in animal models.6 Pilots flying for 56.6 minutes at 30 000 feet receive the same amount of UV-A carcinogenic effective radiation as that from a 20-minute tanning bed session. These levels could be significantly higher when flying over thick cloud layers and snow fields, which could reflect up to 85% of UV radiation. Airplane windshields do not completely block UV-A radiation and therefore are not enough to protect pilots. UV-A transmission inside airplanes can play a role in pilots’ increased risk of melanoma.”

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/2019958


The WHO reports a 10% increase in UV-A for every 1000 meters (approximately 10000’)

https://www.who.int/news-room/questi...0%20per%20cent.

Thanks for posting that info Grumpy. I've had a lot BCC removed and am sure there is more to come. Long sleeve shirts, sunglasses and 60 proof every time I fly.

yw

apc filler

Sorry for the necropost, Now that the new airplanes are coming with the sunshades, I wonder if we'd have any luck pushing for the installation of sunshades on the rest of the fleet?

That stuff costs money. I have bought and use my own sunshades. I am not waiting on SWA. I also liberally apply sunscreen on the advice of my dermatologist.
We are constantly getting zapped by the suns rays, all kinds of cosmic radiation, and a variety of toxic fumes, among other things. This job is a lot worse for your health than most people realize.

Agreed. Add in the generally poor diet, hours of sitting, and disruption of our sleep schedules, and it's no wonder most die within a few years of retirement.

I’ve flown a few with the new shades and really like it. Galley Cage is cool too.

OSHA does not apply to aviation. FAA preemption.

It's actually reasonable, OSHA would probably ground the entire 121 fleet, have to build all new airplanes.

Plastic ones? Probably not unless it's impregnated with specific compounds to do that. I don't know for sure, but suspect they are made to be translucent to visible light, not opaque to UV.

Glass actually blocks UV much better than typical plastic, acrylic, etc. You have to wear sunblock to avoid getting burned in light GA aircraft for that reason...

I could be wrong about the boeing shades, would like to know if I am.

Someone needs to work on their critical thinking skills.

While others need to call MX to get their sarcasm meter ops checked.

Agree with all that except it has to be 80 proof. Obviously not within 8 hours tho.