US Airways Pilots Call On Resignation Of Airline's Head Of Safety - News Story - WSOC Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Pilots from US Airways told Eyewitness News they are so concerned about the safety of their airline, they have called for the man in charge of safety to be fired.Eyewitness News obtained a letter from the head of the pilot's union to US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker that cited a number of reasons pilots were concerned. They include what they call a lack of communication from Paul Morell, the vice president of safety and regulatory compliance. Click here to read Letter From US Airways Pilot's Union To Airline CEO Click here to read Previous Letter From VP of Safety to Pilot's Union President One incident cited in the letter happened in late March. A bullet hole was found in a US Airways plane at Charlotte Douglas. A few weeks later, pilots say they still know very little about the incident, and they cited that as one example of their overall safety concerns.When Eyewitness News asked the airline about the letter, they said it was motivated in part by ongoing contract negotiations. Capt. James Ray, who represents the pilots for the US Airline Pilots Association, said that is not the case."Safety is never a political football around here," Ray said. "Safety is important to the pilots."Pilots are also troubled by what they call the airline's lack of response to a pilots' survey, which showed some pilots believe the airline cuts corners with safety issues, disregards pilots' rest time, and pressures pilots into rushing flights for on-time departures, among other things.The airline said the survey shows perceptions that are starkly different than the reality. The airline has an exceptional safety record that includes no fatal accidents in the past 16 years. The union said history is not necessarily a great barometer of the future."Just because we haven't had an accident doesn't mean our safety culture is intact," Ray said.Pilots said the company that administered the survey administered 200 other similar surveys last year and US Airways' management was the only one that chose not to participate. They said this lack of effort and response to their concerns shows that safety is not a priority for US Airways. Airline officials said they have given the pilots many ways to raise their concerns, and they should use the proper channels to do so.Travelers at Charlotte Douglas on Friday night said news of the letter concerned them, but not enough to stop using US Airways. " I still have confidence in the airline. I don't think they would put us at any risk," said Tanya Bonamy.As of Friday night, the pilots' union has not heard back from the airline. When asked about that, a spokeswoman for the airline said she was not sure if the airline plans to respond.