Fatigue is starting to put safety at risk, pilots say

Pilots with Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines report that fatigue is increasing and that they want airlines to address it.

Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) notified airline executives this week that fatigue, both cumulative and acute, had become the number-one safety risk.

Pilots blame severe weather cancellations and a rising demand for air travel as the main causes. These factors are straining the resolve of the still-recovering airlines.

According to Transportation Security Administration data data, passenger numbers have reached 90% of their 2019 levels. However, major US passenger airlines report that they are short of about 3,000 employees over the same period according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics statistics. During the pandemic, thousands of pilots either retired by choice or aged out at 65. Research by the Regional Airline Association shows that 2,000 pilots will reach mandatory retirement age in this year’s research. Over the next six years, mandatory retirement numbers will increase.

Southwest executives identified staffing among their top priorities for this year and set a goal to hire 8,000 employees. Fourty percent will be flight crews.

Casey Murray, SWAPA president, states that hiring more people will not solve the fatigue problem.

Murray stated that many of the delays and problems we are having stem from scheduling and connecting pilots to airplanes. It is inefficient scheduling processes which are affecting our ability to work in a dynamic environment.

In a letter to executives, the union stated that pilots reporting being unable work due to fatigue rose dramatically last fall. This included a 600% increase in October and a staggering 330% rise in November. SWAPA stated that April is already breaking fatigue records.

Federal regulations establish baseline limits for the hours that pilots can work and specify rest periods. The US’s largest airlines are limited to 30 hours per week of flying and a minimum of 9 hour rest between shifts.

Pilots say they are exhausted from the stress of their job and the changes that can be caused by storms.

Southwest Airlines reported a rise in fatigue reports last month. There were 35 reports per 10,000 duty periods, as opposed to the 10 reports in March 2019. Brandy King is the spokesperson saidThese numbers demonstrate an effective system.

King stated that the increase was expected because it is common for the industry to experience an elevated level in fatigue calls during irregular operations. In March, however, there were weather delays and disruptions in the network. “The system is working as intended and Crew are able to determine if Pilot fatigue has caused an increase in fatigue calls for March.

Delta Air Lines pilots are staging a series at airports this month to draw attention to their fatigue concerns.

“Our pilots have tired and fatigued,” Evan Baach a Captain at Delta and official with Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), told CNN affiliate KSL at an airport protest in Salt Lake City. He saidPilots are now working longer hours with fewer nights at home.

Jason Ambrosi is chairman of ALPA’s Delta group. saidPilots are “the last line defense” in aviation safety. However, pilots are often pushed to their limits by Delta to increase flying and revenue.

ALPA sent a message last month to Delta members stating that the pandemic offered “multiple opportunities” for Delta to address its pilot staffing problem. The union noted that air travel is recovering now and that there are less pilots who are available to cover for a colleague sick or weather-related issue.

“Delta Flight Operations continues operating the operation at red line,” according to the union note reads. “So, if you feel like you have less control over your time and work more, you are correct.

CNN was informed by Delta that Delta’s scheduling is in accordance with federal regulations for pilot work hours and rest periods.

Morgan Durrant, a spokesperson for the Delta People, stated that they constantly evaluate their staffing models and plan ahead to be able to recover quickly in the event of unforeseen circumstances. said. “All our people, including our Pilots, are working hard for the restoration of our airline and delivering for our customers as we emerge form the pandemic. We are proud and grateful for their efforts.

All airlines filed 60 reports about fatigue incidents last year. These reports can be anonymously posted on a federal website without identifying airlines or names.

Some pilots claimed they felt tired after handling their training responsibilities. Others saidManagers at airlines asked them to not handle too many flights due to a shortage of staff.

“Both of our six-hour flight was so long that we were both yawning and eye-rubbing every minute… One captain said in November that he was physically unable “to keep up” despite getting an adequate, average night’s sleep the night before.

“But, ‘we’ press forward – don’t we?” The pilot continued. “Our threats are threefold the pre-Covid environment. There have been delays and shortages in planning and staffing, which are NOT being considered when building schedules are created. Why? We pilots can be counted on to make it work.

This report was contributed by Raja Razek and Pete Muntean, CNN.