Since American Airlines scaled back the frequency of routine inspections, maintenance and safety issues have reportedly been on the increase as its pilots say. Based on an email sent to members by the Allied Pilots Association, a “significant spike” in maintenance-related problems has required the need for pilots to be extra vigilant and report any concerns they encounter.
The union’s notice said that American Airlines has not only reduced the frequency of its routine inspections but also curtailed overnight maintenance checks. Conventionally these checks are supposed to involve a detailed examination of out-of-service aircraft; however, under the new policy, maintenance crews attend only to specific issues reported by pilots, called squawks. The carrier has also decided to use “abbreviated” flight tests after major maintenance or if an aircraft has been stored for a considerable period of time.
Dennis Tajer, an APA spokesman, said he has been meeting with American Airlines executives about growing concerns voiced by pilots. The discussions have been positive, he said, with airline officials receptive to the feedback. “We fully intend to do everything we can to assure that American maintains strong margins of safety,” Tajer said in an interview with a Dallas NBC affiliate.
This happens against a wider backdrop where aviation is under a microscope as far as safety practices are concerned, especially in view of recent incidents involving other big airlines. The proactive stance the APA has taken is to ensure that such accidents can be avoided by nipping the problems in the bud early in the sequence of events that can often lead to major situations.