Cutting It Close

Have I mentioned the connection between safety and regulation, safety and profits and safety and greed lately ?

US Airways pilots: We're pressured to cut fuel

The pilots union for US Airways said Wednesday the airline is pressuring pilots to use less fuel than they feel is safe in order to save money.

[sarcasm]Yeah, right. You know those union guys. Always whining about safety trying to con the rest of us into raising their pay. Everybody knows airline management wouldn’t pressure their employees to cut corners on safety. They’d take the moral high ground and go out of business before they would do that.[/sarcasm]

Passengers on Delta flight describe unscheduled landing at Stuart's Witham Field

With homes in places like Berlin, Norway and Manhattan, most had never even heard of Stuart.

But the 76 passengers of Delta flight 5481 became closely acquainted with Stuart’s Witham Field airport Tuesday afternoon when their Miami-bound plane made an unscheduled landing because stormy weather caused it to circle several Florida airports and burn too much fuel.

After West Palm Beach, the pilot flew north, intending to land at the Vero Beach Municipal Airport, but he decided on Stuart instead after becoming worried the fuel supply was too low, said Mike Moon, airport director.

Moon said it was the only time in his 13 years at the airport that a commercial flight has made such a landing there.

The only time an airplane has too much fuel is when it’s so heavy it can’t take off or land. (Yes, they can be too heavy to land safely.)

Judgment always plays a part in determining safety. What a company executive thinks is too much fuel can be quite different from what a pilot thinks is too much fuel. Even in the best of times, both can judge wrong. It isn’t the best of times. The fear of going bankrupt can influence your judgment. So can the fear of being fired.

On a closing note -- kudos to the FBO -- Stuart Jet Center -- for your act of kindness. I don’t suspect they are making a lot of money these days either.

Passengers crowded the small Stuart Jet Center lobby before their buses arrived. They munched on free food and drinks the center provided. Airport officials said Witham Field does not have commercial airline capabilities and is not authorized to direct a commercial plane with passengers for take-off.

I’ve never heard of them (not unusual) but they sound like a nice outfit.

Don Brown
July 18, 2008