All articles tagged with #pilot safety
The ongoing government shutdown has led to air traffic controller pay delays and staffing shortages, causing flight disruptions and raising safety concerns among pilots, who warn that political conflicts are affecting aviation safety and the airline industry's future.
Nathan Fielder criticized the FAA as 'dumb' during a CNN interview while discussing pilot safety and his show 'The Rehearsal,' highlighting concerns about pilot communication and airline safety.
An F-35B fighter jet crashed in Albuquerque shortly after refueling at Kirtland Air Force Base, with the pilot safely ejecting and being taken to a hospital. Despite the high costs and some criticism of the F-35 program, experts note that crashes are rare and the aircraft is considered safe. The program remains the largest and most expensive military acquisition in history, with total costs around $2 trillion.
Reports of lasers illegally pointed at aircrafts in flight surged to a record high in 2023, with over 13,000 incidents reported to the FAA, posing a significant danger to pilots and passengers. Green laser pointers are the most commonly used, and despite federal penalties and civil fines, the vast majority of cases remain unsolved. Experts attribute the rise in reported incidents to both an increase in laser strikes and an uptick in pilots reporting them, with California, Florida, and Texas seeing the highest number of strikes. The ongoing issue has prompted calls for public awareness and stricter measures to address the safety threats posed by laser strikes.
India's Office of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed an update to its bylaws regarding alcohol consumption, which includes a section mentioning that pilots and flight attendants should not use substances such as mouthwash, tooth gel, perfume, or any product with alcoholic content, as it may result in a positive breath analyzer test. While the impact of wearing perfume on breath tests is unclear, the proposal aims to ensure pilot safety and prevent instances of pilot drunkenness. The public has until October 5 to provide comments on the proposed addition.
New airline planes made after mid-2025 will be required to have secondary barriers to the cockpit to make it harder for passengers to break in when the main door is open, according to a new rule by the Federal Aviation Administration. The rule will apply to commercial planes that operate scheduled flights, but not charter operators. The FAA estimated that each secondary barrier will cost $35,000 to buy and install. Pilot unions asked the FAA to extend the requirement for secondary barriers to all airline planes, including older ones.
A US Air Force F-15D Eagle fighter jet was involved in a landing mishap at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and ended up in a drainage canal. The pilot, who was the only person on board, was able to exit the aircraft safely and was taken to a medical center for evaluation. The cause of the accident is under investigation, and the extent of the damage to the aircraft is unclear. The F-15C/D jets at Kingsley Field are set to be replaced by the F-15EX, and the incident may hasten their retirement.