Wed, Sep 30, 2015
Airline Told The FAA There Was Nothing Wrong With The Plane
The pilot of an Allegiant Airlines flight from St. Pete-Clearwater, Florida airport to Maryland June 8 returned to the airport after a flight attendant reported smelling "smoke/fumes" similar to burning rubber shortly after takeoff. The pilot declared an emergency and landed back at the departure airport, the plane's emergency slides were deployed, and the 141 passengers were evacuated. Four were reportedly slightly injured during the evacuation.
Now, the pilot has been fired by the airline, according to the Airline Professionals Association Teamsters Local 1224. The Tampa Bay Times reports that union president Dan Wells said the pilot was fired because pilots had made an issue of airline safety during contract negotiations.
In a safety report to the FAA, Allegiant said that mechanics could find nothing wrong with the plane. The airline has accused its pilots of trying to create an impression among the flying public that Allegiant is taking shortcuts on maintenance as a way to gain leverage during the negotiations.
The pilot was not identified by the Union for confidentiality reasons. Requests for interviews through intermediaries have also been declined, according to the paper.
Two other planes made emergency landings at the same airport in June and July.
Wells said the pilot did not rely only on the word of the flight attendant before turning the flight around. "He confirmed it with multiple people," Wells said. "There is only one thing you can do in that case, which is exactly what he did ... evacuate the airplane."
More News
Aero Linx: Model Aeronautical Association of Australia MAAA clubs are about fun flying, camaraderie and community. For over 75 years, the MAAA has been Australia’s largest fl>[...]
Touchdown Zone Lighting Two rows of transverse light bars located symmetrically about the runway centerline normally at 100 foot intervals. The basic system extends 3,000 feet alon>[...]
“Discovery and innovation are central to our mission at Virgin Galactic. We’re excited to build on our successful record of facilitating scientific experiments in subor>[...]
How To Get A Story On Aero-TV News/Feature Programming How do I submit a story idea or lead to Aero-TV? If you would like to submit a story idea or lead, please contact Jim Campbel>[...]
Student Pilot Reported That During Rotation, “All Of A Sudden The Back Of The Plane Kicked To The Right..." Analysis: The student pilot reported that during rotation, “>[...]