But FAA Will Keep An Eye Out, Just In Case

Let's face it. Throughout much of America's commercial aviation industry, morale stinks, companies are going bankrupt and the cost of fuel going through the roof. Tough times continue for the airlines.

But that doesn't mean safety is suffering.

So say a number of aviation safety experts as reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Still, the FAA has placed airlines on under heightened surveillance, meaning more inspections in the cockpit and the maintenance hanger.

"There is no evidence that there is a relationship between financial conditions and safety performance," said Bob Francis, former vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, in an interview with the paper.

Three airlines are under the microscope right now -- Delta, US Airways, and United. As the commercial aviation industry continues to sag, more airlines could become targets for "heightened surveillance."

But there doesn't appear to be any historical reason for the extra scrutiny. US Airways has reported only one accident since filing for its second bankruptcy -- a steering mechanism failure on board a flight taxiing in Tampa (FL). The pilot hit the brakes and three flight attendants were slightly hurt.

There are also those mysterious holes punched in at least three airliners. As ANN first reported last month, the holes were found in the fuselage of an Airbus that had just landed in Orlando. Since then, two other US Airways aircraft have been found with similar holes punched into the fuselage.

"Yes, we are concerned that our customers will think there is a safety issue when there isn't," said US Airways spokesman David Castelveter. "Most of that stems from, at least in our opinion, media reports. We don't find a great number of customers calling us, sending us e-mails, saying they are concerned we are running an unsafe airline because I think customers believe in their heart of hearts, and rightfully so, that no airline would ever compromise safety regardless of the environment they are in."

More likely, said former NTSB member John Goglia, the holes were caused by mistakes made under pressure. Indeed, as US Airways continues to navigate through its second bankruptcy in as many years, employees are under a great deal of pressure. They're recently been ordered by a bankruptcy judge to take 21-percent pay cuts, a move that's caused more than a little grumbling in the ranks, causing the bankruptcy judge himself to call the situation a "ticking time bomb." But employees bristle at the idea that their company's financial woes would spur them to put their passengers at risk. "I have been through three bankruptcies, two as an aircraft mechanic, and it doesn't change the level of safety," said Joe Tiberi, a spokesman for the machinists union. "Employees are committed to the utmost safety regardless of the financial status of the airline."

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.usairways.com