With the recent crash of the Nepalese airplane, I saw a lot of comments on :reddit-logo: talking about how Nepal has poor safety standards, bad piloting certifications, and how they buy second to third hand planes that they don’t maintain.

I’m sure that has nothing to do with capitalism.

But I also saw comments about how Euro and American standards are much, much better. I’m sure that’s true to some extent, given how many airplanes fly over these regions with so few incidents. But… I don’t really see why.

Wouldn’t the center of capitalism be more aggressive with its cost-cutting measures and safety shortcuts? It would improve their profit margins and given the Tendency, they have to take every chance they get, right?

Are we just waiting for a huge, huge sudden spike in airplane crashes as these measures start catching up?

Or is government regulation (and enforcement) still somehow strong in this industry?

  • Wertheimer [any]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Are we just waiting for a huge, huge sudden spike in airplane crashes as these measures start catching up?

    Pilots' unions are rejecting their latest contracts because airlines are desperately trying to make it so they can fly planes with only one pilot at a time. So if labor continues to be crushed, we're absolutely going to see a spike in crashes.

    https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/11/08/pilo-n08.html

    One of the main factors driving pilots’ opposition is the issue of fatique. During the month of June, there were quadruple the usual number of fatigue-related pilot call-ins at American Airlines. Pilots are directly responsible for the safety of flights and are obligated to report to work fit for duty, which means using their own sick leave if they feel they cannot perform their duties up to standard on a particular day.

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires a minimum rest period of nine hours between shifts for pilots, who are also limited to 30 hours of flight time per week. But when the commute to work, meals and other life requirements are added into the equation, this leaves little time for uninterrupted sleep and sabotages workers’ abilities to follow their FAA-mandated training to avoid fatigue on their own time.

    Edit - "Fatique" is a great typo, and I've decided that it's really a neologism meant to describe when you're exhausted and piqued in equal measure.

    • ssjmarx [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      But when the commute to work, meals and other life requirements are added into the equation, this leaves little time for uninterrupted sleep

      You would think that the airports would furnish accommodations for pilots that need sleep and don't have time to get to a hotel.