The union representing American
Airlines pilots issued a warning about a “significant spike in safety- and
maintenance-related problems in our operation.”

According to CBSNews.com,
representatives from the Allied Pilots Association (APA) highlighted several “problematic
trends” being tracked by American employees, including tools left in wheel
wells, collisions between aircraft and increased pressure to maintain on-time
performance since there is a lack of additional planes.

The report from CBS News included a report that a first
officer preparing for a flight on March 25 found a hammer in the wheel well of
an Airbus A319. Upon further review, officials also found pliers and a
screwdriver inside the wheel well.

APA President Capt. Ed Sicher issued a message to union
members on Monday.

“We met with (American’s) senior management earlier this
month to discuss the operational hazards we have identified,” Sicher said. “We
now have management’s full attention. We secured management’s commitment to
involve the union earlier in the safety risk assessment (SRA) process, and we
are likewise seeking a commitment that APA will have a seat at the table for
the entire quality assurance process.”

“Management’s initial response to our concerns was
encouraging,” Sicher continued. 

In response, American issued a statement to CBS that said
the airline’s “robust safety program is guided by our industry-leading safety
management system,” but the Federal Aviation Administration said airlines must
have Safety Management Systems (SMS) in place.

APA representatives are urging its pilots to continue prioritizing
safety first and not be rushed or intimidated into going against their better
judgment to ensure flights stay on schedule. The statement said, “Just because
it’s legal doesn’t make it safe.”

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