Testifying before Congress last week, union affiliates of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) advocated for aviation safety, calling attention to a host of issues they see as suspect.
In particular, attention was drawn to the policy of U.S. airlines to offshore aircraft maintenance. Addressed by John Samuelson of the Transport Workers Union (TWU), that policy allows airlines to avoid U.S. jurisdiction and its own more stringent safety standards monitored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It’s not the first time the issue has been raised, however, and Congress has twice previously demanded a change on the practice from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Thus far, the department and the regulator have made no policy changes.
They also brought before Congress the issue of air pollution. Unions are concerned about the effects of exposure to leaking aircraft fluids in cabin air supplies could have on cabin crews and others. Ideally, they want aircraft to come equipped with air sensors that would detect and alert crews to toxic fumes so that action can be taken.
Beyond these more general concerns, specific attention was also drawn to Boeing, which remains in scrutiny over its handling of the 737 MAX 8 aircraft and potential negligence that led to several disasters and several hundred deaths. Those planes remain grounded, and legislators heard from relatives of those killed in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302.
Lori Bassani of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants and Mike Perrone of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists joined Samuelson in testimony before Congress last week.