The country’s top mishap privateinvestigator stated Thursday that a rise in close calls inbetween aircrafts at U.S. airports this year is a “clear caution indication” that the airtravel system is under tension.
“While these occasions are extremely unusual, our security system is revealing clear indications of pressure that we cannot overlook,” Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, informed a Senate panel on Thursday.
Homendy cautioned that air traffic and staffing lacks have rose because the pandemic. She stated there hasactually been a “lack of significant” training — and more dependence on computer-based direction — by the Federal Aviation Administration and airlinecompanies, and too numerous irregular work schedules amongst pilots and air traffic controllers.
“Where you end up with that is interruption, tiredness,” she informed the airtravel subcommittee. “You are missingouton things, you are forgetting things.”
The NTSB is examining 6 close calls, or what airtravel experts call “runway attacks.” The FAA determined 23 of the most major types of close calls in the last financial year, which ended Oct. 1, up from 16 the year before and 11 a years earlier. Independent approximates recommend those figures grossly downplay such occurrences.
Thursday’s hearing consistedof just a short-term conversation of pilo