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"We are the protagonists of our stories called life, and there is no limit to how high we can fly."


PHD. MBA. MHS. Type rated on A350, A330, B777, B747-400, B747-200, B757, B767, B737, B727. International Airline Pilot / Author / Speaker. Dedicated to giving the gift of wings to anyone following their dreams. Supporting Aviation Safety through training, writing, and inspiration. Fighting for Aviation Safety and Airline Employee Advocacy. Safety Culture and SMS change agent.

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Safe by Accident

But Time is Running Out
 

A catastrophic accident is knocking on the door. The question is, will you be on the plane and will you survive? 

I'm uncertain if passengers or the media truly understand what would have happened if there had been a couple bolts installed that held this door in place until cruising altitude. Had this door blown at 35,000 feet, this would have been a catastrophic ending for many people. Seats, passengers, and anything nearby would have been sucked out to oblivion. Death and despair would have resulted.

I appreciate the Boeing CEO's impassioned speech to his employees. He praised everyone. He appeared sincere. He showed up at the Boeing factory in Renton. Unfortunately, words are one thing, actions are another. From those who work there, his words fell short. Perhaps I've heard it all before, and know the truth to what is happening behind the scenes... both at Boeing and the industry. 


I suggest you listen to Ed Pierson, a Boeing Whistleblower, who says he wasn't surprised that this happened. It boils down to quality control. He's correct when he says "this is completely unacceptable." The heart of the problem is "Lack of Leadership" and he believes that the factory is in worse shape that before the MAX crashes. He will not fly on a Max, and he even walked off a plane once he learned that it was a MAX.  He believes that the CEO and board of directors need to go. Ed also said: 

"The FAA is asleep at the wheel!" 


"Airlines should take responsibility" 

The problem is that CEOs and executives alike are focused only on their bottom line, safety be damned. And the FAA looks the other way. I observed this exact behavior at Delta. The reality is, we cannot force CEO's to live by their empty words. We cannot control the FAA administrators who roll in out out of bed with airlines. We cannot even control those leaders at ALPA who are vying for that almighty management position, forsaking safety and those members they should be supporting. 

What can we do? Change the law to protect employees to be the voice of safety. By providing real protection, employees like Ed can and will speak out. Unfortunately the Whistleblower law is broken. The AIR21 statute is designed to protect corporations, not safety. Not passengers. Not employees. We must empower our employees to speak out. Your safety depends upon it. Please, help change the law to provide protection for those who see a problem can shutdown the operation to save your life. 


Enjoy the Journey
Be safe! 
XO Karlene 



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