What a pilot fears most

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-04/fatal-flying-on-airlines-no-accident-in-pilot-complaints-to-faa.html

Ask people what they fear most about flying and the most common answers are engine failure, the plane snapping in half in midair, extreme turbulence, or midair collisions. Statistically, those are all very rare events. This items do evoke very scary images, however they really aren't worth excessive worry. I think we can thank our pals in Hollywood for this fear more than actual events.

Ask a regional airline pilot what they fear most and you'll get a much different tale from the average person. Linked above was a case where the pilot was being told by his company to fly an aircraft from one place to another with passengers on board. The pilot knew this aircraft was not airworthy. The pilot refuses to fly that aircraft on said flight. The company pushes harder. The pilot still refuses. The pilot is then threatened with his job by the company. He still refuses. The pilot is then terminated.

Why would the pilot refuse such a flight? A pilot lives his/her career walking between a rock and a hard place. The company and the FAA. No other scenario exemplifies this walk better than this one. The pilot knows the aircraft doesn't meet the airworthiness requirements per the FAA. The pilot knows if he/she signs the dispatch release for the aircraft to take the flight, they are legally saying that they see the aircraft is "airworthy" and legal to make the flight.

Important note: Miriam-Webster defines the word "Airworthy" as "fit for operation in the air." The FAA defines it as "meets its type design and is in a condition for safe operation."

Now, the company might also know this, however they might be willing to pressure the pilot into taking the flight anyways. Why would they do such a thing? Two main reasons. 1.) The company doesn't give a crap about the pilots, flight attendants or the passengers. They want the flight to go so that they can generate revenue. 2.) If something was to come of it later, the pilot will be found to be at fault since he/she signed off on the release stating the aircraft was "airworthy." After all, that is part of the responsibility that comes along with the title "Pilot in Command."

So, the pilot can be caught in a scenario where he/she walks the line between being fired by the company and being violated by the FAA. If the company fires the pilot, he/she is out of a job. If the FAA seeks enforcement action, the pilot's certificates may be suspended or revoked. This means no flying, hence, no job. Both options are less than ideal.

The company tends to have the best of both worlds here. They can pressure a pilot to fly an aircraft. They can even say, "If you don't take this plane, you're fired." All the while, if the pilot does take the flight and something gets caught later, the first thing the company will say is "The pilot signed off on the release and accepted the aircraft as airworthy!" The company doesn't have anything to lose!! It's no shocker that this scenario plays out between pilot and airline.

This particular case indeed turned out slightly different. A $1.3 million fine has been imposed upon Gulfstream International by the FAA. Of course, as you would expect, the company is appealing this. Why? Again, they have nothing to lose. If they fight it and lose, they still have to pay just as if they didn't fight it. Might as well give it a shot and have a chance at saving $1.3 million. After all, that amount of money would make a nice CEO bonus!

It's events like this which come to mind when I hear a chief pilot or airline manager quoted as saying they care about safety and the welfare of passengers.

"What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson