Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,973
Jun 25, 2014 20:07:06 GMT
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Post by Sarah*H on Jan 24, 2019 12:06:27 GMT
Yesterday the various unions issued this statement:
We are so used to assuming things are safe and running as best they can behind the scenes. Can we feel that assured right now? I'm at a point where I want these unions to strike if the risk is as great as they seem to fear. I have to fly in 2 weeks and it's nerve wracking to thing about getting onto a plane that may not have been through a safety inspection, being guided by air traffic control people who haven't slept a full night in over a month.
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YooHoot
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,417
Jun 26, 2014 3:11:50 GMT
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Post by YooHoot on Jan 24, 2019 12:09:05 GMT
Considering we are still doing way more than before 9/11, I feel safe. Will there be longer waits, some slip ups etc? Sure. But all in all, I think they are still doing a good job considering the circumstances.
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Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,973
Jun 25, 2014 20:07:06 GMT
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Post by Sarah*H on Jan 24, 2019 12:12:16 GMT
I don't mean from terrorists. TSA is largely security theater. I mean because of exhausted and stressed plane safety inspectors and air traffic controllers who are forced to work overtime and haven't been paid in over a month.
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Post by pierkiss on Jan 24, 2019 12:29:21 GMT
No I don’t think it’s safe.
Of course, I never feel safe while flying. But given the current climate I think it is even less safe than normal. People are not going to be at their best performance wise when they know they will not be compensated for doing their jobs. What’s the reinforcer for working hard in this situation?
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Post by gritzi on Jan 24, 2019 13:10:19 GMT
My advice ... Call the politicians in DC to state that federal employees should be paid! This is the second pay period that we will receive $0 even though 40+ hours/week have been worked.
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Post by monklady123 on Jan 24, 2019 13:13:34 GMT
I do not. My husband travels a lot for work (State Department) and I'm glad that all travel is canceled while the shutdown is on. I worry anyway when he travels -- sometimes he goes to locations where he has to take helicopters from the airport to the embassy because the roads aren't safe, the fact that I hate to fly any time, etc. -- so I don't need one more thing.
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trollie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,580
Jul 2, 2014 22:14:02 GMT
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Post by trollie on Jan 24, 2019 13:29:30 GMT
Nope. Not safe.
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Post by elaine on Jan 24, 2019 13:47:53 GMT
Considering we are still doing way more than before 9/11, I feel safe. Will there be longer waits, some slip ups etc? Sure. But all in all, I think they are still doing a good job considering the circumstances. But what about the inspections of and maintenance of the planes? What about the actual directing of the planes in flight so that there aren’t collisions? Terrorism isn’t a blip on my radar, but failing aircraft are. In these crucial areas that keep those who fly safe in the air, we certainly are not doing more now than we did before 9/11. I am flying with my family in just a few weeks and am praying that the shutdown ends before then, because I really am afraid of flying now.
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Post by Merge on Jan 24, 2019 13:51:47 GMT
I'd be extremely concerned. My husband is supposed to fly for business next week and I'm worried about that. The destination is close enough (7 hours) that he technically could drive, but it would add a lot of time to a trip he already isn't excited about. We'll see what happens.
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Post by hop2 on Jan 24, 2019 13:53:26 GMT
God I hope so my Ex is flying Monday for business and I sure hope he travels safely.
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Post by christine58 on Jan 24, 2019 13:58:34 GMT
Hope so...I fly to Ft. Myers on Saturday...
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Post by Miss Ang on Jan 24, 2019 14:03:01 GMT
My daughter and her husband are flying home from a vacation today. I admit, I am concerned. I am picking them up at the airport this evening I'll be really thankful when she's on the ground and in my car!
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,743
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Jan 24, 2019 14:17:09 GMT
I flew last week and I was impressed with everything I saw (of course I’m not seeing behind the scenes) but everything seemed to be running smoothly. It is definitely a concern - especially the longer it goes- but I felt safe and I am a huge worrier for that type of thing.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jan 24, 2019 14:18:12 GMT
In addition, we are not confident that system-wide analyses of safety reporting data, which is used to identify and implement corrective actions in order to reduce risks and prevent accidents is 100 percent operational due to reduced FAA resources. ^^^THIS is the thing that I would worry about- not so much TSA agents, security, etc. IN the airports but issues with safety of the planes or other parts of the system. And I've heard a number of interviews with people who work as air traffic controllers... there's only so long that people can work without pay before starting to worry about personal / financial issues. That worry and anxiety is bound to affect some of them negatively sooner or later, and air traffic control is already one of the most high-stress jobs there is. ETA: good point to Darcy Collins; not the actual inspection or maintenance activities themselves, but reports and analysis of data (see bolded text above) that could affect improvements or changes moving forward. That may not be affected so much YET, but eventually it will be.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jan 24, 2019 14:55:26 GMT
FYI maintenance is handled by the airlines, so those employees are being paid. While it's horrible that inspectors and air traffic control aren't being paid, I do believe they are professionals and the safety of traveling passengers are at the forefront of their mind. The real issue is that at a certain point they will need to bring in a paycheck and staffing levels will be just too low to be safe. And unfortunately, even after the shutdown ends, some of those employees may not come back. Luckily air traffic controllers are higher paid than TSA, so they're not seeing the same level of call ins yet, but that can't continue indefinitely.
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Post by annabella on Jan 24, 2019 15:23:40 GMT
There's a government shut down what every 5 years now? they need to separate TSA pay from other government employees if this is going to continue.
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,579
Location: In the leaves and rain.
Jun 25, 2014 19:57:33 GMT
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Post by stittsygirl on Jan 24, 2019 15:30:56 GMT
Waiting to board a flight right now... trying not to think about it.
Though it’s probably statistically still safer than our drive to the airport was this morning.
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Jan 24, 2019 15:32:00 GMT
I don't mean from terrorists. TSA is largely security theater. I mean because of exhausted and stressed plane safety inspectors and air traffic controllers who are forced to work overtime and haven't been paid in over a month. this! Air traffic controller is one of those jobs where there's really no room for error. Being under the stress of not knowing how you're going to pay your bills, AND having the lives of who knows how many people in your hands has to be crippling. I expect a major air disaster soon if this shut down doesn't end soon. The unions should absolutely strike. Once all air traffic is shut down then maybe our leaders will come to a REAL compromise.
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Post by anneinwa on Jan 24, 2019 15:35:53 GMT
Considering we are still doing way more than before 9/11, I feel safe. Will there be longer waits, some slip ups etc? Sure. But all in all, I think they are still doing a good job considering the circumstances. But what about the inspections of and maintenance of the planes? What about the actual directing of the planes in flight so that there aren’t collisions? Terrorism isn’t a blip on my radar, but failing aircraft are. In these crucial areas that keep those who fly safe in the air, we certainly are not doing more now than we did before 9/11. I am flying with my family in just a few weeks and am praying that the shutdown ends before then, because I really am afraid of flying now. My understanding is mechanics and inspectors are being paid. While it is regulated by the FAA, they are paid by the airlines. Airlines, not the FAA, control day to day operations of planes and employees.
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,661
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on Jan 24, 2019 15:52:18 GMT
I'm worried.. I fly one week from today.
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peasquared
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,440
Jul 6, 2014 23:59:59 GMT
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Post by peasquared on Jan 24, 2019 15:54:21 GMT
Waiting to board a flight right now... trying not to think about it. Though it’s probably statistically still safer than our drive to the airport was this morning. I am too. I’m praying it’s still safe.
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carhoch
Pearl Clutcher
Be yourself everybody else is already taken
Posts: 2,990
Location: We’re RV’s so It change all the time .
Jun 28, 2014 21:46:39 GMT
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Post by carhoch on Jan 24, 2019 16:20:21 GMT
It’s less safe than it was a month ago .
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Post by peano on Jan 24, 2019 16:26:42 GMT
DH is returning from a business trip today. I have been extremely nervous about his safety the entire time. Air traffic controllers have one of the most stressful jobs. The last thing they need is the distraction of not being paid due to a completely avoidable man-tantrum.
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Post by FuzzyMutt on Jan 24, 2019 16:32:46 GMT
No I don’t think it’s safe. Of course, I never feel safe while flying. But given the current climate I think it is even less safe than normal. People are not going to be at their best performance wise when they know they will not be compensated for doing their jobs. What’s the reinforcer for working hard in this situation? That is a very interesting perspective. I can totally be on board that financial stress, exhaustion, and fatigue are inevitable and not in any way a good thing. Anyone that will reduce their performance based on compensation? They need to leave those critical roles, shutdown or no shutdown. I worked through shutdowns, I didn't get paid. I never once compromised the quality of my work that I know of. People's lives depend on it.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 4, 2024 16:29:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2019 16:45:47 GMT
No.
Has much less to do w/TSA than ATC.
This country is stretched to the breaking point and there are always those who will use that to their advantage. Not to mention that a government this big has a certain amount of inertia. But we applied the brakes 34 days ago. Eventually, the government will grind to a halt - even w/its enormous inertial forces behind it.
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Post by mellyw on Jan 24, 2019 16:59:11 GMT
I’m sorry for everyone feeling stressed with their own flying, or loved ones. My DH flew home last Friday from a business trip, and I was worried then.
Now I’m grateful there are no planned trips. I grew up 5 miles from Detroit Metro Airport, then spent 22 years as an Air Forcce wife. I’ve known many Air Traffic Controllers, they are such hard working, stressed people in normal times. I can’t imagine what they are going thru now.
Safe journeys to all of you with travel.
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Post by catmom on Jan 24, 2019 16:59:45 GMT
I’m not worried about the safety of the planes themselves since maintenance and inspections are carried out by the airlines - no impact from the shutdown. And I dare say the air traffic controllers can be depended upon to act with their usual expertise and professionalism on the job. However labour shortages amongst air traffic control is a significant risk right now and this makes me nervous, especially in busy hubs.
I trust (sort of) that the unions and regulatory bodies have/are establishing minimum staffing thresholds for safe skies and if they get to that threshold then the airspace will be closed. If that’s the case I’m not sure if the bigger risk is safety or having flights cancelled.
Either way, I was thinking of taking a last minute cruise deal this weekend but the shutdown has me rethinking my plans. I think being in the states right now is just too much hassle.
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,663
Location: Ohio
Jul 5, 2014 1:53:49 GMT
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Post by StephDRebel on Jan 24, 2019 17:06:44 GMT
I flew to Toronto and back last weekend and I was impressed that everyone I encountered was in a better mood than usual and working just as hard. I spent quite a bit of time with TSA (oops) and they all pretty much said that they are worried financially but their jobs are important to them and they feel like it's their responsibility to do their best and make the best of it. Letting things slide just makes the entire thing harder for everyone.
They said most travelers were being more patient and nicer and that was encouraging them so they were happier.
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,743
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Jan 24, 2019 17:13:37 GMT
I flew to Toronto and back last weekend and I was impressed that everyone I encountered was in a better mood than usual and working just as hard. I spent quite a bit of time with TSA (oops) and they all pretty much said that they are worried financially but their jobs are important to them and they feel like it's their responsibility to do their best and make the best of it. Letting things slide just makes the entire thing harder for everyone. They said most travelers were being more patient and nicer and that was encouraging them so they were happier. This was also my experience flying this last week.
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Post by 3SugarBugs on Jan 24, 2019 17:47:51 GMT
I fly for the next 4 weeks straight...not thinking about what might happen to me, just more concerned for all of those working to try to protect my safety that are not getting paid and are overworked. I wish we could find some resolution..no matter what side your are on, this is hurting people in a very real way.
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