Retired captain warns Congress that FAA cuts may impact safety
May 12, 2011, 01:09 pm
In an interview with the Daily Beast, retired captain Chesley Sullenberger said he has warned Congress that making cuts to the budget for the Federal Aviation Administration could lead to a less safe aviation industry.
When asked what he would say to those who believe that removing funds from the FAA is a good way to help close the budget, Sullenberger warned of the potential safety ramifications such cuts can have. He remarked that, in taking such an action, Congress would need to be honest with Americans by admitting that they had potentially increased the risk for aviation-related incidents..
Sullenberger emphasized the importance of addressing the most common risks facing pilots.
"We can't define safety simply as a lack of accidents. If we don't proactively look for systemic risks and address them, if we wait for a bad outcome, then we haven't done our job effectively."
Sullenburger mentioned issues such as the problem of pilot fatigue, as systematic hazards in the aviation industry that need to be addressed.
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