How widespread are airline & pilot safety problems?

WASHINGTON - The regional airline that operated a plane that crashed and killed 50 people in upstate New York has been pushing pilots to fly even if they say they are too sick or too tired, a union official told Congress on Wednesday.
John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, said regional airlines are continuing practices that jeopardize safety even in the wake of the Feb. 12 crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407. Revelations about the conduct of the pilots in that crash prompted widespread criticism of the training, pay and working conditions of pilots at smaller carriers.
Prater, an airline captain, cited Colgan Air Inc. of Manassas, Va., and its parent, Pinnacle Airlines Inc. of Memphis, Tenn., as well as Trans States Airlines of Bridgeton, Mo., in his testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Colgan operated Flight 3407 for Continental Airlines, supplying the plane and the pilots, while the larger airline handled ticketing.
"The managements at Pinnacle and Colgan have not changed their ways. The management at Trans States Airlines haven't changed their ways. Do I need to go further? I have a big book," Prater said.
"I've been asking our pilots to report the type of pressures that managements place upon them, threatening their job, giving them discipline ... not just for fatigue or sick calls," Prater said.
Among the "worst practices" identified by the union is punishing captains who report problems or maintenance issues with planes, Prater said.


Link: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/dc/092409_regional_airlines_pressuring_pilots