4 ms·

"drastically reduced flying hours" - could anyone clue moi in on what this means/why?

fredoralive 6y ago
Because of COVID demand for air travel has dropped rather dramatically. Lots of planes being mothballed, pilots not flying regularly etc.
arnarbi 6y ago
There are less flights due to the pandemic. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104036/novel-coronavirus-weekly-flights-change-airlines-region/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104036/novel-coronaviru...
- PeterStuer 6y ago
  Not in freight though.
noneeeed 6y ago
Covid. There have been significantly fewer flights than usual over the last year. The argument is that pilots and ground crew are less busy, with bigger gaps between work, the result being that they are "rusty" for want of a better word, and so more prone to making mistakes/oversights. This seems plausible, but hard to know.
jillesvangurp 6y ago
Not Covid. This was a freighter that was flying back and forth between Maastricht and New York. It did 3 flights on the day before. So it was in active service and being maintained normally. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vq-bwt https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vq-bwt https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/boeing-747-400-vq-bwt-longtail-aviation/rml6oe https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/boeing-747-400-vq-bwt...
- DyslexicAtheist 6y ago
  > Not Covid. even if so doesn't diminish the point in the argument. there are stories[0][1] that pilots have this problem (and are complaining about it) so it would be obvious that this holds also for all other staff. apart from confusing the routine with changes that have not been tested / practiced there is also economic anxiety affecting them (perhaps even more than other industries). In any case the aviation industry usually keeps good tabs[2] on their employees mental health. _____ [0] Grounded pilots out of practice because of COVID-19 spark airline safety fears https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/05/business/grounded-pilots-coronavirus/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/05/business/ground... [1] FAA issues warning to airlines after a spike of in-flight incidents due to rusty pilots flying emptier planes than usual due to coronavirus https://www.businessinsider.com/pilot-safety-reports-show-new-dangers-of-pandemic-flying-2020-6?r=DE&IR=T https://www.businessinsider.com/pilot-safety-reports-show-ne... [2] COVID-19 crisis and its effect on aviation mental health https://www.eurocockpit.be/news/covid-19-crisis-and-its-effect-aviation-mental-health https://www.eurocockpit.be/news/covid-19-crisis-and-its-effe...
- jojobas 6y ago
  Freight planes are not serviced by dedicated freight mechanics. Passenger planes are well below capacity and maintenance companies are as well.

Because of COVID demand for air travel has dropped rather dramatically. Lots of planes being mothballed, pilots not flying regularly etc.

arnarbi 6y ago

There are less flights due to the pandemic. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104036/novel-coronavirus-weekly-flights-change-airlines-region/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104036/novel-coronaviru...

PeterStuer 6y ago
Not in freight though.

noneeeed 6y ago

Covid. There have been significantly fewer flights than usual over the last year. The argument is that pilots and ground crew are less busy, with bigger gaps between work, the result being that they are "rusty" for want of a better word, and so more prone to making mistakes/oversights. This seems plausible, but hard to know.

jillesvangurp 6y ago

Not Covid. This was a freighter that was flying back and forth between Maastricht and New York. It did 3 flights on the day before. So it was in active service and being maintained normally. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vq-bwt https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vq-bwt https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/boeing-747-400-vq-bwt-longtail-aviation/rml6oe https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/boeing-747-400-vq-bwt...

DyslexicAtheist 6y ago
> Not Covid. even if so doesn't diminish the point in the argument. there are stories[0][1] that pilots have this problem (and are complaining about it) so it would be obvious that this holds also for all other staff. apart from confusing the routine with changes that have not been tested / practiced there is also economic anxiety affecting them (perhaps even more than other industries). In any case the aviation industry usually keeps good tabs[2] on their employees mental health. _____ [0] Grounded pilots out of practice because of COVID-19 spark airline safety fears https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/05/business/grounded-pilots-coronavirus/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/05/business/ground... [1] FAA issues warning to airlines after a spike of in-flight incidents due to rusty pilots flying emptier planes than usual due to coronavirus https://www.businessinsider.com/pilot-safety-reports-show-new-dangers-of-pandemic-flying-2020-6?r=DE&IR=T https://www.businessinsider.com/pilot-safety-reports-show-ne... [2] COVID-19 crisis and its effect on aviation mental health https://www.eurocockpit.be/news/covid-19-crisis-and-its-effect-aviation-mental-health https://www.eurocockpit.be/news/covid-19-crisis-and-its-effe...
jojobas 6y ago
Freight planes are not serviced by dedicated freight mechanics. Passenger planes are well below capacity and maintenance companies are as well.