McCain blasts pilots for adding to air delays

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain blasted airline pilots Thursday for what he called their greed and role in exacerbating gridlock in U.S. skies.

McCain, a Navy pilot shot down over Vietnam, accused pilots at UAL Corp.'s United Airlines of carrying out "work stoppages to satisfy their personal greed" and noted a sickout by pilots at AMR Corp.'s American Airlines last year.

He said many parties, including the Federal Aviation Administration and Congress, needed to shoulder the blame for aviation congestion. But he singled out airline pilots for his toughest criticism, going so far as to question their patriotism.

"This year, more than ever, airline employees have caused enormous delays," said McCain, opening a hearing on air travel delays.

"And you know what saddens me the most? A large number of these pilots are former military whose code is supposed to be 'duty, honor, country,'" said McCain, who was held prisoner in Vietnam for five-and-a-half years.

"Now they take action without a thought for the Americans that rely on them to ferry their families across the country for a family vacation, attend a wedding or be at the side of a sick relative."

Pilots defend themselves

Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) President Duane Woerth quickly voiced outrage at McCain's comments. "We don't take a patriotic back seat to anybody," Woerth told Reuters at the hearing.

During difficult contract talks this summer, United pilots often refused overtime, causing the airline to cancel thousands of flights and leaving passengers scrambling to make alternative arrangements.

The problems at United, the world's largest airline, combined with severe thunderstorms in major U.S. flight lanes led to record delays this summer, final numbers are expected to show.

Fewer flights have been canceled since a tentative contract deal was reached late last month. ALPA has denied there was any orchestrated pilot action.

McCain also contrasted pilots' salaries with those of other Americans, comparing the 1998 per capita income of $20,120 with the $342,000 per year that top pilots at United would make by 2004 under the tentative contract.

The plain-speaking McCain said Congress had probably contributed to delays by passing pork-barrel legislation that gave money to smaller airports in lawmakers' districts at the expense of the largest airports that carry the most passengers.

He said the FAA's air traffic control modernization program had failed to keep up with the sharp rise in passengers, with 635 million people flying last year compared with 278 million in 1978, when the airline system was deregulated.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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United Airlines
American Airlines
Senator John McCain
Air Line Pilots Association

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