Teamsters Local 284 Flight Dispatchers
Sound Alarm Over NetJets Automation
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 1, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Flight dispatchers represented by Teamsters Local
284 in Columbus, Ohio, are ringing
alarm bells over NetJets Aviation's (NJA) plan to scale back
commitments to passengers, pilots, and flight attendants that
FAA-licensed dispatchers must approve all flight departures.
NJA, the luxury business jet company owned by Warren Buffet's
Berkshire Hathaway, operates a fleet of more than 600 aircraft,
conducting more than 300,000 flights annually to more than 2,000
airports. Yet NJA only dedicates 54 FAA-licensed dispatchers to
handle flights while operating in the U.S.'s complex air
transportation system. Flight dispatchers play a vital safety role
at air carriers around the world.
NetJets previously made clear on its corporate website that "as
an extra safety precaution, no flight leaves without the approval
of both our pilots and our Federal Aviation Administration-licensed
dispatchers." After NetJets implemented a new automated system this
week, dispatchers have revealed that some flights will be released
without a human dispatcher first conducting a pre-flight check or
review in violation of NJA's labor contract.
"Reducing the critical role of FAA-licensed human dispatchers
through their automated system eliminates the "extra safety
precaution" on impacted flights. It's a very bad idea," said
Fred Larkins, an NJA
dispatcher. "NetJets passengers likely believe they get the
same level of safety support from human dispatchers on their
flights as passengers on any commercial airline — if not more given
what they pay for luxury travel — but that's not the case.
Dispatchers oppose all efforts to reduce our role in upholding the
safety of flight operations."
The dispatcher's union filed a grievance over the issue. Local
284 remains ready to negotiate a resolution that ensures
dispatchers will continue to conduct pre-flight checks and reviews
and approve all flight departures.
"NetJets will likely defend its decision by stating that their
new automated system meets minimum standards, but that misses the
point," said Brenden Robinson, an
NJA dispatcher. "In the past, NetJets routinely committed
that a human dispatcher would approve every flight for departure.
There is no reason to scale back on those safety commitments as the
company's fleet and operations grow. We should be adding more
dispatchers and doubling down on that safety commitment, not
reducing the role of human dispatchers."
Dispatchers are meeting with NJA pilot and flight attendant
union representatives to discuss shared concerns about the
company's plan to reduce the role of human flight dispatchers.
Teamsters Local 284 is based in Columbus, Ohio, and represents NJA
dispatchers, flight attendants, maintenance employees and stock
clerks.
Contact:
Mark Vandak, (614)
228-0727
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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters