In an Astonishing Letter, Delta & United Airlines Pilots Just Told President Trump To Stop and Think

[babylonsister]

In an Astonishing Letter, Delta and United Airlines Pilots Just Told President Trump To Stop and Think

By Chris MatyszczykOwner, Howard Raucous LLC
@ChrisMatyszczyk
Will he react?


Delta and United Airlines pilots -- and those of JetBlue and many other airlines -- have had enough.

In a scorchingly fact-based letter to President Trump, the Air Line Pilots Association -- which represents 61,000 pilots -- used simple words.

Its president, Captain Joe DePete wrote:

I am writing to urge you to take the necessary steps to immediately end the shutdown of government agencies that is adversely affecting the safety, security and efficiency of our national airspace system.

DePete explained that the Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security operate as both regulators and service providers.

Mechanical inspections, drone oversight and new enhanced communications systems are all threatened.

Worse, air traffic controllers, airspace system maintenance personnel and air marshals are working unpaid.

Moreover, CNN now reports that hundreds of TSA screeners are calling in sick. Could the fact that they're not being paid have an influence?

This, too, says DePete, could jeopardize safety:

The pressure these civil servants are facing at home should not be ignored. At some point, these dedicated federal employees will encounter personal financial damages that will take a long time from which to recover, if at all.

By writing directly to the president -- and merely copying congressional leaders -- the pilots appear to be holding him responsible for the potential dangers flowing from the shutdown.

more...

https://www.inc.com/chris-matyszczyk/delta-united-airlines-pilots-to-president-trump-cut-nonsense.html?fbclid=IwAR3Cs_bHj_YSTugte8sq8jhxUyzChmfME8w6xKyAp_kDLsca5jU-cOLXJnE

Letter at this link:

http://www.alpa.org/-/media/ALPA/Files/pdfs/news-events/letters/010219-shutdown-trump.pdf

[dalton99a]

1. Donald Trump only does things that are vile, cruel, destructive, stupid, or illegal.

And if it's something vile, cruel, destructive, stupid, or illegal, he'll do it.

[Scarsdale]

10. What is he supposed

to "think" with - his gut??

[Doitnow]

37. I can think of only one thing that comes out of a gut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

83. K&R

[onit2day]

58. He's not just shutting down the gov. He's shutting down the country.

[RainCaster]

93. Putin loves him for that!

[Az_lefty]

62. A letter won't do any good, he doesn't read anything

[suffragette]

2. K&R

[onit2day]

55. He only cares about what he wants. Not an empathetic bone in his body

[suffragette]

67. True. Makes it even more important that the pilots are speaking up and placing blame where it

belongs on Trump.

[theaocp]

3. What the fuck ever

Most of the pilots are Democrats AND told the motherfucker they want the gov't to stay shut down for a wall. Don't be fooled by their "leader" DePete.

[mn9driver]

66. The sarcasm is even funnier because the large majority of airline pilots are pretty far right.

Over 30 years, I’ve learned not to discuss ANYTHING involving politics in the flight deck. Seriously.

[SWBTATTReg]

4. And the pilots are right in directing the letter to rump, he solely is resp. for this shutdown. ...

No one else is. Congress sent him a bill (both sides) and he farted around on it. I have other words to describe him but won't use here since I respect my fellow DU members.

[Girard442]

5. I believe Air Traffic Controllers are being paid. Other FAA personnel aren't. (Edit: ARE NOT)

Last edited Sat Jan 5, 2019, 06:11 PM - Edit history (1)

On edit: Some more research shows that the Air Traffic Controllers got paid on Dec 31 but probably won't be paid again until the shutdown is resolved. Sorry. I misread some early news articles.

[NutmegYankee]

8. They are not getting paid.

They are excepted from furloughs however and must work.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

24. Therein could be the danger....

if these folks are distracted by being worried about paying their bills and feeding their families.....

[NutmegYankee]

34. That is the key danger.

Worrying about bills rather than bombs while looking at luggage x-rays.

[SayItLoud]

40. The media will probably be "testing" the quality of the screenings. See what gets through. nt

[NutmegYankee]

41. Unless authorized they would be committing felonies.

And I'm sure the TSA won't release any internal audits.

[bluevoter4life]

49. As an air traffic controller

I can confirm we are NOT getting paid at the moment. Fatigued controllers are dangerous controllers. Compound that with an already-stressful job AND the uncertainty of not knowing when our next check will come in, and you have a recipe for disaster. Eventually, the stress of the shutdown and the will to survive will override the ability to do our jobs safely and we don't want to ponder what may happen after that.

[Chellee]

63. I am so sorry this is happening to you and your co-workers.

Thank you for the work you do.

[reACTIONary]

64. Thank yoi for your service! I hope this is over soon and that...

..... we, and YOU win!! Again, thank you!

[JudyM]

77. I am supposed to fly this week and am having second thoughts because of this mess.

[Major Nikon]

95. I was pretty sure this was the case

My type rating recertification is in limbo right now because the flight standards folks have been furloughed. Not really a big deal for me because that's not my main source of income, but for the airlines and other pilots it's going to be a huge issue. Pilots and other aircrew members only get paid when the planes are flying. It's not going to be long before they ain't.

[AC_Mem]

70. My son is an ATC

and has three young children, one autistic - no, he is not being paid. he had to work a double shift on Christmas and wasn't paid for that either.

It just makes me sick.

[Scurrilous]

6. K&R

[manor321]

7. That's awesome! And they know Trump is to blame because Trump said so himself! :)

[YessirAtsaFact]

96. An industry group that is not liberal all is pinning the shutdown on Trump

And telling him to grow the F up and reopen the government.

There's a lot to like here.

[Wellstone ruled]

9. And so it starts!

Pilots will slow walk things shortly. After all,it is their call wither to go or no go unless Corporate signs off.

[erronis]

42. But always be aware that the purpose of this mindless trog in the WH is a coup. And knee-capping

the ability of the US to respond when the more serious crap starts coming over.

[Wellstone ruled]

52. If as it has been posted,

aircraft are not being checked and or Maintenance is being shelved because of Inspectors are not in place,Houston,we have a problem.

This major storm that is just now coming into the West Coast in going to be the Game Changer for all the Airlines.

[Major Nikon]

94. As if that wasn't bad enough, it's actually a much bigger problem

The FAA furloughed most of the flight standards folks who regulate pilot certification. Airline and charter pilots have to be recertified every year. The folks who certify them are certified by the FAA. Those FAA folks have been furloughed which means that whole certification program is in chaos. You also have controllers who are going to start calling in sick in huge numbers once their paychecks stop, which will undoubted throw the whole system into chaos.

Bottom line is once the public starts to realize how fucked everything is, it will be too late for Trump. His shit just keeps getting weaker with each passing day.

[pangaia]

54. You got it.

[lindysalsagal]

11. it's about effing time. Let's see all major industries attack the 5th grade pretender.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

12. K&R

[Roadside Attraction]

13. Democrats need to . . .

Democrats need to focus on the TSA screener problem and shout it from the rooftops . . . if there is an airline hijacking, it's Trump's fault!!!!!

[MrsCoffee]

14. Putin's plan is working out perfectly.

For Putin.

[Pope George Ringo II]

15. Of course, it's a union and therefore Democrats supporting the "striking" federal employees

He'll ignore it.

[Ferrets are Cool]

16. He doesn't give a FUCK about anyone but himself.

I bet AF1 is getting ALL the attention it needs to stay in the air safely.

[Stuart G]

18. These NINE WORDS.."He doesn't give a FUCK about anyone but himself..." say it all.

posted here at 3:22pm..... by: Ferrets are Cool ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,But said many times before and will be said many times after this...

..https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11630013.

[Ferrets are Cool]

19. +1

[malaise]

28. Yes indeed

It's all about him.

[IronLionZion]

17. Trump think it's only Democrats affected

so in a way, we might be recruiting affected folks into our party because of this. Any Trump supporter who has lost a paycheck will likely be rethinking their support.

[erronis]

99. But probably not to the repuglicon party - the Anything But Democrat party.

They can jettison dump and a few other crooks but still believe that the 'cons are the holy path. It's far easier to be taught to hate than to learn to think.

[oasis]

20. To the Idiot Mofo: Get a clue.

[malaise]

21. Brilliant

This will have teeth

Rec

[Charlotte Little]

22. I have always said

that it may take something truly devastating to finally put the nail in the Trump admin's coffin.

Mark my words - if two planes collide killing Americans because of this shut down, or a terrorist attack whereby someone sneaks a bomb or gun onto a plane, it will end his presidency for certain.

And to be very clear, I pray that neither happens but it worries me tremendously. And by it, I mean tragedy, of course, not the end of Trump's time in office.

[LisaM]

47. Well, three planes crashing into buildings

didn't end the Bush presidency, so who knows?

[Charlotte Little]

73. The government wasn't shut down when that heppened

And it was an entirely different time then. We didn't even have the kind of TSA scrutiny then that we do now, because it was due to 9-11 that our airports are now so security heavy.

[LisaM]

75. True.

Last edited Sun Jan 6, 2019, 02:39 AM - Edit history (1)

I just meant that IOKIYAR was in full force and (unfortunately) likely would be again.

[Charlotte Little]

80. Got it

And you could be correct.

[scarytomcat]

23. so who is next to call dump out

this is his shut down

[TeamPooka]

25. Donald Trump knows more about flying than any pilot.

[mgardener]

26. Wait until people don't get their tax returns.

And kids, seniors and the working poor don't get SNP for food. More hungry people in the US.
And all those workers not getting paid.

Just saw one of our investments is down $5,000.00 in a month.

Wait, there will be a revolt if nothing is done. The economy is not doing well, being overshadowed by this Jack ass's temper tantrum and tarriffs.

How is this horrible POTUS making this country great again??????

[Capperdan]

74. Tell me when that revolt starts

There should be organizers planning something, everyday I wonder why crowds aren't in the streets, it's overdue

[BannonsLiver]

97. People aren't in the streets because of their jobs

Americans have been conditioned to be loyal and subservient to their masters (employers). If you’re not you’re out of a job and little Billy won’t get his treatments. I can think of multiple countries in Europe and elsewhere where Trump would have been literally removed from office by now. Not here. Because people are terrified of losing their benefits.

[Capperdan]

101. How about on a Saturday?

Like the Women's March. Someone decide on a date...soon please.

[BannonsLiver]

102. Oh sure

We're satisfactory for weekend rallies. But the kind of pressure you see in other countries, where stuff gets shut down, where govt. is held to account, that doesn't always happen on "weekends". That in itself is the problem. We protest in large numbers when it's convenient i.e. weekends. When it's not, we don't.

[ailsagirl]

27. Logic and rationality don't count for anything with that cretin

Not only does he not care, I think he's enjoying it

He seems to get a kick out of hurting people

Bastard

[Stuart G]

29. I guess you have 10 words that describe him too.

"He seems to get a kick out of hurting people"

[ailsagirl]

30. Change that to, "He clearly gets a kick out of hurting people"

Only nine words but probably more on-target

[Stuart G]

32. .."clearly gets a kick of hurting people...?? Is this really the President of the U.S.A.???

If it is, a change is needed as soon as possible...

[ailsagirl]

39. I know, right????

He's a pretender prez yet has all the power of a legitimate President-- it never fails to gall me

It's a nightmare

[Doitnow]

38. I've been saying that for months!

[smirkymonkey]

31. I can't believe that bastard is single-handedly destroying people's lives and endangering our

security simply for his own ego gratification and stupid fucking vanity project. By the time he is done he will have firmly secured his place as the worst President ever!

[red dog 1]

33. K&R

Thanks for posting

[bronxiteforever]

35. Kick and recommend.

[Vinca]

36. Don doesn't care. He only cares about Don.

[DemoTex]

43. S.O.S. for safety ..

Suspension of Service. Stop flying until the government reopens and flight safety related agencies are fully staffed and running at 100%. ALPA should play the safety card, and play it now. SOS.

Captain DemoTex
Former ALPA (AFL-CIO)

[denvine]

44. This is great!

A majority of pilots are Republicans. I worked for an airline and most pilots are former military so for them to be coming out and putting the blame directly on Trump is significant. They don't compromise when it comes to safety. There may be exceptions, but I have rarely seen it. I hope he feels the heat because if there is a hell, he'll need some practice.

[spanone]

45. sadly, the man in charge couldn't care less

he's incapable of doing the right thing at anytime

[Grasswire2]

46. If the end game is to tear down America (and evidence is gathering to that end)..

....then halting air traffic will be a feature, not a bug.

Look what's happening. He's emptying out agencies, dropping regulations, appointing only stooges and unqualified to fill a few positions, crashing the economy with tariffs and taxes, holding the country hostage with his totem wall.................

All of it designed to BRING THE COUNTRY TO A HALT. Seriously.

That is the objective. Always was.

[marble falls]

48. Can cheeto grasp more than 25 words at a time?

[NCjack]

50. Donald's refusal to reopen the govt agencies responsible for air travel safety may

result in a major failure within the system. The responsibility will be on The MFer.

[Freethinker65]

51. They would have better luck expressing their concerns to Hannity and Limbaugh

[mountain grammy]

56. Yep!

[The Truth Is Here]

53. Trump Shuttle and AF1 should be the last of its priorities to maintain as a punishment to Trump

Trump should be dead last on the list of priorities. Make him wait. If he demands it now, make it 1/16th of the way done, cooked, or whatever.

But no fucking haypenny for the Wall.

[Sugar Smack]

57. The latest tweet on "Trump Regrets" is from an Air traffic controller:

https://twitter.com/trump_regrets?lang=en

[babylonsister]

72. Wow, that thread!

Seems he's riled up so many people who voted for him. I do feel for those not getting paid.

Will it take an accident before he wakes up?

[ginnyinWI]

59. Acting without thinking it through, or listening to advice, and

motivated only by political considerations. Recipe for failure.

Disgusting.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

60. Trump does not care who he hurts.....

Heartless and soulless bastard.

[SergeStorms]

61. Trump doesn't care.

If he were to end the shutdown he'd appear weak and ineffectual to his cult members. Although they comprise only about 35% of the population, they're the only people he wants to please. Not because he likes them, mind you, but he needs them for his own nefarious reasons. Pleasing Putin is his only actual goal as pResident, and keeping Vladimir happy "trumps" all else.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

65. Lord Fatass doesn't give a fuck about what he's doing to anyone's personal lives.

The pressure these civil servants are facing at home should not be ignored. At some point, these dedicated federal employees will encounter personal financial damages that will take a long time from which to recover, if at all.

[underpants]

68. He was just SURE the Dems would relent now he realizes that his re-election is in jeopardy

He, the WH, has known this was a must win. It was all settled and at the last minute he made this grandstand move blindsiding everyone. People blame Rush and Coulter but I think this was just him. He had to show dominance after the midterms and since all of his "achievements" have flattened out. He doesn't bother with advisors or reports. This was all on him and now he's screwed.

[tblue37]

69. YES screeners might be calling in sick to free up time to work side jobs to earn money to

get by.

[debsy]

71. Who benefits from this whole charade?

I know I sound like a conspiracy theorist now but what if this whole exercise is designed so that security is easily breached and we are left wide open for an attack of some kind (think Reichstag fire)?

[BadgerMom]

76. K/R

[NBachers]

78. If there's an airline disaster, he'll blame it on the Democrats. If there's a security disaster,

he'll blame it on the Democrats and the immigrants.

[dlk]

79. Not Being Much of a Reader, Chances are Good Trump Never Even Looked at the Letter

[ooky]

81. That letter should also be addressed to Mitch McConnell

telling him to put the House bills to re-open the government to a vote regardless of what he thinks Trump will accept or not.

[Honeycombe8]

82. Will no one save the country from the madman? Anyone?

The Democrats in the House are working on getting to the bottom of things, but that takes time. In the meantime, people may lose their homes, go into debt, not be able to afford healthcare treatments.

Trump knows nothing about income being withheld. He has never gone without anything in his life. He cannot empathize with something he can't imagine or hasn't experienced, or even known anyone who has experienced it.

I hate having an evil person have that kind of power over people. This needs to be stopped.

[Beacool]

84. He's a malignant narcissist.

As such, he lacks empathy. He simply doesn't care.

[YOHABLO]

85. So our security is jeopardized because Trump wants to build a wall for our security.

Hmm.

[Beartracks]

86. Spot on. Make this an OP! n/t

[calimary]

87. Well? He SHOULD be held responsible for whatever happens.

Because he IS responsible for whatever happens.

PERIOD.

[Duppers]

88. My son is flying today. F 45. nt

[a la izquierda]

89. I fly to Europe next week.

I’m terrified at this point.

[BannonsLiver]

98. Don't be

Some of the comments here are way OTT. Enjoy your trip.

[a la izquierda]

103. Thanks.

I fly a ton and I realize I’m being overly skittish for nothing. I elected to fly for the interview as opposed to doing Skype, and I’ll be excited for the trip once I get through security.
Too much news messes with everyone’s emotions.

[Achilleaze]

90. republicans are dumping their toxic FAIL on America

[NinaNeon]

91. Putin wants the country shut down

Just like he wanted our trade to tank so Russia could sell China all of its produce.
Its closer and probably costs less to ship, so they'll stick with them probably, even after the trade issues are fixed.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

92. The letter is two pages long. No way does Trump read that.

He'll have Mulvaney Nazi-splain it in simple terms. Then ignore it.

All federal workers must hold their breath until Trump gets his little wall.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

100. Stop and think?

He only thinks with his gut. Like whether he wants a Big Mac or KFC.