Would you feel safe flying if proposed FAA budget cuts further reduce the number of inspectors?

[David Paul Appell]

Here's a good one: lately we've all been upset about air travel mishaps including close calls on landings; air traffic controllers asleep at the switch; and of course that alarming five-foot hole in the fuselage of a Southwest 737, calling into question the safety of many commercial aircraft.  So it's a good time to consider the fact, as spotlighted by an op-ed today in the New York Times by consumer travel expert and advocate Bill McGee (for whom -- full disclosure -- I used to write at Consumer Reports Travel Letter), that a recent bill passed by the Republican-dominated House of Representatives

"would cut $4 billion from the Federal Aviation Administration’s $37 billion budget. Representative John L. Mica, a Florida Republican who is the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, says the bill would streamline F.A.A. programs and promised the bill would 'not negatively impact aviation safety.'

Such streamlining would probably mean reduction of F.A.A. staff, including safety inspectors. As it is, the agency has been short-staffed for years. According to the Government Accountability Office, 1,100 inspectors oversaw 81 airlines, 5,200 repair stations, and 625,000 pilots in 2006. A $4 billion cut will necessarily reduce the work force further. And it’s hard to imagine this will not diminish safety."

Do you agree? Are politicians playing budget politics with our air safety, or is this being blown out of proportion? Would you feel safe flying if these budget cuts go through?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/opinion/10mcgee.html?ref=opinion

 

[David Lawrence]

Wouldn't feel safe at all but don't believe they'll get away with it. They'd look too stupid. You think they can do this?

[Wendy Capra]

My friend Jack's cousin was on that flight with the huge gaping hole recently and he said it was the most frightening experience of his life. He thought he was a dead man. I dont understand these REpublicans wanting to cut FAA inspectors so their rich buddies can save a buck. It's disgraceful. if any airline disasters happen as a result the blood will be on their hands, but of course half of America won't see that. Sorry I'm not usually so political this early in the morning but this is one issue that really gets me going. You see i love to travel but i'm scared of flying, so I want to know that inspectors ahve gone over every square inch of the plane! If anyone can give me one good reason why this plan makes sense, i'm all ears.