February 2020 MCQSC Update: The Airline Industry is Making Huge Profits... At Our Expense
Here are a couple of very short articles about some of the goings-on in the airline industry that we find pertinent to the airplane noise and emissions problems.
First, it's been a banner year for the airlines! Here are links to two online articles that show that Delta awarded $1.6 billion (that's a b!) to its employees which is 16.6% of their salaries or about an additional 2 months' pay. Southwest Airlines followed suit and gave a $667 million or a 12.2% bonus to its employees.
CNN Business, Jan. 21, 2020: Delta Gave Employees 2 Months Pay. here's why that's good business
CNN Business, Feb. 6, 2020: Southwest Giving Its Employees 6 Weeks Extra Pay
This makes us think how on-point this line from the December 19, 2019 bicameral letter to the FAA Administrator is, "The FAA boasts profits for airlines, shipping companies, and other industry stakeholders, but the burden of noise, health risks, and declining property values falls on the backs of hard-working Americans."
There have been a series of absolutely terrifying articles about safety lapses at Southwest Airlines recently. Southwest flies in/out of DCA. The Washington Post detailed the FAA’s Inspector General’s Feb. 11 report.
Delta, it appears, is trying to start limiting its impact on the environment. It's interesting they don't mention NextGen or "more efficient routes" or the like. Likely because there isn't any data (that we're aware of) that supports the claim that channelizing flights in terminal airspace lowers fuel consumption in any meaningful way.
Reuters, Feb, 14, 2020: Delta to Invest $1 Billion to Curb Global Air Travel’s Climate Impact
While you are contemplating the injustice of the airline industry making huge profits at our expense, please remember to file complaints often. They are very important for establishing the severity of the problem to our elected officials and others. Complaints can be simple and brief. It only takes one minute to fill out the web form the first time -- after that it's even faster. When you are filling out the form, it's best if you only choose one event type. It doesn't matter which one you choose (for example "too low," "too loud," or "constant noise") but just choose one.
Remember also that you can track the plane that woke you up or the planes recently overhead HERE. Please note that it operates on a 1-hour, real-time data delay. Track noisy jet aircraft in real time as they fly overhead with The Flight Tracker app for iOS and the FlightAware Flight Tracker app for Android.