It could become unsafe to fly if the government shutdown continues. That's according to some people within the industry.
Action News Jax reporter Courtney Cole reports most federal plane inspectors are not considered essential workers during a shutdown.
"It's not a one-day problem. It's not even a one-week problem. But over months we're losing a great bit of experience,” said Randy Reep.
Local airports around the country have been forced to do without the experience of safety aviation inspectors for the last three weeks.
Aviation expert Randy Reep, who worked with an airline for 20 years, currently flies with the military and has also attended aviation safety school.
Reep told Action News Jax these workers are responsible for making sure your airplane—including parts and processes—are repaired and operating properly.
“That is the communication that doesn't happen between commerce, between businesses. And that's why we have the oversight. That can save future accidents from happening,” Reep told Action News Jax.
While air traffic controllers and Trasnportation Security Administrationagents are considered essential workers, many aviation safety inspectors are not.
Reep said it's not unsafe to fly right now, but the longer planes go without oversight, the more dangerous it could become.
Right now, some aviation safety inspectors are only getting called in for certain assignments, as was done in previous shutdowns.
Action News Jax is working to find out how many inspectors are affected at Jacksonville International Airport.
A union representative in Central Florida says 200 inspectors have been affected.
"As you hear the people that are in this every day -- the FAA union, the pilot unions and others -- saying, 'Hey, we need this resolved. This is affecting us 'from a safety standpoint, when those people are ringing that bell, sounding that alarm, we need to take that seriously,” said Reep.
Cox Media Group
