American Airlines has resumed service to Port-au-Prince and prepared for the battlefield conditions its crewmembers could face on the ground in the troubled capital of Haiti.
American Airlines Resumes Service To Haiti, Despite Warlike Battlefield On Ground
As noted by Enilria, American Airlines resumed service from Miami (MIA) to Port-au-Prince, Haiti (PAP) this week. He notes a memo from APA President Ed Sicher (Allied Pilots Association, the American Airlines’ pilots union) outlining the security procedures in place for the resumption of service:
American Airlines Corporate Security – in concert with the U.S. State Department and the U.S. military – has enacted a series of security measures in preparation for the resumption of service. Crews flying to Haiti will likely notice a heightened security presence at the airport, including new guard towers along the northern perimeter wall, the presence of the U.S. military on the eastern side of the field (which continues operating several C-17 flights daily in and out of PAP), and the destruction of many squatter houses along the northern perimeter where gangs had taken up residence. U.S. security forces are aiding the Haitian National Police to secure the perimeter and ensure the roads between Port-au-Prince and the airport are safe.
Crews working this flight make a same-day turn back to Miami, but American Airlines has prepared for “secure transportation in armored vehicles” in case of an unexpected ground stop like a mechanical issue.
I have emphasized that we must collectively do everything in our power to avoid stranding crews in Haiti. American Airlines has established contingency plans addressing maintenance issues, OAL transport, rescue flights, and as a last resort, secure transportation in armored vehicles to secure lodging where the U.S. military and UN forces stay.
It’s interesting to me that the unions representing pilots and flight attendants have even agreed to resume service at this point. Is that not much more dangerous than, in contrast, flying to Tel Aviv (TLV) or Mainland China right now? Sicher added:
We have demonstrated this in locations such as China, Venezuela, and most recently Israel, when we directed our pilots to decline the assignment due to my concerns with regional security.
But he concludes Haiti is different:
I chose to fly the first flight (AA819) back to Port-au-Prince, Haiti (PAP) today after a long hiatus due to civil unrest. My objectives were to observe firsthand what our crews can expect to encounter, verify that the security protocols and precautions in place are sufficient, and gauge whether it is reasonably safe. I would never condone flying to a location unless I’m personally comfortable doing so.
Kudos to Sicher for checking out the conditions on the ground himself. That is leadership.
Is This Flight Really Necessary?
Finally, a serious question. Why is American Airlines flying to Port-au-Prince in the first place during this time? From every account I read, it is truly a warzone there and vast swaths of the capital (more than 80% by some estimates) are under gang control.
Is this 713-mile flight really necessary to transport essential personnel and cargo, when the U.S. military operates several flights per day out of Port-au-Prince?
Or is the situation on the ground not as dire as the media suggests?
CONCLUSION
American Airlines has resumed service to Port-au-Prince, Haiti despite the warlike conditions on the ground. Meanwhile, unlike service to Israel, China, or Venezuela, the union representing pilots at AA has signed off on the resumption of this route.
(Hat Tip: View From The Wing)
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