Since the Southern Airways training facility moved to the DuBois area, people like captain David Duvak, say they came to move forward in the aviation industry. He says he doesn’t agree with some of southern airways’ safety practices.
“Any time those captains needed a reason to delay a flight, or if we just couldn’t go for obvious weather hazard reasons, icing being one, we we’re kind of pushed to go.” says Duvak. He also says the pay between captains and co-pilots is night and day. He says this is why he left the company.
Controversy surrounding a national news article on this situation, is why Clearfield county commissioner Dave Glass says he got involved.
The DuBois airport is overseen by both Clearfield and Jefferson county commissioners. But for glass, the concern from the allegations is more personal, because he is a licensed pilot.
Glass got to use the simulator that is used to train pilots, as well as the aircraft used during flights. He says he leaves the facility, feeling confident in their ability to practice safety, while providing appropriate compensation.
“I think that you’re always going to have some issues, and some pilots dissatisfied when they leave, and so on. I think it’s incumbent of us to investigate these reports, but I’m leaving here satisfied, that I think we’re in good hands.”
Head of southern airways operations, Ian Vanderbeek, says the reason why some pilots accused them of not having safe practices, is because they later enforced the contract in hopes to keep people from leaving early.
“The ones that do stay, they all go on into the major airlines. Say United, American, Delta. So, I think that speaks itself in terms of the standard of the pilot that we produce here.”
Glass says he talked to the FAA, and was satisfied with the safety records reported by the agency.