US Airways faces fuel complaints

The pilots union for US Airways said Wednesday that the airline was pressuring pilots to carry less fuel than they believed was safe in order to save money.

US Airways Capt. James Ray, a spokesman for the US Airline Pilots Assn., which represents the airline’s 5,200 pilots, said eight senior pilots and the union had filed complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Ray said soaring jet fuel prices have sent all the airlines scrambling to find ways to cut the weight of airliners because the heavier the plane, the more fuel it burns.

Jet fuel has surpassed labor as the airline industry’s greatest expense.

But Ray said US Airways recently crossed the line when it ordered eight pilots who requested “an extra 10 to 15 minutes worth of fuel” to attend training sessions that could put their pilot licenses in jeopardy.

US Airways spokesman Morgan Durrant said the training decision was not meant to be punitive.

During the past few years, the carrier has required its planes to carry enough fuel to pad their flight times by 60 to 90 minutes, Durrant said.

“These eight pilots have routinely been above the 60- to 90-minute range,” Durrant said.