每日英語跟讀 Ep.K453: While You’re Up in the Air, Dispatchers May Be Home

Two years ago, the Federal Aviation Administration allowed a handful of airlines to let some aircraft dispatchers work remotely to keep travel running smoothly as coronavirus cases ran rampant. Two carriers, Republic Airways and SkyWest Airlines, took the agency up on the offer. But critics say it is long past time to end that practice, arguing that it exposes dispatchers to disruptions and distractions, shields them from oversight and raises concerns about flight safety.

兩年前，美國聯邦航空管理局允許少數航空公司讓一些航機簽派員遠距工作，以便在新冠病例暴增情況下，保持旅行順利進行。共和以及天西兩家航空公司接受了該機構提議。但批評人士說，這種做法早該結束，他們認為這會讓簽派員受到干擾跟分心，讓他們免受監督，並引發對飛行安全的擔憂。

Dispatchers typically work from secure facilities known as airline operations centers. There, they play a crucial role, sharing operational authority over flights with pilots. Dispatchers put together comprehensive flight plans, charting routes, accounting for weather and turbulence, and ensuring that a given plane is ready and safe to fly. If an emergency arises or weather patterns change, they work with pilots to adjust course or address any problems.

簽派員通常在被稱為航空作業中心的安全設施內工作。他們在那裡發揮至關重要作用，與機長分享飛航操作權限。簽派員制定全面的飛行計畫、繪製航線圖、考量天氣和亂流，確保簽派的飛機準備就緒並能安全飛行。若出現緊急情況或天氣模式發生變化，他們會跟機長一同調整航線或解決問題。

Since first allowing dispatchers at some airlines to work remotely in the summer of 2020, the FAA has expanded the policy, permitting as many as 60% of the dispatchers at Republic to do so. SkyWest allows remote work when local coronavirus cases are high or when the airline deems it necessary, the FAA said. United Airlines was also given the option but hasn’t used it.

自2020年夏天首次允許一些航空公司簽派員遠距工作後，美國聯邦航空管理局擴大這一政策，允許共和航空多達60%簽派員遠距工作。美國聯邦航空管理局表示，天西航空也獲准在當地新冠病毒病例增多或航空公司認為有必要時，進行遠距工作。聯合航空也獲得這一選擇，但一直沒有使用。

SkyWest did not say how many dispatchers it employed; Republic said it employs more than 80. The Transport Workers Union, which has fought the FAA on the remote working practice since the beginning, estimated that about eight Republic dispatchers work from home on a typical day, managing about 150 flights. (The SkyWest dispatchers are not unionized.)

天西航空並未透露雇用多少簽派員，共和航空則稱雇用超過80人。從一開始就反對美國聯邦航空管理局遠距工作做法的運輸工人工會估計，共和航空每天約8位簽派員居家上班，管理大約150個航班。（天西航空的簽派員未加入該工會）。

The union and other critics say that while the number of dispatchers working remotely is limited, the practice sets a dangerous precedent. The Airline Dispatchers Federation, a national advocacy group composed of working dispatchers, and many experts say the job should be done only from the secure confines of an operations center.

工會及其他批評人士說，儘管遠距工作的簽派員數量有限，但這種做法開創一個危險先例。由現職簽派員組成的全國性倡議組織航空簽派員協會和許多專家說，這項工作只能在作業中心的安全區域內完成。

Republic and SkyWest defended the practice, saying that safety remains a top priority and that they have worked closely with the FAA to ensure that dispatchers who work remotely are held to high standards.

共和航空跟天西航空則為這一做法辯護，稱安全仍是首要任務，他們與美國聯邦航空管理局密切合作，以確保遠距工作的簽派員遵守高標準。

Both airlines fly typically short routes for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United. SkyWest also flies for Alaska Airlines. Together, they carried nearly 53 million passengers within the United States last year, according to federal data.

這兩家航空公司通常為美國航空、達美航空和聯合航空提供短程航班。天西航空也為阿拉斯加航空公司提供服務。聯邦數據顯示，這些航班去年在美國境內共運送近5300萬名乘客。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2022/10/11/2003786775