--- title: "Best of 2024: David Spero, President of PASS, on Aviation Safety" description: The America’s Work Force Union Podcast is the nation’s premier daily labor program. Dave Spero from PASS joined us on today’s show. image: https://awf.labortools.com/hubfs/AWF-blog-image-template_PASS_blue.jpg --- 1 min read Season 6, Episode 1 # Best of 2024: David Spero, President of PASS, on Aviation Safety [ awfblog ](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/author/awfblog) January 1, 2025 [America's Work Force Union Podcast](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/americas-work-force-union-podcast) [AFL-CIO](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/afl-cio) [AWF](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/awf) [PASS](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/pass) ![AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_PASS](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_PASS.jpg?width=400&height=400&name=AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_PASS.jpg)   Guest Name: --- Dave Spero Guest Website: --- [PASS](https://www.passnational.org/)  Guest Social Media: --- [ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/PASSNational) [ Twitter](https://twitter.com/passnational) [ YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/) [ LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/professional-aviation-safety-specialists-pass/) Supportive Documents: --- As America's Work Force Union Podcast’s Best of 2024 continues this New Year’s Day, we revisit the Aug. 1 interview with David Spero, President of the [Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS)](https://www.passnational.org/), who shared his insights on the critical role of aviation safety professionals and the challenges they face. Spero highlighted the tentative agreement from 2024 for aviation safety inspectors, a significant achievement after two and a half years of bargaining. This contract includes financial gains, recruitment incentives and provisions for on-the-job training. Spero emphasized the importance of these inspectors, who oversee every aspect of the aviation industry and ensure adherence to safety standards and regulations. One of the major challenges Spero addressed is the staffing shortage in the air traffic organization. He recounted a recent incident in Chicago where a radar malfunction led to a ground stop at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Spero said that the stoppage underscored the need for adequate staffing and training to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Spero advocated for a comprehensive workforce plan to address attrition and prepare for future technological advancements. He stressed the importance of hiring and training new technicians before experienced workers retire, ensuring a seamless transition and maintaining safety standards. Listen to the episode above for more on the critical role of aviation safety specialists and the future of air travel.   --- America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues. America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ##### SUBSCRIBE ON: --- [![Group 342](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png?width=171&name=Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/id1511224946) [![Group 341](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Spotify%20Button-Dark.png?width=100&name=Spotify%20Button-Dark.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/0GzkHxFSBxiXvuX0lZpQBn) [![Group 343](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20343.png?width=135&name=Group%20343.png)](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast-62567752/) [![Group 339](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20339.png?width=110&name=Group%20339.png)](https://www.pandora.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/PC:47979) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20397.png?width=125&name=Group%20397.png)](https://americasworkforceradiopodcast.podbean.com/) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YouTube_button.png?width=125&name=YouTube_button.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQo1PAtRAel1_tS7-PQOkA)   #### [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/brotherhood-of-railroad-signalmen-on-the-union-pacific-merger-threat) : July 6, 2026 # Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat Brandon Elvey, Secretary-Treasurer of the [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen](https://www.brs.org/),... 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