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For media enquiries, and to arrange interviews with Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) spokespeople, please contact Phil Davey of Mountain Media on 0414 867 188 or email phil@mountainmedia.com.au.

MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, 23 February 2010

REINTRODUCTION OF AVIATION TRANSPORT REGULATIONS CHANGES COULD NOT ONLY CRIMINALISE PILOTS BUT DECREASE AIR SAFETY

The Federal Government’s reintroduction of changes to the Australian Aviation Transport Regulations preventing licensed pilots accessing the flight deck and transferring legal liability from airlines to pilots could decrease air safety, according to the Australian and International Pilots Association.

Pilots are concerned that the Regulations, which were developed with minimal consultation or expert input by pilots and were last year defeated in the Senate, may be reintroduced in the same form and that this may result in poor quality outcomes.

AIPA President Captain Barry Jackson said of most concern was the potential exclusion of licensed company pilots from the list of people who could travel on the flight deck of their company’s aircraft, as well as the shift of criminal responsibility from the airlines to the pilot in command for safety breaches.

Legal advice prepared by one of Australia’s leading Senior Counsel, Brett Walker, also confirmed AIPA’s view that the new regulations were both inappropriate and unnecessary.

“Shifting criminal responsibility to the pilot in command undermines a long held aviation principle that the airline is ultimately responsible for the actions of its pilots,” Captain Barry Jackson said.

“Any other approach risked allowing airlines to claim they were blameless for accidents and incidents.”

The association has also commissioned an independent risk specialist to investigation the Regulation’s premise that pilots travelling in flight deck jump seats were a safety and security threat.

“The results of this detailed, independent study clearly found that having an additional licensed pilot on the flight deck enhanced safety and security, which is hardly surprising, because if you can’t trust pilots on the flight deck, who can you trust,” Captain Barry Jackson said.

ENDS

Spokesperson: Barry Jackson - 0414 387 684
Media enquiries: Phil Davey - 0414 867 188

MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, 19 January 2010

AUSTRALIA'S PILOTS SLAM JETSTAR FOR ATTITUDE TOWARDS SAFETY WHISTLEBLOWERS

The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) today condemned Jetstar CEO Mr. Bruce Buchanan, over recent comments regarding serious safety problems at Jetstar Pacific.

Last week it was revealed that regulatory authorities in Vietnam had censured Jetstar Pacific over these safety problems. Two courageous Jetstar engineers who had acted as whistleblowers over the safety problems were sacked.

AIPA President Captain Barry Jackson said today that Mr. Buchanan’s behaviour towards these men was appalling.

“Our members continue to contact this Association, deeply concerned about Mr. Buchanan’s attitude to safety, revealed by his public comments about these two engineers.

“Mr. Buchanan’s comment that “there would be no apology nor would these gentlemen be reinstated” frankly sends an ominous signal throughout the Jetstar Group.”

“It appears the points raised by the two engineers have been upheld by Civil Aviation Safety Vietnam, so they have been vindicated. They have done nothing wrong. Jetstar Pacific has in fact been found to have done the wrong thing.”

Captain Jackson said that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was currently implementing a Safety Management System (SMS) worldwide, including ‘Just Culture’ principles. This means any person, no matter what rank or status, is encouraged to report any safety related concerns they may have without fear of retribution.

“In this way an airline can be sure everyone takes responsibility for safety and that individuals can be confident they will not be discouraged, no matter how small their concern may be.”

“The result of Mr. Buchanan’s comments will no doubt be that people will be too scared to report any safety concerns they may have – this is a very dangerous state of affairs in any airline operation, and a disgrace in an operation with close ties to Qantas.”

“Mr. Buchanan’s attitude flies in the face of this international regulatory reform. He needs to sit down with his organisation’s pilots and other employees and work in a collaborative manner on instituting a ‘just culture’ across the Jetstar group. Our Association would welcome such an initiative.”

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, 21 December 2009

UNPRECEDENTED LEGAL ACTION TO STOP THE "SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA" SUBVERTING AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL LAW

The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) will today launch legal action in Fair Work Australia, seeking to stop Qantas from undercutting and undermining the spirit and intent of the Fair Work Act.

AIPA’s strategic legal action is aimed at preventing Australia’s national airline from paying pilots working for its New Zealand based subsidiary; Jetconnect, far below the Australian standard for Qantas pilots – pilots that until earlier this year did this flying.

Currently Jetconnect pilots flying into and out of Australia from New Zealand are missing out on superannuation and other entitlements, earning around 40% less than equivalent work under Australian terms and conditions.

AIPA President Captain Barry Jackson said today that the Qantas group of companies was subverting Australian employment laws and threatening the jobs of pilots in Australia.

“Effectively Qantas is off shoring Trans Tasman flying via its offshoot Jetconnect. It is a deliberate strategy to drive down wages and conditions. There is not enough work for Qantas mainline pilots to do while at the same time Qantas sends our jobs offshore on lower rates of pay.”

“I believe the community expectation of the Qantas Group is that if people are flying on Qantas planes then the pilots should be paid like Qantas pilots.”

“Less than 6 months ago the bulk of Qantas Trans Tasman flying was being done by Qantas pilots, whereas now the work is being done by Jetconnect pilots on far less money.”

“This unusual test case will determine where the Australian Fair Work Act ends and hopefully set limits on the deliberate off shoring of Australian jobs.”