BRITISH AIRWAYS' controversial plan to use 30 USAir Boeing 737 co-pilots at its London Gatwick hub hangs in the balance, after the UK Department for Employment and Education (DfEE) indicated that it is unlikely to grant the pilots work permits.
The DfEE told BA on 5 January that it is "...minded not to approve the applications as they stand", although it is "still in discussions with BA about the applications. We only approve such applications when suitable resident workers are not available," it adds. BA has asked the DfEE to review its decision by 18 January.
BA had planned to use surplus USAir pilots to cover a six-month shortage at Gatwick. Failure to secure the permits could force BA to abandon plans to place co-pilots on Commander courses until cadets can be trained to replace them at Gatwick.
The airline says that, as the pilots are still employed by USAir, its global-alliance partner, it would not breach a settlement reached with ex-Dan Air pilots. The pilots won an unfair-dismissal case in 1995 following BA's take-over of the UK airline.
As a result of the case, BA gave an undertaking that it would consider suitable candidates from this pool of pilots before other direct-entry pilots.
Mark Pearson, a director of the Independent Pilots Association (IPA), which opposes the BA plan, claims that 737-type-rated UK and European economic-area pilots are available to fill the positions.
Pearson says that his organisation received a request from the DfEE concerning the availability of pilots, and the "time-scales and costs of type-rating pilots".
He adds: "A TOTAL OF 145, UK, 737-type-rated pilots are registered as being unemployed with the IPA, the Pilot Job Centre and Best Aircrew," he says.
Source: Flight International
