Sir - The Independent Pilots Association (IPA) commends the letter from Chris Darke, general secretary of the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) on licence validations within the European Union (EU) (Flight International, 11-17 October, P49).
The IPA is also concerned that licence validations have been issued to non-EU licence holders. It understands, however, that BALPA has agreed to a proposal that British Airways can employ USAir pilots on contract. This seems to contradict BALPA policy and is another case of BALPA siding with BA, allowing it to delay recruitment of UK/EU pilots until 1996.
The US Airline Pilots Association and the Canadian pilots' union are extremely protective about non-nationals working on contract in the USA and Canada. So strong is the Canadian position that, when Air 3000 aircraft are operated for Air 2000, they can still only be flown by Canadian pilots.
Is this another case of the UK authorities following the letter of the law implicitly, to the detriment of UK (and now EU) pilots, with the help of the national pilots' union?
Capt. IVOR BENNETT
Director, IPA
Haywards Heath, Sussex, UK
...Sir - Having expressed concern about licence validations being permitted on non-EU licences, why is it that, a few days later, Chris Darke wrote in reply to an ex-Dan-Air member in terms which seem to indicate that British Airways is to take on USAir pilots on short-term contracts? He says that USAir is a partner airline, implying that this makes it all right for BA to employ non-EU pilots in operations based in the UK.
This is a good example of BALPA not looking after the best interests of those pilots who do not work for BA.
Capt. DAVID HARLE
Uckfield, Sussex, UK
Source: Flight International
