Pilots have been cautioned not to allow economics to take precedence over safety. Pressures on airlines fighting for survival in an increasingly competitive global market, high fuel prices and legislation like the new European Union passenger compensation law are all cited as reasons pilots must not forget their primary role is to be the final guardians of passenger safety, says the International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations (IFALPA).
The warning was sounded at the 8-12 April IFALPA conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Some 350 delegates from 95 member associations from around the world met to discuss the impact on pilots of a rapidly changing global aviation industry marked by increased consolidation, cost cuts, pressure on yields and competition from low-cost carriers.
IFALPA president Capt Dennis Dolan said by far the biggest concern of pilots was the instability of the global industry – caused by the perilous state of US carriers, few of which have managed to recover from 9/11 – and fuelled by soaring jet fuel prices. "In this business, you cannot take a market the size of the USA and turn it on its side and think it will have no effect on everyone else," he warned.
Rapid change causes uncertainty, affects operations and ultimately safety, he added. "We have to be very careful that we don't allow economics to rule what we're doing. In the cockpit we have to be professional pilots. It's a discipline that needs to exercised on each flight."
Dolan slammed new EU regulations forcing carriers to pay compensation to passengers when flights are delayed beyond 2h or cancelled. "I think the way it's written can have a negative impact on safety," he said.
HILKA BIRNS/CAPE TOWN
Source: Flight International
