David Learmount/LONDON
Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport has been blacklisted as unsafe by the International Federation of Airline Pilots (IFALPA) for putting pressure on pilots to use runways chosen for environmental considerations rather than flight safety.
IFALPA chief Rob McKinnis says that the Federation is concerned that environmental lobbies will succeed progressively more often in gaining perceived advantage at the expense of flight safety.
Schiphol, one of Europe's leading airports, moved quickly to try and limit the damage done by IFALPA's allegation, saying that its preferred runway scheme never results in pilots being asked to land in situations beyond their normal training, or to land aircraft beyond manufacturers' limitations.
Talks are planned between the two sides later this month in an attempt to resolve an issue first raised by the Dutch pilots association more than a year ago.
Slapping a "black star" on Schiphol is the latest move by IFALPA in an increasingly public campaign to improve aviation safety around the world. The Federation has long had a blacklist of poor performing countries and airports, but in the past has attempted to keep this out of the public domain, preferring instead to pursue attempts to improve the situation behind closed doors.
What is effectively now a "name and shaming" policy first became evident when IFALPA exposed the dangers of poor African air traffic control. At its recent annual conference in Montreal, Canada, African ATC retained its blacklisting, and Argentine ATC was awarded one for the first time. Greek ATC has had a threatened blacklisting suspended, pending a report by an IFALPA delegation invited to Greece in mid-June.
Argentine airspace has been blacklisted following long-standing reports of problems from pilots flying in the country's airspace. IFALPA says it has received a negative response from the Argentine aviation authorities.
In most of Africa, says IFALPA's executive director Cathy Bill, it is still essential for pilots to use the common air-to-air frequency to ensure their own adequate separation from aircraft in the same airspace, but IFALPA says that a start has been made to improve communications between ATC centres.
Source: Flight International
