Flight Director Tomas Hesthammer in English does not recognize himself in allegations that aviation safety is less a priority.
Sunday disappeared AirAsia flights between Indonesia and Singapore with 162 people aboard. Five planes, three helicopters, 12 marie vessels and warships are inserted in the search for the missing plane. The incident has highlighted the debate on air safety.
On Monday, the leader in aviation safety committee in Norwegian pilot union, Jo Bjorn Skatval, VG that increased competition in the international aviation leads to cost pressures for airlines, and thus that proactively security work is reduced.
The statement gets airline Norwegian to react.
– I want to see these statistics he refers to when it comes to the safety work is not prioritized as high as before. I can not recognize me in our company, says flight operations manager Tomas Hesthammer company VG.
– If we look at all three major European low cost carriers, airlines, Easyjet and Ryanair, then enough, none of them want to acknowledge the allegations he comes, he adds.
Taking responsibility seriously
Skatval mean among other things that it should be researched consequences of flight time for flight personnel increases, also in Norway. He points out that the US has placed restrictions on flight time for its pilots after investigations showed that the flight time increased.
Flight Director Tomas Hesthammer in English does not recognize himself in Norwegian pilot federal safety refs .
Photo: Jorgen Braastad , VG
– US and Europe have different regulations. One can not immediately compare the European and US regulatory and let these compete for the best aviation safety. It’s like comparing apples to pears, says Hesthammer.
The European legislation is based on an EU standard that provides maximum limits for how airline personnel can be used with regard to service times and flight times.
I do not know one company that utilizes crew maximum limits – most located on a section which is far lower. Companies themselves are also required to follow up crew with respect to flight safety and workload, and takes course this responsibility seriously, says Norwegian-flight boss.
Fearing unfortunate development
According Skatval had airlines ten years ago additional security measures, which went beyond the requirements of the authorities. These are now gone, as a consequence of the tough competition, he said.
The General Manager of Aerial Operational forum, Morten Kjellesvig supports Skat Vals statements.
-The authorities were before normative, while companies themselves chose to set a higher standard. Now, lower the standard for government minimum. It is not a fortunate development, says Kjellesvig VG.
Kjellesvig emphasizes that flying is a highly secure means of transport, but wants more focus on safety.
– For the future we see possibly a trend that it is so safe to fly that we do not need to spend more resources on security – it could be a pretext for the lead when finances are in focus.
Affects content rules
CAA keeps the focus on working conditions and working environment in Norwegian airline. Anyone working in aviation have a duty to report incidents, serious incidents and accidents. CAA receives around 6,000 reports of accidents and incidents every year, says communications consultant Bjørn Erlandsen told VG.
– Pilots have the right and obligation to report if they are too tired or too sick to carry flight. CAA sits on a relatively small number of reports about this and have no cover to say that there is a hidden problem. Nor do we have coverage to say that it does not occur underreporting, he said.
Erlandsen stressed that they are relying on reports from companies and pilots to identify any problem and adopt measures in relation to the issue.
Norwegian rules of service for crew and pilots have remained unchanged since 2008. New common European rules are adopted and will take effect from February 2016.
– We have worked closely with Norwegian cabin Association, Norwegian Pilots Association and the United Federation to influence the content and design of the new rules, and this work has led to the common European rules have been changed. Among other consideration is now a Norwegian rule limit on the number of landings in a work period in the European legislation, says Erlandsen.
Over the New Year will crewmembers in every airline in Norway will be invited to participate in a extensive poll. The results will be used as a basis for future supervision of the work environment.
Meanwhile, CAA invited a workgroup set down by the EU Aviation Safety Agency EASA, to assess supervisory challenges arising from new business models.
– Regrettable infallsvinkel
Hesthammer believes the link between flyforsvinningen and Skat Vals statements are regrettable.
I get upset when I hear such claims as he comes with. He takes an accident that we do not yet know the reason, and turn it to be a case for Norwegian pilot union. It is regrettable that flyer associated use this approach to promote a political opinion, he said.
Skatval says that he lectured on Aerial Operational forum on the topic nine months ago.
– The is terrible that this first comes into focus when an accident happens, he said.
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