Qantas pilots step up campaign against single pilot operations in wake of mid-air engine failure

Qantas has faced a second 737 drama in as many days as pilots step up campaign against push for single pilot operations.

A Qantas Boeing 737 surrounded by emergency vehicles after losing an engine an hour before landing in Sydney. Picture: Andrew Leeson/AFP

Qantas pilots have pointed to a rare mid-air engine failure as further evidence of the need to maintain two pilots on the flight deck, as the airline handed over the cockpit voice recorder to investigators.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau announced on Thursday it would examine the incident which saw one of the two engines on the Boeing 737 fail two-thirds of the way through a flight from Auckland to Sydney.

Three transport safety investigators had been assigned to the case with experience in “aircraft maintenance, aircraft operations and data recovery”, the ATSB said.

A statement also noted that the cockpit voice and flight data recorders had been quarantined by Qantas at the request of the ATSB.

The investigation got underway as another Qantas Boeing 737 was forced to return to Sydney after a mechanical fault unrelated to the engine.

A Qantas spokeswoman said a fault indicator had occurred on flight QF101 to Fiji and pilots followed standard procedure.

After dumping fuel the flight returned to Sydney and “landed normally”.

At the same time, Qantas pilots pointed to Wednesday’s engine loss as further evidence of the need to maintain two pilot operations, amid an international push to go to a single pilot.

The European Aviation Safety Agency is preparing a framework for single pilot ops, made possible by technologically advanced aircraft.

EASA has confirmed the move would only be allowed after thorough investigation and due diligence at all levels.

Australian and International Pilots Association vice-president Mark Hofmeyer, a Qantas first officer, said there was no question flight QF144 would have had a different outcome if it was a single pilot operation.

“I think while technologically (single pilot operations) might be achievable, commercially it’s not going to be viable for a long time,” said Mr Hofmeyer.

“Pilots work as a team for a safe outcome.”

Australian and International Pilots Association vice president Mark Hofmeyer.

Mr Hofmeyer said autopilots on aeroplanes were not unlike a “fancy cruise control”, in the sense they were useful to pilots but unable to make decisions.

“The don’t manage the situation like would’ve happened yesterday,” Mr Hofmeyer said.

“That relied on two well-trained, well-rested pilots to achieve that outcome. You work as a team. I think it’s a very good demonstration why now and in the future you still need two pilots.”

Mr Hofmeyer said images of the Boeing 737’s right engine with what appeared to be a gaping hole, was in fact simply the deployment of the reverse thrust.

“What happens is an engine sleeve slides backwards and that allows the engine thrust to be directed forwards as a braking manoeuvre,” he said.

“It improves landing performance, and that photo was taken at the point where reverse thrust was activated.”

The ATSB said passenger-carrying operations were the bureau’s highest investigation priority, as work began to explain the engine failure.

As well as downloading recorders, an ATSB spokesman said they would interview the flight crew, review operator procedures, analyse weather information and examine relevant engine components.

“Our investigators will now work methodically to progressively establish the incident’s sequence of events and contextual information, with a view to determining contributing factors and any underlying safety issues, which will be detailed in the investigation’s final report,” said the spokesman.