Qantas pilots’ data doubts over ultra-long haul ‘Sunrise’ flights

Qantas pilots say data from this weekend’s ultra-long range test flight won’t be enough to ensure real-world safety.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and Captain Lisa Norman discuss the Australian airline's plans to conduct three ultra-long range research flights. Picture: Supplied.

Qantas pilots have raised concerns about the data being collected on Project Sunrise test flights, suggesting it won’t be enough to ensure the safe operation of ultra-long haul flights.

The Australian and International Pilots Association has signed a memorandum of agreement with Qantas to conduct the three special flights, between London, New York and Sydney.

The first will take place this weekend from New York to Sydney, in a new Boeing 787-9 with about 40 people on board including researchers from Monash and Sydney universities.

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A statement issued by AIPA said the union had agreed to take part in the gathering of data on the flights and would meet with Qantas to assess the results.

“It is important to note that these special flights are exploratory in nature because they exceed anything that has been previously flown and for which useful data exists,” said the statement.

“Pilots believe three special flights will produce a limited set of data that will not adequately replicate real-world flying conditions.”

AIPA safety and technical director Shane Loney said what was needed was a scientific long-term study into the impacts on crew to make sure ultra-long range (ULR) flying was as safe as pilots and Qantas could make it.

“Pilots are concerned about being able to get enough quality rest during ULR flights to maintain peak performance and we believe significant caution should be exercised in the initial operations to make sure there are no unintended consequences,” Captain Loney said.

A Qantas spokesman said the data collected on the test flights was just part of the picture.

“We’ve been working with Monash University since Perth-London flights began (in 2018) to gather data on fatigue and other aspects of human performance to assist with the development of fatigue risk management policies,” he said.

Qantas pilots say that data collected on the airline’s ultra-long range test flights will have only limited relevance to real-world commercial flights. Picture: Brett Winstone

It would ultimately be up to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to assess the data and sign off on the Project Sunrise flights before they begin operation, the spokesman said.

In the meantime, negotiations were continuing with Qantas over a new enterprise agreement under which pilots would operate the Project Sunrise flights.

The issue has created some tension between Qantas and AIPA after CEO Alan Joyce said he wanted similar productivity gains from pilots as they conceded for the entry of 787-9s into service.

Mr Joyce has also set a deadline of the end of the year to have a new agreement in place, and suggested he would walk away from the project if a satisfactory deal could not be reached.

AIPA president Mark Sedgwick said the commercial viability of additional ULR services remained a decision for Qantas.

“However should these types of flights be proven as financially viable, then the overriding consideration is the ability to safely operate such services with appropriate considerations being given to the operating crew,” Mr Sedgwick said.

Qantas hopes to have the flights between Australia’s east coast and cities such as London and New York operating from 2023.

A decision on the aircraft to conduct the flights was expected by the end of the year.