Qantas pilots fight longer flights with CASA

Qantas pilots are going to court over a new fatigue risk management scheme which increases maximum flight times.

Qantas pilots preparing for the second Project Sunrise test flight from London to Sydney on November 14, 2019. Picture: Supplied

Qantas pilots are pursuing legal action against the Civil Aviation Safety Authority over new fatigue risk management regulations that will extend maximum flight times by two hours.

The move by the Australian and International Pilots Association follows CASA’s approval of a new fatigue risk management system (FRMS) for Qantas, without consulting their members.

Among the changes that have concerned pilots, is the extension of maximum flight times from 18-hours to 20-hours and minimum rest requirements.

AIPA vice president Shane Loney said it was extremely disappointing that pilots were not consulted by CASA, particularly after raising concerns about elevated fatigue risks.

“It beggars belief that pilots could be ignored on this vital safety issue,” Captain Loney said.

“In refusing to engage with AIPA, the regulator CASA has ignored international conventions and denied itself necessary information to allow a fully informed decision on fatigue.”

The matter will be heard in the Federal Court after AIPA originally made application to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal that CASA erred in approving the Qantas FRMS.

CASA challenged the application on the basis the AAT did not have jurisdiction to review the decision, but was unsuccessful.

The regulator then appealed that decision which will now go to the Federal Court, where AIPA will attempt to have the regulator “uphold the proper standards required of a government agency acting in the public interest”.

Captain Loney said CASA was arguing pilots should have no say, despite the FRMS controlling how long they could fly and how little rest they must be provided.

“We understand better than anyone that the aviation industry is in turmoil after COVID,” he said.

“Hundreds of our members are out of work but now is not the time to drop the ball on safety

issues.”

He said Australian pilots had a proud history of maintaining the world’s safest airline industry and they “intend to keep it that way”.

A CASA spokesman said AIPA had a representative participating in the technical working group with which CASA consulted in the development of the new fatigue rules.

“This technical working group met throughout 2018 and 2019,” he said.

Hundreds of pilots remain stood down by Qantas, with regular international flights not expected to resume until the second half of 2021, other than within travel bubbles.

Much of the airline’s wide bodied fleet has been sent to California for storage, including the A380s and 787-9s.

Some A330s are continuing to operate freight-only flights for the carrier, under the federal government’s International Freight Assistance Mechanism.

A number of airlines are sharing in $317m in funding under IFAM to carry freight out of the country, until June 30, 2021.