Rex gets DOHA approval for 482 visa pilots

Airline Rex has struck a deal that will allow it to hire pilots, engineers and flight instructors from overseas.

Rex says it will still preference local pilots, instructors and engineers despite getting approval to hire workers on visas. Picture: AAP

Regional Express Airlines has struck a deal with the Department of Home Affairs that will allow the carrier to hire pilots, maintenance engineers and flight instructors from overseas.

Under the five-year labour agreement, foreign workers would be recruited under a subclass 482 temporary skills shortage visa, and could apply for permanent residency after three years.

The deal would allow them to work anywhere in the Rex network which includes 60 destinations throughout regional and remote Australia.

A statement from Rex said the airline “commended the Department of Home Affairs for putting this scheme in place, which will go a long way towards addressing the critical shortage of pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers and flight instructors that has severely impacted the Rex Group and the whole aviation industry in Australia over recent years”.

Rex deputy chairman John Sharp said at the same time, the airline would continue its search for skilled workers in Australia and was 100 per cent committed to supporting local employment.

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“The employment of Australian workers will take precedence over skilled workers from overseas,” Mr Sharp said.

“For example, Rex has gone to extraordinary lengths to overcome the critical shortage of pilots by establishing a pilot academy over 10 years to train local cadets to be airline pilots with Rex.”

But he said the labour agreement would provide much needed assistance in helping Rex fill vacancies for pilots and engineers so that it could continue to provide regular public transport services to remote and regional communities.

“The agreement also allows accessibility to more flight instructors and this will bolster our capability to produce more pilots at our state-of the-art pilot academy based in Wagga Wagga, thereby perpetuating the cycle of pilots to meet the needs of the Rex Group and the broader aviation industry in Australia,” said Mr Sharp.

Rex expected to recruit about 20 workers a year under the agreement.

The deal comes as Rex and the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) await the outcome of a federal circuit court hearing into a letter the airline sent to prospective cadets.

The AFAP claimed the letter constituted “adverse act­ion, coercion and misrepre­sen­tation under the Fair Work Act, and should be retracted with Rex ordered­ to pay civil penalties”.

The letter sought to have cadets submit a handwritten letter explaining how they would give back to the company by volunteering to undertake various activities and actions.

AFAP argued this included staying at cheap accommodation, and committing to remaining with Rex for at least seven years.

The matter was heard over three days before Judge Karl Blake in the Federal Circuit Court in Melbourne last month and a decision reserved.