Part-time Jobs For Pilots

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31235, 6 December 1966, Page 19

Part-time Jobs For Pilots

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 4. A large number of Qantas pilots had accepted part-time flying jobs with small airlines on Mediterranean routes while their strike was in progress, it was claimed today by an airline official in London. The Australian Federation of Air Pilots announced in Sydney on Friday that a British operator had offered unlimited work to Qantas pilots. The operator was not named. However, Britain’s two major operators, 8.0.A.C. and 8.E.A., and three of the bigger companies, British United,

British Eagle and Caledonian Airways, have denied offering jobs to striking Qantas pilots. “All of the big operators have their own recruiting programmes and it would be virtually impossible for them to offer jobs en masse to the Qantas men,” the official said. “However, there are dozens of small operators who would welcome qualified pilots for their small-hop jobs.

“And it is a fact that there are quite a few Qantas pilots who have taken the jobs to pay their way during the strike.” ‘A Little Fish’ The official said the only thing that might deter Qantas pilots from taking small parttime jobs was that it would be a “come down.” “A Qantas skipper is faced with the prospect of becoming just a little fish,” the official said. “If he can overcome this he's in business.” The official added that other

pilots had taken work in a variety of jobs but this was more difficult because it meant that they were faced with work-permit problems if they were in foreign countries. The strike is believed to have caused worry among Qantas pilots in London, some of whom have been faced with a serious financial burden. About 20 of the 54 pilots based in London live in Qantas-owned houses. Under an agreement £5 was deducted from their pay each week as a token rent.

The rest live in privatelyowned homes, but pay only £5 weekly rent The company paid the rest. A Qantas spokesman said today that the company had stopped paying the rental allowance for the pilots who lived in privately-owned homes. ‘On Their Own’ “They’re on their own now,” the spokesman said. “But we have no intention of evicting the others from the company-owned homes. “We’ll look after the question of the deducted rent after all this business has been settled.” - A spokesman for the Qantas pilots’ group in London said tonight he “did not know of any Qantas pilots who had accepted part-time flying work, but It’s quite possible.” He said the pilots were determined to maintain their strike and have their demands met. “On this point all the blokes are unanimous,” the spokesman said.