Poor Planning By Qantas Claimed

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31239, 10 December 1966, Page 15

Poor Planning By Qantas Claimed

(N Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) MELBOURNE, Dec. 9. The Australian Federation of Air Pilots yesterday issued a circular accusing Qantas of mismanagement and poor planning. The circular was sent to business and political leaders, professional men, clubs and associations in all the Australian states. In another statement the Australasian Air Navigators’ Association has backed the Qantas pilots on their stand regarding air safety issues. The federation’s circular alleged Qantas was trying to lower its safety standards to cover a shortage of pilots. The circular said the Department of Civil Aviation

had stopped the Australian domestic airlines using Boeing 727 s at Hobart until the airport was equipped with an instrument landing system, visual glide slope and specific lighting aids. It added: “D.C.A. and Qantas are aware that Djakarta does not have these essential aids. “It appears to our pilots that D.C.A. has two standards for safety-one applied in Australia and the other outside. “Pilots cannot possibly accept final resolution of these matters in which they have no say and, in the interest of safety of passengers and aircraft, the pilot and his crew must stand against all pressures.” In Sydney yesterday the striking Qantas pilots took their dispute with the airline to the equity court. The action relates to two safety issues which are in dispute—night landings at Djakarta and the use of twopilot crews on flights to New Zealand. In another development yesterday, the president of the Australian Federation of Air Pilots, Captain R. T. Holt, laid down the pilots’ terms for a return to work. One of the terms is that

there will be no night flights to Djakarta at present. The Prime Minister, Mr Harold Holt, will discuss the Qantas strike today with the Minister for Labour and National Service, Mr L. H. E. Bury, and the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr R. W. C. Swartz.