Solution for pilots

Press, 18 June 1980, Page 1

Solution for pilots

. PA Wellington ! Domestic Air New Zealand pilots will get .the next 13. top jobs in the airline’s international division if an American expert’s solution to a bitter pilots’ seniority dispute is accepted. Professor David Feller, of the. University of California at Berkley—commissioned by the Government’s Aircrew Industrial Tribunal to end the row — has recommended that former National Airways

Corporation domestic captains fill 13 future vacancies for captains in Air New Zealand’s international division. The recommendation is bound to- upset Air New Zealand’s international pilots, although domestic and international pilots undertook last year to abide by any recommendations Professor Feller made. The seniority row, basically concerning the access domestic pilots have to the top international flying jobs, has been simmering

since the merger of N.A.C. and Air New Zealand in 1978.

It blew up last year when Air New Zealand’s domestic pilots went on strike to force their . claim for a “stove-pipe” promotion system.. This would allow domestic pilots promotion to international pilots, ba«ed on length of service.

The next 13 vacancies for command of international aircraft will be taken by existing Boeing 737 captains.