Airline pilots seek a closer estimate

Press, 17 November 1981, Page 3

Airline pilots seek a closer estimate

PA Auckland The Airline Pilots’ Association is expected this week to press Air New Zealand for a more precise estimate of pilot jobs to become redundant.

The A.P.L., representing one of the groups expected to be most severely affected by redundancies, say they are having trouble “pinning the airline down” to close estimates.

Increasing numbers of pilots are finding temporary flying positions overseas, but others are faced with problems because of indecision over their future.

The problem will be raised at a central board meeting of the association tomorrow.

Under plans being discussed by the management of the airline and the airline employees' group, leave without pay for up to three years is one proposal expected to be approved.

Much of the indecision results from the uncertainty over the airline’s DCIO fleet.

The airline hopes to have sold all seven remaining DClOs by next October, but the aircraft are proving very hard to sell. Sources say there is a possibility of selling two more DClOs (one was sold earlier this year), but transactions are far from firm.

Pilots have been pressing the airline to keep the DClOs flying where possible.

The airline said yesterday the estimate of 900 fewer staff by next October was not a firm plan, and could be subject to many influences in the meantime. It was an attempt to identify manpower needs in the future, said the spokesman, Mr Craig Saxton. “The airline gave it to the staff group as a perspective — a requirement that might be borne in mind." Mr Saxton said the airline was concerned that the estimate had been leaked to the news media.

A big problem hampering the airline in its talks with unions and staff groups was the “illicit” release of information under discussion.