Following the Channel 4 Dispatches report on Ryanair’s minimal fuel policies which includ3ed details of 3 of the airlines planes requiring emergency landings in the same night at Spain’s Valencia single runway airport; it seems the companies claims of having the best airline safety in Europe, is looking a little thin.
Ryanair have had a few incidents over a period of four days in August days, according to reports on the AV Herald website, including 2 flights diverted with engine problems.
On the 12th August, a Ryanair Boeing 737-800, flight (FR-6370) from Barcelona to Las Palmas in Spain with 168 passengers, was not far from Faro in Portugal when the crew reported engine trouble. It had to turn around and divert to Faro Airport and made a safe landing on runway 28 about 45 minutes later.
On 16 August, another Ryanair Boeing 737-800 on a flight from Bremen (Germany) to Vilnius (Lithuania) with 164 passengers, rejected takeoff from Bremen’s runway 09 at low speed after the crew noticed a strong odour in the cockpit. The aircraft slowed safely and returned to the apron.
Also on the same day, a second Ryanair Boeing 737-800, from Tenerife Sur Reina Sofia,CI (Spain) to Billund (Denmark), was climbing out of Tenerife’s runway 08 when the crew stopped the climb at 7000 feet reporting engine trouble. The aircraft descended to 4000 feet to burn off fuel and returned to Tenerife, making a safe landing on runway 08 about 2 hours after departure.
These incidents occurred 2 days prior to, and fours days after; Ryanair sacked it’s longest serving airline pilot, John Goss, for speaking out over the companies attitudes toward health and safety.
This despite the fact he was the airline company’s Chief Safety pilot and that in April of this year, The International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) took the opportunity at its 68th Annual Conference in Dublin to recognise Ryanair’s longest-serving airline pilot for his outstanding contribution to the profession.
The Presidential Citation, the highest award given by IFALPA, acknowledges Captain John Goss’ professionalism and recognises his exceptional commitment to the Ryanair pilot community during his 26-year career with the company.
During his acceptance speech, Captain Goss described some of the situations that he and his colleagues experience, emphasising the implications that personal distress can have on the ability of pilots to perform their duties safely. He also called on national aviation authorities to act on pilots’ reports about potential cracks in their companies’ safety culture.
In 2004, Captain Goss took legal proceedings in Ireland to protect himself from unfair dismissal – a move that did not go unnoticed by his peers. “Capt. Goss’ determination to seek justice and stand up for the rights and concerns of the entire pilot community is a particularly honourable act,” said Nico Voorbach, president of the European Cockpit Association, the body that represents 38,000 European pilots.
Voorbach added that the award comes at a very challenging moment when it is reported that Ryanair’s employment model is being investigated by a number of authorities across Europe. He said: “We hope this award will reinforce Ryanair pilots’ determination to strive for fair employment conditions and continue to be united in their effort.”
German tax authorities have recently raided the private homes of Ryanair pilots as part of an investigation into its employment model, which is said to be based on a complex system of contractual relationships and broker agencies. Italian and French authorities have also initiated legal proceedings against Ryanair for failure to pay appropriate social-insurance contributions.
Source:
Aviation Herald / SHP / Unionsafety
Concerns over air safety? Check out the Aviation Jerald website here
See also: Ryanair Pilots Group Blows The Whistle On Fuel Safety Failings
