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Jim Mason
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 Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 6:46 pm Post subject: RYANAIR CLARIFIES FALSE AND INACCURATE COVERAGE OF ITS OPERA |
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News Release
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09.02.07
RYANAIR CLARIFIES FALSE AND INACCURATE COVERAGE OF ITS OPERATING AND SAFETY
PROCEDURES
Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline today (9th Feb) responded to a
number of false and inaccurate reports in the media based on the recent
publication of an investigation into a landing at Cork Airport on 4th June
last year.
1. The report on this incident did not criticise or find fault with
Ryanair. The cause of the incident was properly identified as the pilot
“not adhering to the operators explicit standard operating practices in the
two approaches”.
2. The Board of Ryanair, following this incident, issued a memo to
all Ryanair pilots on 25th Sept 2006 re-stating Ryanair’s policy that any
aircraft which is not at the correct height and speed on approach to an
airport, must perform a “go-around”. This policy prioritises the safety
first option, regardless of schedules, arrival times or turnaround times.
The memo also re-stated Ryanair’s “no blame” policy for “go-arounds”, which
assures every pilot that they will not be blamed for making a “go-around”.
3. The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (which is recognised only
by Aer Lingus in Ireland) claimed that this incident in Cork was linked to
the pressure pilots are under. This claim is false. Ryanair operates
the same 25 minute turnarounds as almost every other low fares airline in
Europe. This is longer than the 20 minute turnarounds operated by many US
low fares airlines. The AAIU report confirms that the cause of the Cork
incident was the pilot’s failure to apply Ryanair’s standard operating
procedures, and had nothing whatsoever to do with turnaround times.
4. BALPA, the British Airways pilot union, falsely claim that “new
computerised work rotas were exploiting every minute of pilots availability
which intensified rosters”. This claim is false. Ryanair’s rosters
are designed manually, and not by computerised work rotas. Ryanair’s
rosters have also been examined and verified as “exceeding best industry
practice” by independent safety experts from NASA in the US and former
Heads of Safety of the UK CAA and the German LBA.
5. Pilot unions also suggested that Ryanair’s memo “would force the
problem underground”. This is another false claim, since Ryanair’s
computerised inflight data monitoring system provides the airline with
details of the speed and altitude of every aircraft during every flight.
It is Ryanair’s unique ability to identify these errors which has given
rise to these reports.
Ryanair has invested heavily in brand new aircraft and simulator training
centres to ensure that all our flights operate to the highest operating and
safety standards. On four occasions out of the 500,000 flights performed
by Ryanair over the past two years, individual pilots have failed to adhere
to these rigorous safety and operating procedures. Ryanair will continue
to instruct its pilots that on these rare occasions they must perform the
safety first “go-around” procedure which prioritises safety, absolves
pilots from all blame, and ensures that no Ryanair aircraft will attempt an
unsafe landing.
Ryanair will not allow this policy, which prioritises safety, to be fudged
in any way by false claims from pilot unions who wish to cover up these
incidents by blaming them on irrelevant and unconnected issues such as
flight punctuality or turnaround times. As Ryanair’s memo to its pilots
makes clear, safety is its No.1 priority, and when in doubt every pilot
should perform a “go-around” and ignore punctuality or turnaround times.
The text of the Board of Ryanair’s Memorandum to Pilots, dated 25th
September 2006 is attached below for information.
MEMORANDUM FROM THE BOARD TO PILOTS
25th September 2006
The Board of Directors of Ryanair has considered our recent experience in
the area of high energy approach incidents over the past two years and has
now adopted a new disciplinary procedure which will apply from today’s date
as follows:-
From 25th September 2006, any event involving any of our aircraft passing
the 500 foot gate incorrectly configured or at excessive speed, which
triggers the GPWS land warning – and which does not perform a “go-around” –
will automatically lead to both crew members being demoted in the case of
their first transgression of this policy. In the event of a second
transgression of this policy, the relevant crew member will be
automatically dismissed. This policy will not apply in exceptional
circumstances; however it will be up to the crew members involved to
persuade the Board as to the nature of these exceptional circumstances.
I trust that you will all join me to ensure that we never ever have cause
to invoke this new policy. If you are in any doubt, default to the safer
option and perform a “go-around”. As you all know, we operate a “no
blame” policy for “go-arounds”. This policy is clearly communicated and I
would re-emphasise to each and every one of you that your safety and the
safety of our passengers, crew and aircraft will always be our number one
priority.
--
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