FZ whistleblower goes to media - EK next?
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I want to thank everyone for getting in touch. I know it’s not easy. Thank you for taking us into your trust and know that your confidentiality will be protected. This is a huge story for RT and we will run with it for as long as possible. But personally I want to promise you that I will stay on it – even when it is no longer breaking news I will still continue to investigate. Anything that anyone thinks of that is a new angle or new development, please let me know as this helps push the story back into the public eye. Best of luck to you all and please stay safe. My deepest respect, Paula Slier [email protected]
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Dear Management,
We write as a group of First Officers currently employed in Oman Air and this letter reflects the thoughts and cocerns of its signees only.
We would like to bring the following points to the attention of the management for consideration and correction:
ROSTER
In the past year, due to crew shortages, the majority of First Officers have been scheduled an average of 85 or more hours per month. In some cases annual leave was denied and/or shortened as well.
There is no “pattern” or Fatigue Management System in place, therefore morning, afternoon and night flights are planned in such a way that they require a massive effort in body clock adjustments, which is a big contributing factor in accumulating fatigue. There is not enough time to readjust or rest between some flight shifts (i.e. morning to night, night to morning) or enough Off Days to recover. This is also reflected in an increased number of sick leave absences.
The latest roster changes increased Duty Times even further.
We would like to point out that whilst our roster is “legal” from a regulatory standpoint, it doesn't necessarily mean it's “healthy” as well.
All of us are starting to feel the onset and consequences of accumulated fatigue.
We therefore ask the management to acknoledge and take serious and expedite action to address this problem. We strongly request for the implementation of a Fatigue Management System and the introduction of additional Off Days to be able to operate SAFELY the proposed roster.
As pilots, we believe SAFETY is everyone's priority, and we feel this has been overlooked and second placed in favour of commercial aspects during the last year.
We understand that as a Company we have to make adjustments to become profitable, but these adjustments should also cater for employees well being. The hiring process of additional workforce is not happening in pace with the increased requirement, resulting in all of us being pushed to the limit.
PERFORMANCE PAY
The new roster scheme has introduced a lot of ground time and/or Augmented Crew for a lot of flights, resulting in a major increase in Duty Times. Apart from the Fatigue considerations expressed above, this also heavily impacts on the Performance Pay of each of us. We are currently payed by block hours, thus this increase in Duty Hours and decrease in Flying Hours translates into “work more, for less”.
We ask the management to take action to correct this situation, eitherreverting to Duty Hour pay or introducing some form of compensation for the extensive Duty Times.
The new upgrade/fleet transfer policies have already had a negative impact on Pilot's motivation, these new changes further affect us in a negative way.
We are afraid this might cause further resignations, which will penalise the Company and us even more.
We are willing to discuss these matters further with the Managent to address these problems, which have become of primary importance to us all.
We write as a group of First Officers currently employed in Oman Air and this letter reflects the thoughts and cocerns of its signees only.
We would like to bring the following points to the attention of the management for consideration and correction:
ROSTER
In the past year, due to crew shortages, the majority of First Officers have been scheduled an average of 85 or more hours per month. In some cases annual leave was denied and/or shortened as well.
There is no “pattern” or Fatigue Management System in place, therefore morning, afternoon and night flights are planned in such a way that they require a massive effort in body clock adjustments, which is a big contributing factor in accumulating fatigue. There is not enough time to readjust or rest between some flight shifts (i.e. morning to night, night to morning) or enough Off Days to recover. This is also reflected in an increased number of sick leave absences.
The latest roster changes increased Duty Times even further.
We would like to point out that whilst our roster is “legal” from a regulatory standpoint, it doesn't necessarily mean it's “healthy” as well.
All of us are starting to feel the onset and consequences of accumulated fatigue.
We therefore ask the management to acknoledge and take serious and expedite action to address this problem. We strongly request for the implementation of a Fatigue Management System and the introduction of additional Off Days to be able to operate SAFELY the proposed roster.
As pilots, we believe SAFETY is everyone's priority, and we feel this has been overlooked and second placed in favour of commercial aspects during the last year.
We understand that as a Company we have to make adjustments to become profitable, but these adjustments should also cater for employees well being. The hiring process of additional workforce is not happening in pace with the increased requirement, resulting in all of us being pushed to the limit.
PERFORMANCE PAY
The new roster scheme has introduced a lot of ground time and/or Augmented Crew for a lot of flights, resulting in a major increase in Duty Times. Apart from the Fatigue considerations expressed above, this also heavily impacts on the Performance Pay of each of us. We are currently payed by block hours, thus this increase in Duty Hours and decrease in Flying Hours translates into “work more, for less”.
We ask the management to take action to correct this situation, eitherreverting to Duty Hour pay or introducing some form of compensation for the extensive Duty Times.
The new upgrade/fleet transfer policies have already had a negative impact on Pilot's motivation, these new changes further affect us in a negative way.
We are afraid this might cause further resignations, which will penalise the Company and us even more.
We are willing to discuss these matters further with the Managent to address these problems, which have become of primary importance to us all.
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@JyotiScindia
I don't get it. Are you hoping, like many pilots here, that management will read your forum post and react on it or have you sent it directly to management's address?
I mean: there are a lot of management trolls and company's men here, but let's be serious...
I don't get it. Are you hoping, like many pilots here, that management will read your forum post and react on it or have you sent it directly to management's address?
I mean: there are a lot of management trolls and company's men here, but let's be serious...
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Nope I suspect it is a chest beating exercise. You see we all know that the powers that be do not care, have no oversight and can do whatever they want in the Middle East.
That however does not stop us being human, we have a right to air and it is healthy to air grievances in a constructive poster above seems to have done that. It is highy likely that they alongside many other pilots have done so to the mgt in the past and nothing has happened, it is highly likely that nothing will change.
However the poster has gotten a weight off, we hear that weight, we sigh with them collectively for we are brothers and sisters in flight and we are now better informed as to what colour the grass is on someone elses side of the fence.
Now if that isn't the essence of what this site is for please enlighten me. A little bit of CRM would be nice. We all need someone to listen even if it just means we are heard and dont have to bottle it up for another flight.
Lets face it its not like we dont have enough stress to deal with!
That however does not stop us being human, we have a right to air and it is healthy to air grievances in a constructive poster above seems to have done that. It is highy likely that they alongside many other pilots have done so to the mgt in the past and nothing has happened, it is highly likely that nothing will change.
However the poster has gotten a weight off, we hear that weight, we sigh with them collectively for we are brothers and sisters in flight and we are now better informed as to what colour the grass is on someone elses side of the fence.
Now if that isn't the essence of what this site is for please enlighten me. A little bit of CRM would be nice. We all need someone to listen even if it just means we are heard and dont have to bottle it up for another flight.
Lets face it its not like we dont have enough stress to deal with!
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PS123, thanks for your support with this issue, I think its time to move up a gear.
I read that 60 pilots have come forward with fatigue issues...which is good, but to give this issue the weight it so desperately needs, we require some input and recommendations from other qualified sources.
Comment, or better still interviews with rostering staff, counterbalanced with scientific answers from an AME ( aeromedical examiner ) would properly highlight the issue.
It would be most revealing to have the Rostering Personnel go through a typical roster with the AME ( or a Sleep disorder specialist) and have them explain exactly how the crew member should 'manage' their sleep. Ie, times they are expected to sleep given a set of rostered duties.
The results would be clear - in many cases it would be impossible to get the medically recommended amount of quality restorative sleep - and they know it !
I've queried how to manage day/night swaps and 18 - 30hrs rest periods with the head of crew scheduling in my company. Guidance on how to cope with a roster he had generated was refused. The only response was "When I used to work shifts it was difficult switching from day to night and I always felt tired, you'll get used to it."
I never have got used to it, maybe its time to ask the experts.
I read that 60 pilots have come forward with fatigue issues...which is good, but to give this issue the weight it so desperately needs, we require some input and recommendations from other qualified sources.
Comment, or better still interviews with rostering staff, counterbalanced with scientific answers from an AME ( aeromedical examiner ) would properly highlight the issue.
It would be most revealing to have the Rostering Personnel go through a typical roster with the AME ( or a Sleep disorder specialist) and have them explain exactly how the crew member should 'manage' their sleep. Ie, times they are expected to sleep given a set of rostered duties.
The results would be clear - in many cases it would be impossible to get the medically recommended amount of quality restorative sleep - and they know it !
I've queried how to manage day/night swaps and 18 - 30hrs rest periods with the head of crew scheduling in my company. Guidance on how to cope with a roster he had generated was refused. The only response was "When I used to work shifts it was difficult switching from day to night and I always felt tired, you'll get used to it."
I never have got used to it, maybe its time to ask the experts.
Last edited by Guided accordingly; 30th Mar 2016 at 00:00. Reason: Spelling !
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@JyotiScindia
PS123 this poster has committed the cardinal sin. He mentions the fatigue word then says give us some more money and the fatigue issues go away....
Guided
EASA FTL now has a disruptive duty element for home base night to day transitions. I might be a long playing record but the 18-30 hour was a UK CAP rule based on charter airlines operating day / night transitions to Florida - which guess what they still do. There are also some rotations e.g. night/day with 18-30hr rest periods which are scientifically proven to be safe as long as crews rest and try and stay in their local TZ e.g. DXB time.
In terms of being able to cope with a set of flights in a roster, I suspect your Company has a "state of the art" FRMS tool such as SAFE, or BAM bolted onto the Scheduling system. The only minor problem with these are they are validated for all airlines not YOUR airline. To validate crews should take part in surveys, wear motion watches blah blah.
Let's hope some of this stuff comes out of the Fly Dubai incident.
PS123 this poster has committed the cardinal sin. He mentions the fatigue word then says give us some more money and the fatigue issues go away....
Guided
It would be most revealing to have the Rostering Personnel go through a typical roster with the AME ( or a Sleep disorder specialist) and have them explain exactly how the crew member should 'manage' their sleep. Ie, times they are expected to sleep given a set of rostered duties.
The results would be clear - in many cases it would be impossible to get the medically recommended amount of quality restorative sleep - and they know it !
I've queried how to manage day/night swaps and 18 - 30hrs rest periods with the head of crew scheduling in my company. Guidance on how to cope with a roster he had generated was refused. The only response was "When I used to work shifts it was difficult switching from day to night and I always felt tired, you'll get used to it."
I never have got used to it, maybe its time to ask the experts.
29th Mar 2016 09:30
The results would be clear - in many cases it would be impossible to get the medically recommended amount of quality restorative sleep - and they know it !
I've queried how to manage day/night swaps and 18 - 30hrs rest periods with the head of crew scheduling in my company. Guidance on how to cope with a roster he had generated was refused. The only response was "When I used to work shifts it was difficult switching from day to night and I always felt tired, you'll get used to it."
I never have got used to it, maybe its time to ask the experts.
29th Mar 2016 09:30
In terms of being able to cope with a set of flights in a roster, I suspect your Company has a "state of the art" FRMS tool such as SAFE, or BAM bolted onto the Scheduling system. The only minor problem with these are they are validated for all airlines not YOUR airline. To validate crews should take part in surveys, wear motion watches blah blah.
Let's hope some of this stuff comes out of the Fly Dubai incident.
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Flydubai does not have an FRMS
Despite there being just one sentence in 'Part A' that says one exists.
One of the top management has been quoted as saying, 'fatigue is not an issue, therefore we do not require FRMS'.
make of that what you will
Despite there being just one sentence in 'Part A' that says one exists.
One of the top management has been quoted as saying, 'fatigue is not an issue, therefore we do not require FRMS'.
make of that what you will
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Ruserious: exactly by the way this is just a topic of the latest RT report
https://www.rt.com/news/338442-emira...leblower-site/
Interresting stuff to read as well:
https://donotflyemirates.wordpress.com/
https://www.rt.com/news/338442-emira...leblower-site/
Interresting stuff to read as well:
https://donotflyemirates.wordpress.com/
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Not related to this region but relevant none the less. Interesting that the performance degradation due to fatigue is quantified. Wonder if the same will be done with respect to the FZ investigation. Methinks not.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...le-bef-423659/
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...le-bef-423659/
Last edited by Rather Be Skiing; 6th Apr 2016 at 07:25.
