Ryanair: approach incidents in the news
From Press Association:
An airline is threatening to sack pilots who fail to abide by its safety
regulations in the wake of a series of dangerous approaches to airports.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has issued a memo to pilots warning
that they will be demoted the first time they make a dangerous approach, and
sacked for a second offence.
The warning follows three serious incidents in less than a year, and the
fourth in two years, involving a Ryanair jet approaching an airport too fast or
at the wrong height and being forced to abort landing.
In the latest incident to emerge, an aircraft flew so low over rooftops that
it triggered two warnings in the cockpit and sixteen complaints from alarmed
residents.
All Ryanair staff are under pressure to meet turnaround times of only 25
minutes, the tightest in the industry, and pilot unions say this can lead to
mistakes.
The memo, dated September 25 2006, a copy of which has been obtained by The
Times, states that a new disciplinary procedure is being introduced in response
to a series of "high energy approach incidents over the past two years".
It adds: "From 25th September 2006, any event involving any of our aircraft
passing the 500ft landing-gate incorrectly configured or at excessive speed... -
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."
Pilot unions fear the memo will force the problem underground, with pilots too
frightened of losing their jobs to co-operate with efforts to find out why the
incidents were happening.
A Ryanair spokeswoman told PA: "The board of Ryanair takes safety extremely
seriously.
"Safety is Ryanair's number one priority. Our safety instruction to all
pilots is if in doubt you must perform a go-around - that is, a second approach
of the airport.
"We expect all of our pilots to follow this safety guidance at all times.
"This memo underlines the commitment of Ryanair and its pilots to passenger
safety."
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