A whistleblowing New Zealand pilot has claimed Pacific Blue's rapid expansion means it is "only a matter of time before something really bad happens" with the discount airline.
The allegation is vehemently denied by the airline.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau confirmed it is investigating an incident in which a Christchurch-bound Pacific Blue flight veered off the runway during an attempted take-off from Kingsford Smith International Airport in Sydney.
The bureau this week released preliminary findings from an unrelated investigation into a Jetstar flight from Christchurch on July 21 that came within 13m of the ground because the pilots used the wrong throttle settings when attempting to abort a landing at fog-bound Melbourne Airport.
The investigations into the two cut-price airlines have raised concerns that fierce competition in the sector is combining with a worldwide shortage of qualified and experienced pilots to affect safety and training.
The Pacific Blue pilot, who fears his career will be over if he identifies himself, said the airline's expansion this month into domestic flights between Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland was exceeding the airline's ability to maintain standards.
"Pacific Blue is far worse than any other airline. The airline is rushing ahead too fast," he said.
"Pilots are having less and less experience, and obviously the training system isn't keeping up. It's only a matter of time before something really bad happens.
"We haven't gone to the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) because we know if we do, within an hour it will be back to Pacific Blue and our careers will be over. Anyone going to the CAA would be seen as a traitor to the airline.
"I'm prepared to do that. I think it's important for things to be said."
Pacific Blue-Virgin Blue public affairs general manager Heather Jeffery said safety was paramount and the airline rejected allegations it was "rushing" or its pilots were inexperienced. "What a coincidence – just as we are to start domestic operations in New Zealand, a mischievious and woefully incorrect anonymous source emerges," she said.
"Pacific Blue has an outstanding operational record. We are very proud of our pilots and of the regard we have worked hard to achieve with regulators on both sides of the Tasman."
She said the airline culture encouraged open reporting of the most minor incidences and the "operational incident at Sydney Airport with DJ74 and a minor tail scrape" were fully reported to regulators and led to internal briefings.
"We are growing fast, just as Virgin Blue grew fast, but we are certainly not rushing," Jeffery said.
"We have a unique culture and we have no problem attracting highly experienced New Zealand pilots."
Aviation commentator Peter Clark said all airlines were struggling to find qualified pilots and some were lowering their minimum standards to attract recruits.
"They're finding it hard to get people and particularly in the right-hand (co-pilot) seat. I've been seeing in the last few years the minimum requirements for the right-hand seat have started to lower marginally," he said.
"That's not necessarily a bad thing, so long as training and infrastructure are maintained."
T
he Pacific Blue pilot said the Sydney incident on July 14 was "absolutely horrific" and involved fundamental failures.
Combined with an unrelated incident in which another aircraft from the group scraped its tail on take-off from Fiji last month, it was symptomatic of failing standards.
"I think it was sheer luck they didn't have injuries in Sydney. It was a major, major incident. The aircraft was heavy with fuel," he said. "They were very, very lucky. If they'd done that in Wellington, they would have been in the water.
"This pilot came around the corner fast and didn't wait until he was lined up with the runway before pushing automatic thrust.
"He veered off the runway and made absolutely no attempt to abort the take-off. He was at full power and with a full fuel load on board.
"He froze. They didn't do anything. There was no braking, no reverse thrust, no attempt to abort."
He said it was "only a matter of time before something really, really bad happens".
The CAA did not respond to calls from The Press.