Airline Under Attack
This article appeared in last weekend's Windhoek Observer:
BY YANNA ERASMUS
The furore regarding Air Namibia continues. The Windhoek Observer, some three weeks ago, received an anonymous letter from an irate individual, regarding the hiring policy of Air Namibia. Our research over this time, has taken us to informants from all sectors within the airline until we eventually, on Tuesday of this week, heard of a letter, drafted by Mr Henk Mudge of the Republican Party. A call to Mr Mudge confirmed that he had indeed written a letter to a high-ranking government official, and that this letter was marked as confidential. He then informed us of a press conference to be held on Thursday, June 12, and we attended. Mr Mudge provided us with very little information that we did not already have.
Our informants, all of whom prefer to remain anonymous, have a common thread in their complaints and these, running parallel to the complaints lodged by Mr Mudge at his conference. Primarily, these pertain to an overtly aggressive affirmative action policy by the airline, where, as the allegations stand, black pilots are promoted ahead of white pilots, irrespective of rank, experience and hours. Furthermore, it is said that these pilots have had to repeat training and certain tests up to three times, to finally make the mark. The pilots referred to are the current senior manager of flight operations, Captain W. Ekandjo and Captain A. Nyandoro, currently flying for the president, who applied for the position of training officer and is currently in training on the 737, because he has no rating for it. Mr Mudge alleges that Mr Nyandoro scraped through his 737 Comair training in South Africa and apparently, the training officer said he “… does not meet the standards and criteria of a pilot expected to fly the 737.”
Another problem the sources have is that apparently, Air Namibia does not want to allow its pilots to fly for other companies anymore, but, Mr Nyandoro is still contracted to the Government Air Transport Service (GATS).
Information that could be gleaned, again from an unnamed source, said in response to this allegation, that it makes financial sense for the airline to work with the government and to ‘share’ pilots, as it is more financially viable than having the president employ a large number of pilots for a few flights. Air Namibia, is after all, funded by the government.
It was also said that for Captain Ekandjo to attain his position, the requirements for the job had to be lowered. This allegation, also made by Mr Mudge in his press conference. The same source from within the airline told this reporter that Mr Ekandjo was fourth in line for the position, and that the first three candidates could not and did not want the position. Below, the clear and emphatic response by the managing director of Air Namibia, Mr Kosmas Egumbo on the matter.
In the letter received, as well as statements made by sources and Mr Mudge, there is also controversy surrounding Captain Fred Kint, recently reappointed but not yet in command. Our sources state that his simulator training on the Airbus A340 in Frankfurt, gave ‘unsatisfactory’ results and that there are sexual harassment charges against him. Mr Mudge claims that his file is gone stating, “… it is more than rumours… a number of sexual harassment cases were filed against him”. We could not source any information from sources or otherwise, bringing us closer to the truth. Air Namibia says there is no record of charges.
Interesting to this reporter is that someone would have had to have made the allegation. If true, why not come forward when given an opportunity?
People who have worked with Captain Kint, state that his personality can be a little abrasive and curt and that this, may have led to a complete misconception. His record, they say, including several years with Singapore Airlines, currently stands without incident.
Further allegations include chaos with rosters, paying of incorrect S&T and pilots not being allowed overlays in London, having to fly back after only ten hours’ rest. This, another informant counters, is in fact a 12-hour rest period and there are only two flights a week. Air Namibia is for the first time in its history, almost breaking even and that these policies are necessary to save funds. If the crew were to overnight, Air Namibia would have to pay four nights’ accommodation and S&T for the 15 crew in London until the next flight comes in for a stopover. They are also fully within the aviation law. In contrast, layovers are procedure for the five flights per week to Frankfurt and, for example, when crew overnight in Cape Town, they stay at Spier Estate. The airline, our informant states, is not victimising its crew.
Allegations of racism from both sides, those pro and anti Air Namibia, abound. What is known however, is that unrelated sources all have a common thread in their complaints. The same three names keep coming up and complaints about rostering, shortage of staff, threats to pilots by senior staff, inept aircraft, no-one taking responsibility for errors made and failure to report incidents to DCA continue to be said. We contacted Mr Kosmas Egumbo, Air Namibia’s managing director at 08h30 on Thursday morning. The answers to out questions are printed below, verbatim. Readers can now decide for themselves for we have been unable to secure a result either way.
Allegations have been made that you were a junior clerk at the town planner and you from there, got the Air Namibia job. Please comment.
All vacant positions at Air Namibia are being advertised either internally or externally, and qualifying applicants are going through a screening and selection process. Air Namibia has policies and procedures in place that govern recruitment processes. The position of Managing Director was duly advertised and qualifying candidates meeting the required qualification and experience were subject to assessments and interviews before the successful candidate was decided upon.
The last position I occupied at the City of Windhoek was Strategic Executive: Planning Urbanisation and Environment. I subsequently took up a position with GTZ and was based in Gaborone and that is the position I held before I joined Air Namibia.
Apparently, Mr W. Ekandjo's job description was lowered in qualifications to appoint him as ops manager. Is this true?
Position of Senior Manager: Flight was advertised (during June & December 2007) and various interested Namibian and foreign individuals (total of nine) went through a transparent screening and selection process. Captain Ekandjo emerged successful after the process with no lowering of standards.
There are allegations that Mr A. Nyandoro has no 737 rating and yet, he flies the aircraft.
Captain Alois Nyandoro has been offered a position with Air Namibia as Head: Training and Standards, for which he was found suitable. He has not yet commenced duty.
Further to this, the consistent hopping between the Falcon and the Air Namibia aircraft has caused some confusion on the flight deck with co-pilots having to assist Captains with the positioning of buttons.
Please comment.
Air Namibia and the Government Air Transport Services (GATS) have a signed agreement in place for the sharing of flight crew as and when the need arises with either Party. So far, only one Air Namibia Captain has had to fly GATS under this Agreement. The said Captain has in excess of 12 000 hours and currently commands the A340 and the Falcon. It is generally acceptable international good practice in aviation to try and limit the number of aircraft types that an airline pilot may safely operate, within the same period. Thus for an airline pilot to fly two variant aircraft types is well within international best practice, especially when such a pilot has more than 10 000 flying hours.
There are allegations that Mr Fred Kint has an unsatisfactory simulator rating and yet, he was employed by Air Namibia again. There are also rumours of sexual harassment against him. Your comments on this?
All pilots flying for the airline have to be licensed on the aircraft type. For a pilot to be licensed on a type, he/she must have successfully completed conversion training on the specific aircraft type. Whilst operating on the type, pilot is required to maintain the rating through successful structured recurrent training. Captain Kint is a very senior airline pilot with more than 30 years of flying experience and more than 18 000 hours.
Air Namibia has a Disciplinary Code and Grievance Procedure in place to address all matters pertaining to employees’ workplace conduct including sexual harassment, should it be reported. Captain Kint has not been charged with such an offence and we strongly discourage the spreading of malicious rumours.
A senior pilot with Air Namibia is said to have written an incident report on several incidents which took place over a period of three years and that this was handed to the DCA who knew nothing of these incidents. Is this true? One of these pertains to an engine failure on the Beechcraft 1900. Can you give me information on the missing auto pilot, broken black boxes and the GPWS systems inoperative on the 1900? Apparently one was forced to complete its Maun route with an excessive leak on the wing and crew had to be changed because the active crew refused to fly.
Air Namibia has a transparent Safety Management System handling all matters of safety and safety concerns as raised by employees flight crew, passengers etc., which information is being constantly shared with the DCA for continuous operational safety improvement . We do not operate unserviceable aircraft.
Pilots resign at a rate of one a month on average. Why is this?
There is a worldwide shortage of pilots and many airlines are losing pilots. We can state that our pilot retention ration is much better that our peers. In the past twelve months, we have only lost four pilots.
Overall, it is said that the Affirmative Action policy is so aggressive at the airline that unqualified or at least, lesser qualified black pilots are promoted ahead of white pilots and further to this, that white pilots, who qualified at the expense of government bursaries, are not getting jobs at the airline.
The black pilots that are employed at Air Namibia and those that move up the ranks meet all the set safety and operational requirements. Management will, in line with Air Namibia’s Affirmative Action Plan, work relentlessly to ensure the safety of our passengers and operations while pursuing a more accurate reflection of the Namibian demographics. Our commitment to safety is further underscored by our tireless effort to acquire IOSA accreditation by end of July 2008, which process is on course and we are now only closing the last few findings.
Is it true that the airline grants interest free loans to black pilots (in the majority) to complete ATPs in the States?
Air Namibia has arranged with a local commercial bank to advance study loans to any (black and non-black) pilots to complete ATPs.
Apparently, rostering, payment of S&T and so on, are in chaos and no-one in management takes responsibility.
We have adequate procedures and responsible officials for processing of all payments and claims as well as crew schedules.
Harassment and victimisation are apparently common in the airline from persons in power, such as Mr Ekandjo. Pilots are threatened to fly under unsafe conditions and if they are ill. You comments on this?
Air Namibia has a flight and duty policy, approved by the DCA, which governs crew utilisation. We have an exemplary safety reporting procedure, enforce discipline and do not condone victimisation..
Tell me about the 3% increase for pilots and the 25% increase for management.
Overall salary adjustments for 2007 (note that the last salary increase for employees was in 2004) was an average of 10 per cent on basic salary, spread across the total staff complement. Individuals on management level received between 3 per cent and 10 per cent and employees between 10 and 20 per cent. Pilots are receiving an automatic 3 per cent notch increase annually on total cost.