Photos: Boeing 767-381F/ER Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
Please follow the link above for reference on what this thread is about.
Not sure why the previous thread on this issue got deleted as the loss of this flying is a pertinent issue and a great example of the reason for the Long Haul pilots log of claims.
Here is what I wrote previously on the matter:
Again, this is why job security is so important and why the Qantas pilots claim is about job security and job security only.
A while back mainline pilots flew freight on the 767 to and within New Zealand on Qantas 767s. This was then contracted out to ATI and now is been undertaken by EFA using a 767 linked above by boeingwest displaying Qantas on its livery.
This is a transfer of business and as such is part of the claim to keep our jobs and keep this flying.
It is imperative that we keep our jobs and this freight flying is part of it. It beggars belief that the company is paying pilots on the 767 to sit around doing less than 50% of what they could be doing while they employ new pilots to do the same jobs. Even at the reported reduced cost of the new pilots the overall cost is more. It doesn’t make any sense and is fiscally irresponsible. By management continuing to push such ludicrous accounting practises it is continuing to push Qf International into the ground. Something the employees and the public must not let happen. It is up to the pilots to lead the way and ‘stop the rot’ as they are doing. How on earth can management call the pilots inefficient if they don’t work them when there is work to be done?!
The catalyst to return the freighter flying (including the rumored 747-400), which is part of Qantas, to the Qantas pilots is included in the Job Security clause being fought for by AIPA. The clause ‘uses a flight number that contains an IATA airline designator assigned to the company’ and/or ‘undertaken by aircraft that display on its livery the word ‘Qantas’ ’ covers this flying of freight. It was also confirmed verbally by the negotiating team at the meeting in Sydney that the Job Security clause covers freighter flying.
It is imperative that AIPA continue to fight for this cause as well as the others in the Job Security provisions.
To add to these thoughts, I see today that Qantas has made an underlying profit before tax was $417 million, up 56 per cent from $267 million in the first half of 2009/10. To quote the newspaper “underlying profit before tax - the company's preferred measure of financial performance”.
From a pilots perspective, which is only a small fraction of the airline:
This has happened with unsuitable aircraft on most routes.
This has happened with pilots on the long haul award.
This has happened whilst they have had pilots sitting around doing nothing but being paid in full whilst they employ more pilots to do the same job.
This has happened with (on some fleets) a 16% engagement level.
THINK MANAGEMENT WHAT COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH:
Correct aircraft flying the correct and in demand routes (yes that may mean expansion on the Qantas brand), being flown by engaged pilots flying their quota of 900 hours a year rather than the 400-500 a lot are on.
I honestly believe that is what the pilots want: a profitable, strong airline that we are all proud to be a part of.
It can happen but this current rot (EFA, Jetconnect, offshore bases, transfer of buisness etc) must stop and we must all work together-this where the real money will be made... Good luck folks