SMH “Qantas sends out SOS for pilots.”

[Icarus2001]

Qantas has sent out an urgent plea to unrostered pilots to fly three international flights and a number of domestic flights scheduled for Wednesday due to “critically short uncrewed flying for tomorrow April 13″.

The communication, sent from Qantas Operations on Tuesday morning sighted by this masthead, said an unspecified flight to London, a Sydney to Johannesburg flight and a flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles were short of captains and first officers.

It is also looking for an unspecified number of crew to pilot A330 domestic flights on Wednesday – the start of the busy Easter holiday break.
https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.378%2C$multiply_0.4431%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$ x_0%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_86%2Cf_auto/ebfceb97c84b6ccf57acfc5070208cc4fd5afb62Qantas is scrambling to find pilots to fly a number of flights on Wednesday. CREDIT:JAMES BRICKWOOD

Airlines have been in damage control over the past week as customers have taken to social media to complain about customer service phone wait times, culminating in Qantas issuing an email apology to its frequent flyers.

The snaking queues of passengers at Sydney and Melbourne airports over the past four days is further evidence that neither the airlines nor the airports have properly prepared for the return of passengers following COVID-19.
https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.5519%2C$multiply_0.2842%2C$ratio_1.776846%2C$width_1 059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_86%2Cf_auto/228a1d6490d8c806d43efe4d5eef43a9805026cb (https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/qantas-ceo-blames-passengers-for-sydney-airport-delays-amid-shortage-of-security-staff-20220408-p5abyd.html)‘I’m not blaming them’: Qantas CEO walks back criticism of passengers for Sydney Airport delays (https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/qantas-ceo-blames-passengers-for-sydney-airport-delays-amid-shortage-of-security-staff-20220408-p5abyd.html)Qantas has promised to boost call centre operators to 750 and there have been calls to increase the number of ground staff as check in kiosks and baggage drop were a bottleneck point at airport terminals.

Ground security, which is the responsibility of the airport, has been an even bigger choke point for passengers that are now being warned to turn up a minimum of two hours before a domestic flight.

But the shortage of pilots suggests that the problems run deeper and add weight to the argument that the airline sliced too deep in its cost-cutting measures, including reducing its staff numbers.That said Qantas maintains it lost very few pilots – with most of those that left were the result of the retirement of the Boeing 747 aircraft from its fleet.)

The industry appears to be suffering from a more broad-based meltdown – and is a long way from match fit.

And the situation has been compounded by airline staff having to isolate due to being a close COVID contact. The ‘reserve line’ of pilots have been chewed through, leaving some flights unable to operate unless unrostered or on-leave pilots are prepared to step in.

A Qantas spokesman responded on Tuesday saying, “We have a lot of COVID-19 related absences at the moment, and we’re pulling out all the stops to make sure we can get people to their destinations. The industry is seeing the same challenges, but more severe, around the world, and we’re managing this the best we can.”

While it seems evident that the airlines have had trouble managing the surge in travelling, it is only two years since they were financially crippled by COVID. Virgin was placed into administration while Qantas boss Alan Joyce grounded the majority of its fleet, and undertook emergency measures to raise capital and increase its debt facilities.

Since then, it has needed to deal with the COVID yo-yo effect – huge swings in passenger demand as international and state borders changed.
https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.138%2C$multiply_0.4431%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$ x_0%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_86%2Cf_auto/e76595fcc0fd22d72fe015ce6b3fc3a35ea22be6Airlines and airports have been grappling with staff shortages during the busy Easter period.

But the COVID hangover is causing a degree of havoc that may not be evident to passengers.
https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_1%2C$multiply_0.2842%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2 C$x_1109%2C$y_1117/t_crop_custom/q_86%2Cf_auto/f0f7f03bf2d99be03b62871cdf1b99fc0c61b702 (https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/delays-delays-delays-airports-airlines-brace-for-easter-travel-chaos-20220408-p5ac2i.html)A recent post on a pilot chat room, Qrewroom, noted that on 17 flights they piloted over the past week, there had been delays on all ‘first flights’ waiting for baggage handling and/or catering, that some flights had departed with no catering (and no passenger compensation) and that there had been a wait for pushback vehicles to arrive due to the limited number of operating tugs operating in Sydney.

On another chat site contained a post which said that a labour hire company Swissport had offered a $2000 sign on bonus in Melbourne for baggage handlers.

The fact that airlines around the world are suffering similarly debilitating issues will be of little comfort to Australian passengers trying to take their Easter holidays.



Some kind of media payback for blaming the passengers for recent delays. Tell me again who is responsible for staffing levels and ground handling? I’ll wait.

[t_cas]

“unless unrostered or on-leave pilots are prepared to step in“

Anyone notice who’s fault it is now?

The pilots who became “unrostered” (stood down) during the regulated **** down of aviation…. Using their own “leave” to continue to pay bills and live….

Fast forward.
unrostered meaning have worked rostered duties in this “new world” and/or taking any actual leave left in the balance to do just that…. Have a break from the circus.

What was someone saying about pilot remuneration on another thread? The risk seems to be carried by pilots more and more, the ability to experience any rewards are not afforded. Hands up who thinks it is actually a sensible and rewarding “career”?

[gordonfvckingramsay]

Things are only going to get worse domestically now that QF have started down a road of demands disguised as negotiations with the unions representing NJS and QF SH. I am aware of a number of services that have been affected by crew shortages. Curiously enough guys and girls are not available to go above and beyond to help! Morale and good-will have been drawn down to historical lows recently and all of a sudden, the account is empty.

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

What was someone saying about pilot remuneration on another thread? The risk seems to be carried by pilots more and more
Dunno about risk. Demand (and supply) certainly. That's what is the driver of pilot remuneration.

[t_cas]

Dunno about risk. Demand (and supply) certainly. That's what is the driver of pilot remuneration.

supply and demand is market liquidity. The underlying risk reward of the vocation lost its link with reality predominately due to ego.

[cLeArIcE]

I used to chase over time, work days off, take leave then try work on leave days etc. What an absolute idiot I was. To earn that extra $$ (half of which was taken by the tax man) but sacrifice my time, sanity, mental state and all of that again from my family is perhaps one of the dumbest things I have ever done in my life. It's actually embarrassing thinking about it. I now use every tactic that I can think of; every sick day, every fatigue call, no to every duty extension and it's made such a difference to my life. I'll fly 60-70 hours a month and you can shove the rest of it in the same place you shoved my good will.
I shouldn't even be mad, was my own dumb fault.

[43Inches]

Supply and demand only creates higher wages if the business can support the extra costs and the workforce has the bargaining power to exploit the situation. Other wise you get slightly more wage for a few years and then the company goes broke and wages fall substantially below what was before. What we have seen in Aviation is that as wages get higher, the smaller operators just disappear rather than pay better, with of course a few larger organisations hanging on due to better management. Companies try to offset the higher costs by employing fewer reserves and using callouts to patch gaps. The callouts still cost less than another full crew set even when its weeks worth, so make sure you are getting rewarded well for your casual work. Also casual work and overtime makes it seem like you are earning more, but you have gained no increase in base salary, which means when it all returns to normal the company has not increased its fixed costs.

[AmarokGTI]

“We wouldn’t have problems crewing these international flights if the government hadn’t opened the border. This is not my fault”

- Teflon Alan

[Stationair8]

Alan, give the Royal Vic Aero Club ring you might get somebody that has just done their BFR in the Cherokee and nothing planned over Easter.

This is just unprecedented times in aviation, having all these plebs wanting to travel!

[tossbag]

That's what is the driver of pilot remuneration.

Not in Australia.

[t_cas]

Not in Australia.

Indeed. Pilot is still on the import list from the rest of the PLANET….

[cloudsurfng]

‘Sorry I really wish I could help, but I’ve got a Zumba class, some meditation then I’m patting some pups.’

[missy]

I used to chase over time, work days off, take leave then try work on leave days etc. What an absolute idiot I was. To earn that extra $$ (half of which was taken by the tax man) but sacrifice my time, sanity, mental state and all of that again from my family is perhaps one of the dumbest things I have ever done in my life..
It's very liberating to say NO. Businesses shouldn't rely on their employees working copious amounts of overtime.

[SOPS]

‘Sorry I really wish I could help, but I’ve got a Zumba class, some meditation then I’m patting some pups.’

Has anyone thought of finding people who can load bags? Too busy planning Zumba and puppies?

[43Inches]

Execs are just finding out that pilots and other staff are not just another machine that you can switch on or off when things are bad or good. A lot of businesses have found out the hard way that the big reshuffle has left them at the bottom of the desired workplace list and many have chosen other fields to work in. Others just decided to retire earlier, after all we are at the end of the big 'boomer' exodus from the workforce. Its funny to watch business owners that relied on cheap immigrant/backpacker labor squirm now that they have to pay a local proper wages to do it. It does however mean inflation will probably rear up, but meh.

[gordonfvckingramsay]

Can we maybe request classes on how to effectively deal with Lycra chafing? That yoga kills my balls.

[What The]

Execs are just finding out that pilots and other staff are not just another machine that you can switch on or off when things are bad or good. A lot of businesses have found out the hard way that the big reshuffle has left them at the bottom of the desired workplace list and many have chosen other fields to work in. Others just decided to retire earlier, after all we are at the end of the big 'boomer' exodus from the workforce. Its funny to watch business owners that relied on cheap immigrant/backpacker labor squirm now that they have to pay a local proper wages to do it. It does however mean inflation will probably rear up, but meh.

It is a reflection on certain industries in Australia how they have behaved through the COVID pandemic.
Crew suffered significant isolation rules to bring workers in to harvest crops.
Sadly, and possibly a reflection of the character of some of the players, some farmers have then exploited the workers (assisted by a Coalition Government).
And the Australian Government wonder why Pacific nations might be coerced by China. Maybe, just maybe, they pay more to exploit them.

[Bootstrap1]

Lets not forget the sh1t show that is engineering right now. Redundancies were over subscribed so they let all who wanted it go. The EBA expired in 2019 and there has been no good faith negotiating from the airline. Sydney engineering are working a roster that is fatiguing the workforce beyond comprehension, this in turn has caused sick leave usage to sky rocket.

Engineering is run by idiots who can't or wouldn't see that they were going to be short staffed when flying ramped up. LAMEs mumbling about protected industrial action due to inaction by the company over the EBA.

Well done Alan. It's time to go

[What The]

It is time to go Alan

[What The]

The media seems to be picking up that the residents of “Bong Alley” (the harder you suck, the higher you get) are disconnected from reality but are really good at patting puppies and zumba.

[Loungechair lizard]

The VR (Voluntary Redundancy) process was used by Qantas to quickly reduce the ongoing costs of crews stood down in the early phase of the Covid crisis. It was voluntary and came with a lump sum payment to compensate for a known period of no income. For the older members of the group it was a quick and convenient end to a career which was already close to its conclusion. However, there were many who accepted a VR offer but were not close to mandatory retirement age. Put simply, redundancy does not necessarily mean retirement. The aviation industry always follows a familiar slow decline followed by a sharp recovery which is characterised by a shortage of knowledge and experience. A recall of recently terminated crews willing to return for a short term period to assist in the airline’s recovery would be beneficial, and has already occurred in other markets, especially in the U.S. It would be far quicker and cheaper to requalify an already rated and endorsed crew for use in the short term while the airline rebuilds its numbers.

[xer]

The pilot problem has been caused by senior management skimping on QFs currency and retraining costs during COVID. Now the training department is far behind.

Example, since late December I cannot receive a reply from allocations when my May/June course will start. The Jan and February course have also been told not to expect Sim training until June and maybe overseas? Perhaps it wasn’t a great idea to move our main sim base out of our main operating base in Sydney?

Followed up by an email from Eszter today that all this training year allocations are being transferred to next year 22/23.

[blubak]

Lets not forget the sh1t show that is engineering right now. Redundancies were over subscribed so they let all who wanted it go. The EBA expired in 2019 and there has been no good faith negotiating from the airline. Sydney engineering are working a roster that is fatiguing the workforce beyond comprehension, this in turn has caused sick leave usage to sky rocket.

Engineering is run by idiots who can't or wouldn't see that they were going to be short staffed when flying ramped up. LAMEs mumbling about protected industrial action due to inaction by the company over the EBA.

Well done Alan. It's time to go
The sh1t show you refer to started well before the redundancies happened but no doubt the icing has been well & truly put on the cake now.
The massive response they got gives an indication as to just how many had had enough of the idiots they had to contend with every day & a 'yes' tick to redundancy didnt even need a second thought.
I still see & hear from guys who are still there & what i hear is exactly what i read here,the sick leave is through the roof,there is silence when problems are highlighted & the workload just piles up.
As somebody pointed out in another thread,there are plenty of people who left that now work in other jobs & realise that there are still employers that appreciate good employees.

[Colonel_Klink]

Can we maybe request classes on how to effectively deal with Lycra chafing? That yoga kills my balls.

😂😂 Coffee all over keyboard - thanks!

[gordonfvckingramsay]

😂😂 Coffee all over keyboard - thanks!

Ahhhhhh, you attended the barista course too I see.

Sorry mate 🤣

[DirectAnywhere]

Domestic rostering is not helping atm.

Lots of low credit days (like operate one sector MEL-SYD, get off, overnight Sydney or single SYD-MEL-SYD, go home).

Inefficient use of crew resources, minimum days off because of low average density, working more days in a row which butts up against 7 day limits, fewer AV days the company can get you on. All of this contributes to crew shortages.

[HappyBandit]

How many QF did we actually lose in terms of redundancies after this covid period? Waa it more than just the 747 crews as sprouted?

[Transition Layer]

How many QF did we actually lose in terms of redundancies after this covid period? Waa it more than just the 747 crews as sprouted?
Yep, plenty from other Long Haul fleets, including a number of Check and Trainers from the A330 and 787. That’s really hurting now, with a huge backlog of training to get through.

[cloudsurfng]

Yep, plenty from other Long Haul fleets, including a number of Check and Trainers from the A330 and 787. That’s really hurting now, with a huge backlog of training to get through.

that has also hurt the vacancies. After having careers destroyed by various external factors, really bad decisions and continuous outsourcing over the last 20 odd years, you can now add ‘inability to plan for something they knew was coming’ to QF management’s outstanding list of f&$k ups.

[blubak]

that has also hurt the vacancies. After having careers destroyed by various external factors, really bad decisions and continuous outsourcing over the last 20 odd years, you can now add ‘inability to plan for something they knew was coming’ to QF management’s outstanding list of f&$k ups.
Im sure i saw a statement from QF just a couple of days ago saying they had lost very few pilots.
Guess it shows even more just how out of touch they are with what is actually happening at the coal face.

[cloudsurfng]

Im sure i saw a statement from QF just a couple of days ago saying they had lost very few pilots.
Guess it shows even more just how out of touch they are with what is actually happening at the coal face.

as someone said earlier on this thread or another, it’s quite satisfying to see the calls for help go unanswered. Trips available everywhere, lots of extra dollars. Nah. I’ll stay home with kids from now on thanks. Divisor plus 0.

[dr dre]

Im sure i saw a statement from QF just a couple of days ago saying they had lost very few pilots.
Guess it shows even more just how out of touch they are with what is actually happening at the coal face.

About 15% of LH pilots took the Voluntary Redundancy or Early Retirement packages. Now there’s only enough Captains to crew 4 or 5 380s and shortages in all other fleets.

[ampclamp]

@ blubak and Bootstrap1.

Someone worked out that there was about 5,000 years of engineering experience walked out the door.
Some were champing at the bit trying to get out with a show bag, plenty had had enough of the disingenuous negotiations, "under payment" reviews and constant cutting.

An EBA years out of date, a pay grade system that was utterly broken with nobody left to actually supervise it.

Having spoken to a good number of former colleagues many wish they too could have walked.

[blubak]

@ blubak and Bootstrap1.

Someone worked out that there was about 5,000 years of engineering experience walked out the door.
Some were champing at the bit trying to get out with a show bag, plenty had had enough of the disingenuous negotiations, "under payment" reviews and constant cutting.

An EBA years out of date, a pay grade system that was utterly broken with nobody left to actually supervise it.

Having spoken to a good number of former colleagues many wish they too could have walked.
I know between syd & mel there were about 260 that went so even if the average length of service was 20 yrs that easily covers the 5000 you mention.
I know of many guys who had 30+ yrs of service so the total loss is certainly very high.
The reasons you mention & the constant disrespect from the hierachy left most who wanted to go with no doubt as to what box to tick.

[Angle of Attack]

About 250 pilots took the redundancy package and about 150 that were within 5-10 years of retirement are now pulling big bucks in the US or Europe, the VR was just a cash injection to cover the 2 years, and they are laughing all the way to the bank. These idiots in the street have no fing idea what they are doing.

[dr dre]

About 250 pilots took the redundancy package

That one yes but.....

and about 150 that were within 5-10 years of retirement are now pulling big bucks in the US or Europe,

Not sure that’s accurate, haven’t heard anything like that at all, considering most of those carriers are bottom start seniority carriers it seems unlikely and also considering all pilots are now stood up on full divisor pay.

[deja vu]

I used to chase over time, work days off, take leave then try work on leave days etc. What an absolute idiot I was. To earn that extra $$ (half of which was taken by the tax man) but sacrifice my time, sanity, mental state and all of that again from my family is perhaps one of the dumbest things I have ever done in my life. It's actually embarrassing thinking about it. I now use every tactic that I can think of; every sick day, every fatigue call, no to every duty extension and it's made such a difference to my life. I'll fly 60-70 hours a month and you can shove the rest of it in the same place you shoved my good will.
I shouldn't even be mad, was my own dumb fault.

Yeah and now you feel sorry for YOURSELF. NO consideration of the harm you did to the industry and your colleagues, but hey, it's good you woke up but it's far too late. It's screwed.

[morno]

Yeah and now you feel sorry for YOURSELF. NO consideration of the harm you did to the industry and your colleagues, but hey, it's good you woke up but it's far too late. It's screwed.

Dunno about you buddy, but when I have family to look after, I really don’t give much of a toss about the rest of the industry. There are far greater influences involved than just me chasing extra $$’S to support my family.

[ScepticalOptomist]

Dunno about you buddy, but when I have family to look after, I really don’t give much of a toss about the rest of the industry. There are far greater influences involved than just me chasing extra $$’S to support my family.

I think you misunderstood.

The harm to the industry was done by chasing the dollars at any cost… the race to the bottom for conditions…

[missy]

Perhaps Qantas aren't the only organisation to get "caught out". Air Services are recruiting Air Traffic Controllers.
We are currently seeking applications from previously trained and rated Air Traffic Controllers who hold Australian or New Zealand citizenship, or hold Australian Permanent Residency status. This is a great opportunity for a passionate and delivery focused professional to build a career in one of Australia's most exciting and forward-thinking organisations. 

[Derfred]

And we pay less than a chippie.

If you have proven that you can’t cut a 45 degree mitre, you might still meet the high standards required by ASA.

[Angle of Attack]

Alliance have just lost 20% of the pilots last few days due crap conditions, anyone confirm?
Id be embarrassed working for Alliance surely you could get a decent job?

[PPRuNeUser0184]

Are you embarrassed about being 46 years old unable to type a sentence that makes sense?

[Going Nowhere]

Quite a few Ejet cancellations on the East coast lately due to no crew.