(Another?) Threat to QF's AOC
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(Another?) Threat to QF's AOC
How many others have heard of the current threat to QF’s AOC from CASA. This time it doesn’t involve Engineering, but airport ground operations network wide.
There was recently a CASA audit, which while most parts of the ground operations was ok the Ramp side was appalling. Added to this there has recently been a larger than usual number of aircraft being loaded incorrectly, which have got CASA’s attention.
While I don’t like to see anything in the airline unsafe, it is good to see a lot of nervous managers around as these are the people who started the downhill slide. By this I mean the constant cuts and pushing crews to do more with less. Both equipment and manpower. Now I know some here see the ramp as just a bunch of unskilled labour, which it is. But to do things efficiently and safely does take experience.
Some of the reasons I see for this happening, is the large number of redundancies in the ramp areas as well as a lot of relatively new part time staff. So this combination of losing experience and having new staff has been partly to blame.
Although the Airport Safety Dept has never been larger, lately it seems to have been spending more time on reducing what an injury/accident to personnel costs the company. And this has led to the day to day operation being compromised.
It seems that the fine line of cost cutting has been crossed and now they will need to spend money to keep the operations safe.
It is good to see a lot of managers who were once very cocky a lot more nervous now, as no one wants to be left holding the responsibility for this.
For me personally this doesn’t affect how I work, as I have never really worried about rushing to avoid a delay. I learnt early on that it doesn’t matter how many flights you get out on time, if you make a mistake they will try to hang you for it.
Sorry for the long post, but there are so many issues in this I thought I would put what I could up. Perhaps at the annual meeting someone could ask Dixon and Co how many major CASA investigations are going on within QF at the moment that threaten our AOC?
There was recently a CASA audit, which while most parts of the ground operations was ok the Ramp side was appalling. Added to this there has recently been a larger than usual number of aircraft being loaded incorrectly, which have got CASA’s attention.
While I don’t like to see anything in the airline unsafe, it is good to see a lot of nervous managers around as these are the people who started the downhill slide. By this I mean the constant cuts and pushing crews to do more with less. Both equipment and manpower. Now I know some here see the ramp as just a bunch of unskilled labour, which it is. But to do things efficiently and safely does take experience.
Some of the reasons I see for this happening, is the large number of redundancies in the ramp areas as well as a lot of relatively new part time staff. So this combination of losing experience and having new staff has been partly to blame.
Although the Airport Safety Dept has never been larger, lately it seems to have been spending more time on reducing what an injury/accident to personnel costs the company. And this has led to the day to day operation being compromised.
It seems that the fine line of cost cutting has been crossed and now they will need to spend money to keep the operations safe.
It is good to see a lot of managers who were once very cocky a lot more nervous now, as no one wants to be left holding the responsibility for this.
For me personally this doesn’t affect how I work, as I have never really worried about rushing to avoid a delay. I learnt early on that it doesn’t matter how many flights you get out on time, if you make a mistake they will try to hang you for it.
Sorry for the long post, but there are so many issues in this I thought I would put what I could up. Perhaps at the annual meeting someone could ask Dixon and Co how many major CASA investigations are going on within QF at the moment that threaten our AOC?
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Originally Posted by rammel
Perhaps at the annual meeting someone could ask Dixon and Co how many major CASA investigations are going on within QF at the moment that threaten our AOC?
Someone do it, someone else record it and post it on youtube!!
The chances of CASA hitting Qantas with anything more then a damp bit of lettuce are absolutely zero.
Perhaps a stinging reprimand for unsterilised drinking water or a brutal tongue lashing over an uncalibrated torque wrench...........
Perhaps a stinging reprimand for unsterilised drinking water or a brutal tongue lashing over an uncalibrated torque wrench...........
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Heard the same thing.
This is actually fact not rumour. What threat to the AOC CASA will be allowed to make is another story altogether. There have been numerous loading of aircraft not I.A.W. the Load Instruction Report.
There is also another related issue that does involve Engineering where the delegation of Engineering responsibilities to the Ramp and Freight Departments are not being fulfilled. The arguement 'They're only Ramp staff, you can't expect too much of them' hasn't washed well with CASA.
They have proven that the cheapest option is the preferred option along as you don't get caught.
BB
This is actually fact not rumour. What threat to the AOC CASA will be allowed to make is another story altogether. There have been numerous loading of aircraft not I.A.W. the Load Instruction Report.
There is also another related issue that does involve Engineering where the delegation of Engineering responsibilities to the Ramp and Freight Departments are not being fulfilled. The arguement 'They're only Ramp staff, you can't expect too much of them' hasn't washed well with CASA.
They have proven that the cheapest option is the preferred option along as you don't get caught.
BB
Found it.
The highest level of RCA is known as a “safety alert” and
requires an immediate response.
A safety alert will be issued by the regulator for a serious breach or deficiency which involves an immediate safety risk.
The highest level of RCA is known as a “safety alert” and
requires an immediate response.
A safety alert will be issued by the regulator for a serious breach or deficiency which involves an immediate safety risk.
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There is also another related issue that does involve Engineering where the delegation of Engineering responsibilities to the Ramp and Freight Departments are not being fulfilled. The arguement 'They're only Ramp staff, you can't expect too much of them' hasn't washed well with CASA
are you saying casa want to deskill the ramp and are cranky the engineers are holding on to these funcitions
RCA means "Request for Corrective Action". RCAs are almost invariably returnable after a negotiated time to initiate any required corrective action. Often a plan to sort the perceived deficiency will suffice and CASA will go away. An RCA is not meant to be issued for a clear, current and safety critical breach.
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Domo
Not a matter of Engineers wanting to hold onto these functions.
QANTAS Engineering in its wisdom have decided that certain Engineering functions will be delegated to Ramp and Freight staff.
It has been proven time and time again that both groups simply do not have the discipline to conduct these activities effectively and responsibly.
These groups continue to ignore Comapany Policy and Procedures limits and damage aircraft due to their inability to apply said limits. Everyone at the top is pointing the finger at each other.
'The responsibility has been delegated to Freight and Ramp' (ie not our problem). 'Ramp are not here to do Engineering Inspections' (ie Ramp dont want the responsibility of doing Engineering inspections. Costs a lot to comply!)). 'I dont believe Freight should be called upon to perform these duties'.
While they argue these points, QANTAS continues to demonstrate its inability to comply with its own Policy and this will not change any time soon. Instead of fixing the problem they are looking to strengthen aircraft holds. If the problem is not identified (ie no damaged aircraft holds), the problem is solved.
Schedule is Important, but Safety is most Important.....unless it effects schedule.
BB
Not a matter of Engineers wanting to hold onto these functions.
QANTAS Engineering in its wisdom have decided that certain Engineering functions will be delegated to Ramp and Freight staff.
It has been proven time and time again that both groups simply do not have the discipline to conduct these activities effectively and responsibly.
These groups continue to ignore Comapany Policy and Procedures limits and damage aircraft due to their inability to apply said limits. Everyone at the top is pointing the finger at each other.
'The responsibility has been delegated to Freight and Ramp' (ie not our problem). 'Ramp are not here to do Engineering Inspections' (ie Ramp dont want the responsibility of doing Engineering inspections. Costs a lot to comply!)). 'I dont believe Freight should be called upon to perform these duties'.
While they argue these points, QANTAS continues to demonstrate its inability to comply with its own Policy and this will not change any time soon. Instead of fixing the problem they are looking to strengthen aircraft holds. If the problem is not identified (ie no damaged aircraft holds), the problem is solved.
Schedule is Important, but Safety is most Important.....unless it effects schedule.
BB
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Probably explains why Dixon and Co went feral when AIPA ,the pilots union had the audacity to request observer status on the IOSA safety audit coming up.
Can't have these pesky union people upsetting our little money making enterprise with frivolous claims about diminishing standards due to cost cutting can we Geoff.
Sustainable Futures.= Management speak for making hay whilst the sun shines.
Can't have these pesky union people upsetting our little money making enterprise with frivolous claims about diminishing standards due to cost cutting can we Geoff.
Sustainable Futures.= Management speak for making hay whilst the sun shines.
Now now Max, why would someone think AIPA at all frivilous when we continually hear the inarguable 'truth' spouting from our illustrious representatives? 
Nothing like some perpetual mistrust! Productive.
Nothing like some perpetual mistrust! Productive.
