Jetstar crew "drunk with tiredness"
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Jetstar crew "drunk with tiredness"
From tomorrow's Sunday HeraldSun (already out online):
Jetstar crews 'drunk with tiredness' | Herald Sun
Jetstar crews 'drunk with tiredness'
And foreign air hostesses are working for budget airline Jetstar for half the pay of Australian workers to deliver cut-priced flights.
Air workers have warned the risk of fatigue and communication difficulties with foreign crews could pose a safety risk to passengers, claims that Jetstar strongly rejects.
The behind-the-scenes fallout of Australia's love affair with cheap air travel has been documented in a major Senate investigation of aircraft safety, fatigue and pilot training in Australia.
The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal Thai cabin crew are working in Australia for base salaries of just 14,000 Thai baht or $430 a month, rising up to $30,000 a year with overtime and allowances.
After hearing evidence on the practices of Qantas, Tiger Airways and other carriers, a Senate inquiry is expected to this week call for a major shake-up, including a new focus on fatigue risks by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and an overhaul of pilot training.
The Senate inquiry has already uncovered an email warning to pilots to "Toughen Up, Princesses" over claims they are suffering fatigue.
But in an official safety complaint known as an OSCAR, obtained by the Sunday Herald Sun, Jetstar crew have also complained they are "drunk with tiredness", posing a safety risk to passengers.
The crew, forced to fly to Bali and return the same day in a 15-hour marathon, complain they are suffering "slurred speech and can't keep their eyes open while landing".
"If things don't change it is only a matter of time before people get seriously injured, if not killed, driving home or on board, by silly mistakes," the safety report says. In response, Jetstar said: "Safety is our No.1 priority and we have an open culture of reporting issues. If a member of our crew is too fatigued then they should not operate the flight and we openly communicate this."
Jetstar said the use of foreign-based crew was entirely legal as the "international" flights originate from Australian cities before flying overseas.
International "tag flights" between Darwin, Cairns and Melbourne also allow foreign crew to fly in Australia without any special work visas.
Australian crew are paid up to $50,000 plus allowances, compared with 14,000 baht ($430) a month for Thai crew plus "generous allowances", and $20,000 a year plus allowances for Singapore-based crew.
"Cabin crew based in a particular country are remunerated and pay tax within that country," Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway said. "All cabin crew on Jetstar services must demonstrate their (English) proficiency. At Jetstar, safety is our first priority and is central to everything we do. Being part of the Qantas group, safety is part of our heritage."
Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan said the airline did not compromise on safety and staff salaries were appropriate.
"The truth is two thirds of our staff are still in Australia," he said. "Those sorts of salaries - $20-$30,000 a year - in those countries are actually enormously high and we are getting the cream of the crop."
He said the airline closely monitored fatigue and responded to feedback by making changes to routes when appropriate, including Bali.
- Samantha Maiden
- From: Sunday Herald Sun
- June 12, 2011 12:00AM
And foreign air hostesses are working for budget airline Jetstar for half the pay of Australian workers to deliver cut-priced flights.
Air workers have warned the risk of fatigue and communication difficulties with foreign crews could pose a safety risk to passengers, claims that Jetstar strongly rejects.
The behind-the-scenes fallout of Australia's love affair with cheap air travel has been documented in a major Senate investigation of aircraft safety, fatigue and pilot training in Australia.
The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal Thai cabin crew are working in Australia for base salaries of just 14,000 Thai baht or $430 a month, rising up to $30,000 a year with overtime and allowances.
After hearing evidence on the practices of Qantas, Tiger Airways and other carriers, a Senate inquiry is expected to this week call for a major shake-up, including a new focus on fatigue risks by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and an overhaul of pilot training.
The Senate inquiry has already uncovered an email warning to pilots to "Toughen Up, Princesses" over claims they are suffering fatigue.
But in an official safety complaint known as an OSCAR, obtained by the Sunday Herald Sun, Jetstar crew have also complained they are "drunk with tiredness", posing a safety risk to passengers.
The crew, forced to fly to Bali and return the same day in a 15-hour marathon, complain they are suffering "slurred speech and can't keep their eyes open while landing".
"If things don't change it is only a matter of time before people get seriously injured, if not killed, driving home or on board, by silly mistakes," the safety report says. In response, Jetstar said: "Safety is our No.1 priority and we have an open culture of reporting issues. If a member of our crew is too fatigued then they should not operate the flight and we openly communicate this."
Jetstar said the use of foreign-based crew was entirely legal as the "international" flights originate from Australian cities before flying overseas.
International "tag flights" between Darwin, Cairns and Melbourne also allow foreign crew to fly in Australia without any special work visas.
Australian crew are paid up to $50,000 plus allowances, compared with 14,000 baht ($430) a month for Thai crew plus "generous allowances", and $20,000 a year plus allowances for Singapore-based crew.
"Cabin crew based in a particular country are remunerated and pay tax within that country," Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway said. "All cabin crew on Jetstar services must demonstrate their (English) proficiency. At Jetstar, safety is our first priority and is central to everything we do. Being part of the Qantas group, safety is part of our heritage."
Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan said the airline did not compromise on safety and staff salaries were appropriate.
"The truth is two thirds of our staff are still in Australia," he said. "Those sorts of salaries - $20-$30,000 a year - in those countries are actually enormously high and we are getting the cream of the crop."
He said the airline closely monitored fatigue and responded to feedback by making changes to routes when appropriate, including Bali.
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I find it somewhat incredible that the QF93 dodger (Buchanan) can with a straight face claim that it is ok to outsource as the salaries are comparable in the country the "recruits" are from.
This is the tired cry of globalisation..Sadly with the housing love affair over, all offshore industry further exposes the Australian worker to further downward pressure on terms and conditions. According to Buchanan it is fine to pay in THB. The convenient bit ignored by the protagonists (who include both major parties and the UN) is the company is still headquarted in Australia.
Buchanan has become filthy rich. Thailand crew aren't better off for J*. What happened to the QF base and their crew?
The haut monde get filthy rich, the Australian public wake up, as did the American public. Out sourcing benefits noone, with the exception of the "executives" profiting from the outsourcing. As Bill Heffernan said, "you can't live off a dividend". The self serving p&*cks at can't even deliver that. Mind you they continue to deliver above market Executive remuneration.It ends with a smoking hole in the ground..The passengers and crew have no parachute, the executives do.
This is the tired cry of globalisation..Sadly with the housing love affair over, all offshore industry further exposes the Australian worker to further downward pressure on terms and conditions. According to Buchanan it is fine to pay in THB. The convenient bit ignored by the protagonists (who include both major parties and the UN) is the company is still headquarted in Australia.
Buchanan has become filthy rich. Thailand crew aren't better off for J*. What happened to the QF base and their crew?
The haut monde get filthy rich, the Australian public wake up, as did the American public. Out sourcing benefits noone, with the exception of the "executives" profiting from the outsourcing. As Bill Heffernan said, "you can't live off a dividend". The self serving p&*cks at can't even deliver that. Mind you they continue to deliver above market Executive remuneration.It ends with a smoking hole in the ground..The passengers and crew have no parachute, the executives do.
Last edited by QFinsider; 11th Jun 2011 at 22:45. Reason: wrong word inserted...long day
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At last the inquiry seems to be getting some mainstream coverage.
No they don't. Jetstar's definition of an 'international tag flight' is certainly not the same as every one elses and the use of foreign tech crew on a domestic flight between two domestic australian airports (where passenger can join the flight for the initial or final leg) is contrary to this country's immigration regulations if the crew do not hold an appropriate visa conferring work priviledges.
An embarrassment to Minister Chris Bowen, who one would have though had enough on his plate at the moment. His immigration officials are based in significant numbers at every Australian point of entry and Jetstar are smuggling workers through the system every day right in front of the border protection officials.
Looking forward to the report of the committee being published this week.
More to follow
The Kelpie
International "tag flights" between Darwin, Cairns and Melbourne also allow foreign crew to fly in Australia without any special work visas.
An embarrassment to Minister Chris Bowen, who one would have though had enough on his plate at the moment. His immigration officials are based in significant numbers at every Australian point of entry and Jetstar are smuggling workers through the system every day right in front of the border protection officials.
Looking forward to the report of the committee being published this week.
More to follow
The Kelpie
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WHAT A SURPRISE !
not !!!!!
We are talking about Jetstar.......an airline that has been a leech-... sucking the life blood out of Qantas mainline since its inception.
Just love this quote from someone masquerading as "management"
"Those sorts of salaries - $20-$30,000 a year - in those countries are actually enormously high and we are getting the cream of the crop."
Oh yeah...so that makes it morally right does it....you clown.
I suppose you also condone the "slave trade", apartheid and sweat shops.
Please when are we going to rid ourselves of this scourge.??
not !!!!!
We are talking about Jetstar.......an airline that has been a leech-... sucking the life blood out of Qantas mainline since its inception.
Just love this quote from someone masquerading as "management"
"Those sorts of salaries - $20-$30,000 a year - in those countries are actually enormously high and we are getting the cream of the crop."
Oh yeah...so that makes it morally right does it....you clown.
I suppose you also condone the "slave trade", apartheid and sweat shops.
Please when are we going to rid ourselves of this scourge.??
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.......a ray of hope though.
Finally, I think the mainstream media are beginning to lock their nostrils on the smell of stench that is prevailing from the bowels of the Qantas "Group".
Its about
time
Finally, I think the mainstream media are beginning to lock their nostrils on the smell of stench that is prevailing from the bowels of the Qantas "Group".
Its about
time
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Anyone interested ought read about Agenda 21.
Bring the Third world up, and hold the first world back...a UN funded agenda, supported by both major political parties. Outsourcing a central plank of the "nirvana" Sadly though with the housing bubble burst and real wages having fallen 20% in the last decade or so the jig is up. Sadly, the only beneficiaries or this process are "executives" who are peddling this crap.
As soon as living standards rise in one third world country, they move to another.
Evidence. QF cabin crew base in TH closed...J* on lower T and C. The little Irish wimp told the same story on the comparable local salaries, sadly the evidence doesn't support any tangible benefit to the consumer, nor the third world worker. As I said the only rich are the bureaucracy (have a look at the UN building in NY) and the "executives" peddling this crap.
Bring the Third world up, and hold the first world back...a UN funded agenda, supported by both major political parties. Outsourcing a central plank of the "nirvana" Sadly though with the housing bubble burst and real wages having fallen 20% in the last decade or so the jig is up. Sadly, the only beneficiaries or this process are "executives" who are peddling this crap.
As soon as living standards rise in one third world country, they move to another.
Evidence. QF cabin crew base in TH closed...J* on lower T and C. The little Irish wimp told the same story on the comparable local salaries, sadly the evidence doesn't support any tangible benefit to the consumer, nor the third world worker. As I said the only rich are the bureaucracy (have a look at the UN building in NY) and the "executives" peddling this crap.
Who crews JQ35?, it goes SYD-MEL before a new crew do the 15hr DPS return, do they just pax back to SYD or something?
Qfinsider: Latin police alert
Proletariat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
You and I, as members of the working class, are the prols. But I agree with everything else.
The proletariat get filthy rich
You and I, as members of the working class, are the prols. But I agree with everything else.
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Having set the precedent with 'outsourcing' Engineering, Cabin Staff et al, surely it is now time to outsource Management. A diminutive Foreigner is already running the show, if you could call it that. Surely we can find an Asian entrepreneur to do the job at a fifth of the cost? With his/her bonus paid in shares redeemable in 5 years.
Ah Lan Joss anyone?
Ah Lan Joss anyone?
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Damn straight stubby jumbo!!!!
"Oh yeah...so that makes it morally right does it....you clown.
I suppose you also condone the "slave trade", apartheid and sweat shops."
Hell 20-30K a year is far too much. Off shore their jobs again to china or to india, 12-15k a year you can get the top of the crop there too buddy!!
You're a clown Bruce!!!!!!!!!!
"Oh yeah...so that makes it morally right does it....you clown.
I suppose you also condone the "slave trade", apartheid and sweat shops."
Hell 20-30K a year is far too much. Off shore their jobs again to china or to india, 12-15k a year you can get the top of the crop there too buddy!!
You're a clown Bruce!!!!!!!!!!
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Providing the figures have been reported correctly, at 14,000 THB per month that equates to 168,000 THB per annum, which on todays exchange rate (XEdotcom) is $5,244.13 AUD per annum.
No one could seriously believe that J*'s "generous allowances" could bump up the annual salary of a Thailand based air hostess by between 4 and 6 times the base rate to get the $20,000 to $30,000 that Bruce Buchanan claims.
I guess if you can keep a straight face while speaking people must believe what is coming out of your mouth.
I had no idea that the Qantas group was so benevalent. Who would have thought that all this time, all they are trying to do is improve the lifestyles of our Asian neighbours with their enormous salaries.
Where do I sign up?
GB
No one could seriously believe that J*'s "generous allowances" could bump up the annual salary of a Thailand based air hostess by between 4 and 6 times the base rate to get the $20,000 to $30,000 that Bruce Buchanan claims.
I guess if you can keep a straight face while speaking people must believe what is coming out of your mouth.
I had no idea that the Qantas group was so benevalent. Who would have thought that all this time, all they are trying to do is improve the lifestyles of our Asian neighbours with their enormous salaries.
Where do I sign up?
GB
Gasbags said:
I think the article has confused the situation re Thai-based and Singaporean-based crew. In an early para it says:
But a later para says:
So it sounds like there is a range of salaries+allowances depending on whether they are Thailand or Singapore based, the highest being about $30,000. If allowances paid are similar, then that suggests a Singaporean is getting around $30,000 p.a. ($20k base +10k allowances) and perhaps a Thai is getting around $15,000 p.a. (5k base +10k allowances)?
Who knows WHAT the truth really is, other than that is clear AJ and BB are hell-bent on using foreigners to do Australian's jobs for as cheap as they can get. I don't know how these blokes sleep at night.
Where is this country heading if we continue to condone this practice? And I'm not just talking the aviation industry now.
No one could seriously believe that J*'s "generous allowances" could bump up the annual salary of a Thailand based air hostess by between 4 and 6 times the base rate to get the $20,000 to $30,000 that Bruce Buchanan claims.
The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal Thai cabin crew are working in Australia for base salaries of just 14,000 Thai baht or $430 a month, rising up to $30,000 a year with overtime and allowances.
Australian crew are paid up to $50,000 plus allowances, compared with 14,000 baht ($430) a month for Thai crew plus "generous allowances", and $20,000 a year plus allowances for Singapore-based crew.
Who knows WHAT the truth really is, other than that is clear AJ and BB are hell-bent on using foreigners to do Australian's jobs for as cheap as they can get. I don't know how these blokes sleep at night.
Where is this country heading if we continue to condone this practice? And I'm not just talking the aviation industry now.
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I have just spoken with a large quantity of Afghanistanies on Christmas Is. On my evaluation they are "The Best of the Best". They are willing to work for $5k and no bonuses.
Oh, that's right, could AJ/BB get them a visa as well?
Oh, that's right, could AJ/BB get them a visa as well?
Being tired at work is acceptable to CASA. That is why they give dispensations to some operators against CAO 48. Early starts, day or night rosters and long days are now the norm. Any sleep professional will tell you that it runs against nature. CAO 48 worked well before the accountants got at it. Of course the 'fatigue management' systems will save you from going to work tired and off your game! Hahahahahaha!!!!
Originally Posted by The Kelpie
No they don't. Jetstar's definition of an 'international tag flight' is certainly not the same as every one elses and the use of foreign tech crew on a domestic flight between two domestic australian airports (where passenger can join the flight for the initial or final leg) is contrary to this country's immigration regulations if the crew do not hold an appropriate visa conferring work priviledges.
This is not unique to aviation, a lot of the costal shipping in Australia is done with foreign craft and crews between "domestic" ports.
Originally Posted by The Kelpie
His immigration officials are based in significant numbers at every Australian point of entry and Jetstar are smuggling workers through the system every day right in front of the border protection officials.