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Nok Air Pilot Walkout

Old 15th Feb 2016, 06:05
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Nok Air Pilot Walkout

Not entirely sure what's going on, but it sounds like these pilots are having a hissy fit.

Nok Air mulls pilot walkout response | Bangkok Post: news
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 07:22
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Not entirely sure what's going on, but it sounds like these pilots are having a hissy fit.
This is the original article in the Bangkok Post

Pilot strike grounds Nok Air flights
Published: 14/02/2016 at 10:07 PM
Bangkok Post Online

Budget airline Nok Air cancelled eight local flights on Sunday evening after pilots went on strike, leaving some 1,000 passengers stranded at Don Mueang airport.

The airline initially gave no reason for the abrupt cancellation and only informed its passengers that scheduled flights were not ready to take off due to “technical problems”, and that it would offer full refunds to affected customers.

Nok Air chief executive Patee Sarasin later told reporters the airline was forced to cancel the flights because more than 10 pilots staged a strike after it increased audit standards for the flight operations department, bringing them into line with those of the European Aviation Safety Agency. He said some pilots did not meet the new criteria and went on strike to express their discontent.

The airline announced the cancellation of the eight flights at 3pm. All were scheduled to leave Don Mueang airport late in the afternoon to Chiang Mai, Khon Khaen, Hat Yai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Phitsanuloke, Phuket and Ubon Ratchathani.

“Nok Air has contacted other airlines that fly on the same routes such as THAI Smile Airways, Thai Lion Air and Thai AirAsia, but all of them are full,” Mr Patee told Thairath TV.

“I am confident that there will be no problem with flight cancellations tomorrow” as Monday is a normal working day when the full administration resources and back-up plans are in palce, Mr Patee said.

He said the damage caused by the pilot protest was unacceptable and management would discuss what to do about it on Monday.

Don Mueang airport director Petch Chancharoen said the airline had to arrange accommodation for the stranded travellers if it could not find alternative flights for them and described the situation at Don Mueang airport as of 9pm as “still chaotic”.

Many of the passengers later went on to Nok Air's Facebook page to express anger at their treatment by the airline.

They criticised the airline for the delay in alerting them to the flight cancellations. Some said they did not get any message at all.

Others attacked the striking pilots, accusing them of holding the passengers hostage.

Facebook user Hikawari PS wrote: “Phuket-Bangkok flight at 10.45pm has been cancelled and there is no alert message. I have to work early tomorrow morning. What should I do? …. It is too late to book a bus - but travelling 12 hours by bus is terrible.”

.
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 08:47
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Can someone shed light on this comment?

Nok Air chief executive Patee Sarasin later told reporters the airline was forced to cancel the flights because more than 10 pilots staged a strike after it increased audit standards for the flight operations department, bringing them into line with those of the European Aviation Safety Agency. He said some pilots did not meet the new criteria and went on strike to express their discontent.
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 10:46
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captjns

I've been trying to work than one out too. What kind of "new criteria" did these pilots supposedly not meet?

Sounds odd.
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Old 16th Feb 2016, 01:53
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From the link(in Thai):

????! ???????????????? 1 ?????? 2 ??? 7 ?????? ???????????????? - Nation TV

They have fired 7 pilots, re-evaluatiing 2 and 1 non flying employee.

From what I read, it doesn't look good, these guys seems angry.
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Old 16th Feb 2016, 04:55
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Would be good to know what Standards or whatever it is they failed to meet.
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Old 17th Feb 2016, 12:49
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According to the Bangkok Post . . . "Some of the pilots failed their evaluation in the more vigorous auditing procedures."

Yet they are saying they went on strike?

Then I understand they get a Yellow Card from the regualtory agency. Did not know we are playing football.
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Old 17th Feb 2016, 13:49
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European ambition caused Nok Air strike | Bangkok Post: news

One might be forgiven for thinking that perhaps a number of Nok pilots might have rather thin skin.
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Old 17th Feb 2016, 14:16
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This is an outsider who is living in Thailands view.
Thailand has had problems with certifications etc which do not match international standards and has been forced to deal with this.
th Civil Aviation Deparment has hired a British firm to bring it up to scratch but only about a third of the inspectors were qualified to do the British course..

I think some NOK pilots got paid a little extra for certification and other operational duties.
NOK decided you had to be one or the other. IE managment = no flying as a pilot.

Pilots are objecting to this.

This may not be correct but it is my best view.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/...pilot-shortage

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...ssenger-safety


http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/tran...review-to-2017

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...es-reign-again

Last edited by harrryw; 17th Feb 2016 at 14:29.
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Old 17th Feb 2016, 15:05
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We have a winner

From one of the articles you linked from the individual who got fired:

"Airline executives pressured the company's trainers to authorise the use of new, not fully qualified pilots, to cover the gaps, something Mr Sanit says he firmly resisted and which caused great unease among the trainers who were also pilots.

They were among those who refused to fly on Sunday, Mr Sanit said. Their distressed psychological state disqualified them from flying. Thus, Sunday's action was not a strike, not a protest, but was caused by a genuine problem within the company, he said."
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Old 17th Feb 2016, 15:12
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and another
Nok Air Denies Flying Unqualified Trainee Pilots
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Old 17th Feb 2016, 21:07
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Who to believe?

The CEO further explained the airline’s woes on the Chinese zodiac.

Three company executives were born in the Year of the Tiger, the airline CEO explained, which makes for great misfortune in this Year of the Monkey. To turn things around, Patee said the executives plan to make merit together at a temple.

Nok Air Denies Flying Unqualified Trainee Pilots
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Old 18th Feb 2016, 08:17
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"Airline executives pressured the company's trainers to authorise the use of new, not fully qualified pilots, to cover the gaps, something Mr Sanit says he firmly resisted and which caused great unease among the trainers who were also pilots.

They were among those who refused to fly on Sunday, Mr Sanit said. Their distressed psychological state disqualified them from flying. Thus, Sunday's action was not a strike, not a protest, but was caused by a genuine problem within the company, he said."
The not fully qualified pilots he mentioned actually 2 ex-TG pilots with 20,000+ total flight hours and one of them has a flight with a trainer and CAAT inspector on Feb 14, 2016 for qualifying him as a captain with Nok Air. But 5 Nok Air's trainers called sick leave on that day so this flight was cancel.
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Old 18th Feb 2016, 10:57
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Hopefully nok will let non Thai citizens now join with decent reputable licences and backgrounds.

At the end if the day there are 198 pax behind us.

Thoughts?
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Old 19th Feb 2016, 15:39
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"Fully qualified pilots" still have to complete required training when they join a new company.

If what you say is correct and I am not disputing what you write, sounds very reasonable, . . . if all the pilots involved were trainers, then they would know the assigned pilot was "not fully qualified."

Then the person assigning and authorizing the "student" the flight and coordinatiing the checkride with CAAT should be in trouble.

Am thinking you might very well know the answer to that.
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Old 20th Feb 2016, 06:22
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Nok Air flights ?grounded because two pilots were sick? - The Nation

and today

Nok Air cancels flights Tuesday - Thai PBS English News
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Old 26th Feb 2016, 09:51
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Brookfield are advertising for 737 and Dash 8 captain. I
Heard alot of pilots left Nok on top of all this.
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Old 26th Feb 2016, 13:56
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Dont even think of Brookfield or you'll be sorry!
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Old 27th Feb 2016, 14:36
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Tend to agree Joe, they came across as a bunch of used Car sales Men.
just posting what I saw BTW.
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Old 27th Feb 2016, 20:29
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any other agencies advertising on behalf of Nok??
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