According to UK Channel 4 Dispatches, they have been given access to a survey of Ryanair pilots that reveals deep rooted concerns about passenger safety.
The survey was commissioned by The Ryanair Pilot Group, following a memo from Ryanair management saying that pilots who took part in a safety petition might be liable to dismissal.
Over 1,000 of the airline’s captains and first officers responded:
· More than 8 out of 10 (88.8%) said Ryanair didn’t have an open and transparent safety culture
· Two thirds (67.4%) of pilots questioned said they didn’t feel comfortable raising safety related issues through Ryanair’s own internal systems
· More than 90 per cent (93.6%) of pilots that responded, believe that the Irish Aviation Authority and its European counterpart, should investigate the impact of Ryanair’s employment practices on safety.
An anonymous pilot says: “About 70 per cent of our pilots if not more are on a contract, they get paid only if they fly.”
“So that’s the first pressure. I need to fly in order to make a living.”
In April this year several hundred pilots signed a petition, calling on Irish and European safety regulators to urgently examine the impact of Ryanair’s employment terms on flight safety.
The response from Ryanair’s management was swift - a memo was sent out.
It stated: “Any Ryanair pilot who participates in this so-called safety petition will be guilty of gross misconduct and will be liable for dismissal.”
O’Leary told Bloomberg News:
- “We will fire any pilot who signs up to some kind of trade union they’re trying to trade union circular petition about safety.”
An anonymous pilot says:
- “As a pilot it is really difficult to talk to them and the tone used… is really unusual for an airline. It’s usually threats and bullying. That doesn’t bring a very peaceful atmosphere.”
Source:
Channel 4 Dispatches
