Safeskies chairman targets 'unprofessional' allegations re A380 cracks

Safeskies chairman David Forsyth has called for Australia's aircraft engineers to "act professionally" when speaking publicly on A380 cracks.

In a letter to the editor of The Age, Forsyth was responding to comments made by the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) leaders and published in that newspaper.

Forsyth, who is aslo the immediate past president of the Australian Division of the Royal Aeronautical Society, said:

Matt O'Sullivan's article noted engineers alarm at 'band aid fix' of Airbus wing cracks.

I doubt the ALAEA union which made the comments, is technically trained or qualified to argue against Airbus structural design engineers about cracks in their aircraft. Airbus will investigate these cracks and promulgate an inspection program, agreed by the safety Regulators.

This ‘band aid’ call by the ALAEA seems linked to their push for A380 Heavy Maintenance to be carried out in Australia.

This is unsustainable economically for a fleet smaller than around 30 jumbo size aircraft. It is also less efficient from a safety viewpoint. Regular experience in continuous aircraft inspection programs means greater familiarity with maintenance and repair, producing safer outcomes than low volume work.

Using safety as a weapon in IR disputes, without reasonable grounds, is like the boy who cried wolf. Repeated ad nauseam, the impact will lessen over time, and if eventually there is a valid safety issue, it might be dismissed as just another rant.

Surely it is time for the ALAEA membership to speak out and tell their union leadership to act professionally, and stop crying wolf.