Games airlines and pilots play

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has revoked the license of a South Korean pilot employed by Juneyao Airlines because the flight crew refused six times to follow air traffic controllers' orders to give way to a Qatar Airways plane seeking permission for priority landing owing to fuel shortage at Shanghai. But other misconducts exposed later are worse than the South Korean pilot's, says an article in Guangzhou Daily. Excerpts:

The CAAC took action against the Juneyao Airlines pilot because it believed what the Qatar Airways pilot said. Though there is no reason to criticize the punishment, later investigation showed that both flight crews were at fault. The Qatar Airways pilot lied about fuel shortage to get permission for priority landing, but the CAAC didn't punish him.

Raising false alarm about fuel shortage will not only get a pilot permission for priority landing, but also reduce his time hovering in the air and thus reduce fuel consumption. Given the high price of oil, pilots can increase airlines' profits by raising false alarm and saving fuel. Private airlines are more prone to use such tactics and could even mislead their pilots to increase profits.

Perhaps the South Korean captain was not being indifferent to passengers' lives. Perhaps he guessed the real intention of the Qatar Airways' pilot. But such tit-for-tat action could some day end in disaster. That's why airlines and their pilots should stop crying wolf.

And taking the Shanghai case as a warning, the CAAC should strengthen rules to ensure that guilty airlines and pilots do not go scot-free. No airline or pilot should be forgiven for actions that could cost innocent passengers their lives.

(China Daily 09/02/2011 page9)