Airport safety fears
A “CRIPPLING” shortage of aviation firefighters due to staffing cuts during the pandemic has allegedly exposed a huge safety gap, prompting a union to launch political and industrial action.
United Firefighters Union aviation branch secretary Wes Garrett said the staffing cuts had serious safety implications for Australia’s air travellers.
He said Airservices Australia had slashed the number of firefighters by 94 during the pandemic.
“With demand for airline services now increasing, this dramatic reduction in staff has meant that there are simply not enough aviation firefighters available to safely and effectively support the Australian Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service network,” he said.
Mr Garrett said firefighter numbers at Sydney airport had been cut from 94 to 77. In Melbourne, numbers were down from 91 to 65. He said it was a similar situation at many big airports across Australia.
“As a result of these staff cuts, our remaining firefighters are being forced to work excessive overtime to cover the shifts required to ensure air travellers and airport workers are protected,” he said.
“At some locations, aviation firefighters have little or no opportunity to take leave and they are exhausted, which in turn raises serious concerns with fatigue management.”
Mr Garrett said the level of protection provided at Australian airports was often falling short of regulation requirements.
An Airservices spokesman said Mr Garrett’s claims were incorrect.
“We continue to meet all service requirements nationally to ensure the safety of airlines, airports and the travelling public,” he said.
The union has launched a new campaign, Three Minutes to Live – Keep Our Skies Safe, to draw urgent attention to the issue. The title reflects aviation firefighters having just three minutes to respond before an aviation fuel fire penetrates the aircraft cabin.
Mr Garrett said the campaign was aimed at all political parties contesting the federal election. The union is calling for an urgent review of Australia’s adherence to international aviation safety regulations.