PILOTS’ GUILD URGES AUTHORITIES TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS

Mattala Airport functions unlikely to be affected by protest

Amidst protests over the recruitment of pilots to SriLankan Airlines, where the Pilots’ Guild which comprises of more than 95% of civil pilots in the country, has withdrawn from flights other than those scheduled on their flight roster at the Bandaranaike International Airport, the guild said yesterday it would continue

Tension arose in the local airline industry when pilots protested over a Civil Aviation Ministry order

its protest campaign even when taking on flights to the newly opened Mattala airport.

A spokesman for the Pilots Guild while urging the authorities to address their concerns said, its protest campaign was unlikely to disrupt functions of the Mattala Airport where Sri Lankan flights had been scheduled from Riyadh, Shanghai, Beijing, Male and Buddha Gaya in the next few days.

“Our protest campaign is unlikely to affect the functions of the Mattala airport as not many flights have been scheduled so far, and we do not want to go against the state. But this issue has still not been addressed,” he said.

Tension arose in the local airline industry when pilots protested over a Civil Aviation Ministry order, to reduce the cut off mark of a flight simulator examination, for two piloting students who had received 65 marks, when the internationally recognised pass mark for flight simulator tests was 70.

The results of this test held in late February, were subsequently released on March 1.

Following the incident the Chief Pilot and Deputy Pilot of Training and Standards submitted their resignations to the airline management and the Pilots Guild vowed to only carry out flight duties scheduled on their roster. This meant that in the event a pilot on duty reports sick, there is a possibility that standby pilots would not be available for flight duty.