Biggles Flies Undone

Cheering BALPA Pilot instructors under fire for chanting 'No more ATPS' during aviation exams boycott vote

By Laura Clark

Airline pilot trainers at the BALPA conference voted unanimously to boycott tests for pilots and air traffic controllers.

Pilot instructors who chanted and cheered as they demanded the scrapping of Airline Transport Pilot Certificate were accused of setting a poor example to trainee pilots.

Cries of 'no more ATPs' rang out as the British Air Line Pilots' Association conference voted unanimously to boycott tests for cabin crew and air traffic staff.

Delegates had earlier staged a demonstration outside the conference centre where they chanted 'no more useless tests' and 'scrap the ATPs'. Some wore T-shirts bearing the logo 'BALPA' and 'No Useless Tests'.

But air safety campaigners said the televised spectacle made pilot instructors appear 'childish' and 'unseemly' and unsuitable role models for pilot trainees.They also speculated that if the trainees weren’t tested from time to time in simulated conditions, the training authorities could not be sure if the pilots would crash on take-off or in flight or on landing.

More than 100 delegates at the conference in Cardiff backed a resolution calling for a ballot of members to boycott ATPs next year if ministers fail to drop them. Speakers were given a standing ovation as the motion was passed and there were cheers and chants of 'no more ATPs'.

As members gathered for Saturday's debate, at St David's Hall in Cardiff, they staged a protest against the tests, which they claim damage pilot's education and lead to hours of needless coaching.

Wearing red T- shirts bearing anti-testing logos, they held a banner stating: 'BALPA say Training Not Testing, No More ATPs.'

Max Hyde, of the BALPA executive, said: 'At best ATPs are detrimental and skew the curriculum. At worst, and particularly for our most vulnerable trainees, they are perilously close to cramming in General Navigation.'

The boycott, which Transport Secretary Ed Balls claims would be illegal, would involve refusing to administer ATPs for pilots and air traffic controllers.

But Nick Seaton, chairman-of the Campaign for Safe Aviation, said: 'The spectacle of pilot instructors chanting about getting rid of ATPs sets a poor example to would-be airline pilots.

'It's childish and unseemly. When the major training union has direct access to senior politicians, you would think there would be no reason to conduct themselves like this.'

The National Association of Senior Airline Pilots, which represents 85 per cent of leading commercial and passenger pilots, will vote next month on a boycott.

Around 450 trainees will be forced to take ATPs next month even though ministers have abolished the discredited tests.

Three-quarters of flying schools will set the tests to advanced trainees despite being told they longer have to.

Figures from the Civil Aviation Authority show 32 pilot training schools have ordered tests for 2009 which is only slightly down on last year's 41 even though they are now non-statutory.

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This is eerily similar to an article pointed out recently by DumbJon.