Emirates: We’re a world leader in fatigue management

MELBOURNE – When the Herald Sun newspaper last Sunday claimed that it was exposing “a frightening problem within one of the world’s biggest airlines” – the airline in question was Emirates – it set the Dubai carrier’s Australian PR advisors with a ticklish problem.

Did it ignore the Herald Sun’s claim that it had “obtained documents that lift the lid on the true extent of this critical safety issue”?

Or did the PR people come out with a full retraction of the paper’s claims that some pilots employed by Emirates were suffering fatigue because of overwork.

In the event, the PR team went for the retraction, which was reported extensively online and through traditional media channels, which had the effect of giving the original story much greater exposure globally.

The nub of the Herald Sun’s story was that documents they had obtained through freedom of information included a formal complaint to US and Australian aviation authorities and internal emails between Emirates pilots and airline executives.

The issue was pilot fatigue.

The paper reported allegations that Emirates’ pilots were accusing the airline of putting profits ahead of the lives of passengers and crew.

Emirates, through its PR agency in Australia, PPR, strongly refuted the Sun Herald version of the story.

In a media release, Emirates said, “Emirates is surprised that objective data provided by it was not included and one-sided articles were published based on statements from anonymous persons.

“Emirates reiterates its absolute commitment to safety.”

Emirates said it was a world leader in the management of pilot fatigue and alertness requirements, and was the first to employ a scientific advisor on sleep research.

Unlike other carriers, Emirates said it uses two captains and two first officers on its long-haul flights. “Most other airlines have only one captain, one co-captain and one cruise pilot,” the airlines said.

The Herald Sun article went on, “On April 12, we revealed an Emirates Airbus carrying 275 passengers came within 70cm of crashing at Melbourne Airport. The pilot had slept for only 3 1/2 hours in the previous day and was close to his maximum allowed 100 flying hours in the previous month.”

To which Emirates responded, “Responsibility for preventing the onset of fatigue rests both on the operator and crew. The crew of EK 407 (Melbourne-Dubai, March 20) was allocated a 24-hour layover in Melbourne – a sufficient time period to use the rest facilities provided.”

But the Sun Herald persisted.

“It is incumbent on Australian and US aviation authorities to immediately investigate Emirates,” the paper urged,

“No other major airline flying in or out of Australia is facing this level of dissent from its pilots.

“The reason their claims must be investigated by an independent safety regulator is this: His Highness Sheik Ahmed Bin Saeed al-Maktoum is chairman of the Emirates Group, which owns Emirates Airline. He is also the president of Dubai’s Civil Aviation Authority. He is also on the board of the General Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates.

But the last word goes to Emirates.

“Emirates has a positive and open reporting culture that helps management understand safety issues before they become significant concerns,” its statement read.

by Ian Jarrett