Australian Aviation Unions Federation

Since the tragic events of September 11 almost 10 years ago now, the overwhelming majority of Australians have come to accept increased security mechanism and measures at our airport and in our skies all as part of modern day travel.  Scanners and explosive residue tests are all part of the course.  Proposed full body scans and the introduction of passenger profiling has all generally been accepted.  All for the reassurance that, now more than ever, every time we step on an aircraft we are doing so expecting that everything has been done to ensure our safety and security.

While, those in the industry know better on a day to day basis the Government Officials at the Civil Aviation Safety Safety Authority (CASA) seem to be in a different planet all together.  Rather, than working with industry to increase security and safety recent proposals from these ‘boffins’ at CASA aim to reduce the number cabin crew in flight that our on hand to deal with emergencies first hand in our skies.  Instead of increasing the number of safety and security professionals on hand to deal with in flight dramas’ CASA proposal is to reduce the ratio of cabin crew members on domestic aircraft carrying less than 216 passengers, from the current 1 cabin crew to 36 passengers to 1 cabin crew to 50 passengers.

Cabin crew are the first line of defense ensuring the safety and security of hundreds of passengers at a time.  At 37,000 feet when the most frightening thing happens and something on someone goes wrong, there the ones all passengers turn too hoping that they will know what to do and how to respond to give everyone the best chance of survival.

One less cabin crew member means one less trained person to assist passengers to help evacuate the plane in the event of an emergency. CASA’s proposal puts at risk every traveling passenger by expecting him or her to self-evacuate.

When CASA first consider this proposal in 2003, the then Howard Government rejected any reduction in cabin crew ratios on the basis of its potential to compromise safety and security.  Not long after, on a Qantas Link flight over Melbourne two (2) Cabin Crew members were injured restraining a passenger attempting to highjack a Boeing 717- that flight had four (4) Cabin Crew and two (2) pilots on board.

Nothing has changed since 2003.  In fact we have more airlines, more risks and more passengers in our skies every single day. 

At our current 1 in 36 ratio, Australia leads the world in flight safety and security.  We should be doing everything we can to make sure that this continues to be the case and ensuring that all airlines operating in Australian skies meet our same high standards.  If they are not, CASA should be looking at making them accountable, not looking to drag the Australian standards to the lowest possible level.

For more information contact the FAAA Domestic and Regional Division