Ryanair warns pilots over unsafe landings

Ryanair gets tough on its pilots after three serious airborne incidents in less than a year
13 April 2012

Ryanair is threatening to sack pilots who fail to obey safety regulations following a series of dangerous approaches to airports.

Chief executive Michael O'Leary has issued a memo to pilots warning that they will be demoted the first time they make a dangerous approach, and sacked for a second offence.

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In the latest incident to emerge, an aircraft flew so low over rooftops that it triggered two warnings in the cockpit and led to 16 complaints from alarmed residents.

It was the latest of three serious incidents in less than a year, and the fourth in two years, involving Ryanair jets approaching airports too fast or at the wrong height and being forced to abort a landing.

All of the airline's staff are under pressure to meet turnaround times of only 25 minutes, the tightest in the industry, and pilot unions say this can lead to mistakes.

The memo states that a new disciplinary procedure is being introduced in response to a series of "high energy approach incidents over the past two years".

It adds: "From 25th September 2006, any event involving any of our aircraft passing the 500ft landing-gate incorrectly configured or at excessive speed - and which does not perform a go-around - will automatically lead to both crew members being demoted in the case of their first transgression of this policy.

"In the event of a second transgression of this policy, the relevant crew member will be dismissed."

Unions fear the memo will force the problem underground, with pilots too frightened of losing their jobs to co-operate with efforts to find out why incidents are happening.

A Ryanair spokeswoman said: "Safety is Ryanair's number one priority. Our safety instruction to all pilots is if in doubt you must perform a go-around - a second approach of the airport.

"We expect all of our pilots to follow this guidance at all times."

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