BWIA pilots predict: More delays ahead By Nadine Hosein and Annabelle Brasnell Trinidad Guardian The Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association (Talpa) is predicting more delays and cancellations at BWIA because of what it sees as poor management at the airline. Last evening, the flight from Manchester, England, on which the T&T team at the Commonwealth Games was due to return, was delayed. But these setbacks are not the result of any industrial action by pilots, according to Talpa chairman, Captain Edward Goddard. At a media briefing yesterday, Goddard and pilot Simon Kelshall stressed that pilots were not to blame for the delays and cancellations BWIA now faces. Pilots have not undertaken any sick-out action, Goddard said. "Talpa has no knowledge of a sick-out in the last couple of weeks. BWIA has a misperception. People will get sick, but there is no conspiracy to create a sick-out," added Kelshall. Goddard placed the blame on a poor rostering system. He said: "There is a core reason for the disruption of the service. It basically relates to the lack of available crews and the flights. This was brought about, in our opinion, because there is a rostering system which allocates the flight to pilots. It has not worked in the past and it's still not working." Goddard said the pilots explained this to BWIA but nothing has been done to rectify the problems with the schedule. The chaos, he said, will continue. "I hasten to add this has fallen on deaf ears. A number of pilots have been taken off their usual fleet and put on to the new airbus fleet. And when pilots are taken off one fleet to be put on another, a void is created and unless it is filled you just don't have the manpower requirements to staff the flights," added Goddard. The union is also upset with the airline's position that it stays out of the management process. Several international flights had to be cancelled on Emancipation Day. Clint Williams, BWIA's corporate communications manager, yesterday refused to comment on what would happen over the weekend, but said the airline has the necessary crew and aircraft in place to service the scheduled flights. Williams confirmed Talpa's position that there has been no industrial action at the airline. However, he said the pilots were not taking up the slack to keep things running smoothly. "They are just not doing the extra and the airline needs the extra. We are accustomed to the pilots working harder," said Williams. The group met with Minister of Labour Larry Achong earlier in the day, and he offered to have the Ministry act as a mediator in the matter. The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site: Roj (Roger James) *************************************************** escape email mailto:ejames@escape.ca Trinbago site: http://www.tntisland.com CBC Website http://www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ The Trinbago Site of the Week: (TnT Medical Assn.) http://www.tntmedical.com/ (Trinidad & Tobago Medical Association) courtesy of Roj Trinbago Website & TnT Web Directory Roj's Trinbago Website: http://www.tntisland.com TnT Web Directory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************