Piloting for more pay?

TodayOnline, 20 November 2007, Singapore

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Airfinance Journal, 01432257, Jun2007, Issue 301

Singapore Airlines ordered to pay A380 pilots a premium by arbitration court
©Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC
www.euromoneyplc.com

The Industrial Arbitration Court (IAC) in Singapore has decided in favour of the Air Line Pilots Association (Singapore) and ordered Singapore Airlines to pay flight-deck crew operating the A380 more than a premium compared with those operating other aircraft in its fleet. Although the decision will not create a precedent outside of Singapore from a legal perspective, it is nonetheless possible that the decision will set a benchmark for other carriers.

Under the ruling, the minimum salary for captains on the A380 will start at about $7,000 per month, which is $460 more than captains earn on the 747.

The union had asked for a salary scale starting at $8,618 for A380 captains, arguing that pilots operating the larger aircraft have added responsibilities and should be paid more. The carrier took the position that because of advances in technology, operating the A380 is no more difficult than other aircraft fly-by-wire.

The IAC panel concluded that the "ease with which modern airplanes may be manoeuvered in the air and on the ground is, by itself, not a reason for reducing pilots' salaries".