Benchmark Could Have Global Implications
Even thought the first
Airbus A380 has yet to be delivered, the debate has begun on the
pay for the pilots of the double-decker super jumbo jet that can
carry up to 853 passengers.
A Singapore arbitration court ruled Friday that pilots who fly
the A380 should be paid more than those flying conventional jumbo
jets.
The Industrial Arbitration Court judgment settled a pay dispute
between Singapore Airlines (SIA), the launch customer for the
double-decker A380, and its pilots, reported the Agence
France-Presse (AFP).
The three-member panel, composed a representative each from the
airline and the pilots, as well as a judge, ruled the minimum
salary for A380 captains on the world's biggest passenger plane,
will be US $458 a month more than that for captains on the Boeing
747-400 (744) conventional jumbo jet.
"The minimum salary point for captains on the Airbus 380 salary
range will be US $458 more than the minimum salary point for the
B-744 salary range," said the panel. The basic pay for a B-744
captain is US $6,547 a month, Singapore Airlines told the
hearing.
In its ruling, the court said the maximum salary for A380
captains will remain at US $10,802, the B-744 maximum.
The court also said the minimum for first officers on the super
jumbo will be US $295 more than on the 747-400.
SIA wanted to mark the A380 pilots' pay to that of the wage
scale for the Boeing B777, where a captain earns a starting monthly
salary of US $6,088.
During the hearing, an SIA official claimed physical differences
between the A380 and the Boeing 777-300 and 747-400 would have
little impact on piloting because of similarities between the
systems' technologies, cockpit layout, and instrumentation.
While the A380 is heavier than other Airbus and Boeing jets, the
weight difference is managed by a high level of automation and
other aerospace technologies, official said.
Air Line Pilots Association Singapore (ALPA-S) President Captain
P. James countered that flying different aircraft is "not as easy
as changing cars."
In its decision, the
court said that "a pilot has very heavy responsibilities for the
safety of passengers, crew, cargo and the aircraft" regardless of
the ease or difficulty of flying the plane.
Both sides welcomed the decision and acknowledged they were
breaking new ground.
"We recognize there is no market data for the 380," James, told
reporters.
He said the amount of the salary award was "fine" even though it
was below the US $655 dollars sought by the union.
"It's at least more than half-way of what we wanted," James
said.
"The A380 is a new aircraft," said Singapore Airlines' spokesman
Stephen Forshaw. "There's very little by way of an international
benchmark to measure things."
Tom Ballantyne, of Orient Aviation, told AFP that A380 pilots
from each country will have to set their pay scales individually,
but the Singapore case could be used as a reference point.
"A union making a claim for new rates may bring that into the
argument," Ballantyne said.
SIA, one of the most profitable carriers in the business, is
scheduled to receive the first of its A380s in October.