Please find below an update in regard to:
- Hotels
- Crew layovers in China
- Flight Duty Periods exceeding limits and Fatigue Mitigation
- Social Distancing during Layover
Hotels
Since the beginning the of the COVID-19 pandemic more and more restrictions were put in place by various countries which led to a significant decrease of the quality of layovers and hotel standards at many destinations. The Hotel Committee was and is working hard to find solutions to improve the situation in the current crisis. An updated version of the Hotel COVID-19 situation can be found here.
As communicated in our previous update on hotels please submit a Voyage Report through the iQSMS application and forward the report to cvhotels@alpl.lu so that we are aware of the current situation of hotels, especially of those which were not selected by the Hotel Committee.
We specifically urged management to follow the Hotel Policy and to coordinate with the Hotel Committee in advance at critical destinations to find suitable alternatives and provides clear indication on what deficiencies have evolved at the current hotels. Respective letters were published for your reference in our members update on 8 April 2020. To read the latest reply from the CFO, please click here.
We would like to remind you to always carefully assess your fitness to operate and any requirement for additional rest. In case extra rest is required, please file a Fatigue Report.
Crew layovers in China
With the shift of the COVID-19 hotspots to Europe and the USA we briefly discussed with management the options of having again crew layovers in China to free up manpower that would be needed in other areas. However, this was before we received reports of newly implemented procedures and questionable testing of crews by the Chinese authorities. After having read these reports we came quickly to the conclusion that we cannot agree to reinstate crew layovers at any destination in China. Please click here to read the letter including the reports that was sent to the CEO, Accountable Manager, EVP Flight Operations and Head to OHS&E.
Flight Duty Periods (FDP) exceeding limits and Fatigue Mitigation
At the very beginning of this crisis we wrote to the CPO and verbally restated to Senior Management that whilst we operate flights to avoid the hotspots of the COVID-19 we expected that fatigue is managed in advance. Over the past 4 years we have collected data that revealed the problematic rotations of FDPs combined with minimum rests.
We do have regular meetings with Senior Management to provide feedback on many issues. We were informed that pilots were deadheaded out of CGO due to a delay in departure where their FDP would be exceeded and, on another case, where an AOG occurred. We welcome this proactive approach to avoid having pilots being stranded in CGO or required to exceed the planned FDPs.
You may have also noticed during the COVID-19 crisis that some rotations have created additional rest periods more than what was experienced in the past, when we had large amounts for fatigue reports and associated fatigue scores when conducting two sector augmented crew operations. Nevertheless, this is not the case at all our destinations where augmented flights are departing from.
Recently we have seen three areas where we wish that Senior Management rectify the situation to manage fatigue in advance of all our duties. Please click here to read the letter that was sent to the CEO. We also ask you to please pay close attention to the requirement that Crew Control needs to follow, as per the Safety Department´s “Q4/2019 Boxed Items”, which is to notify crews sufficiently in advance of any fatigue warnings.
Remember:
- Please be mindful of the requirement that ALL fellow crew members need to be adequately rested prior to the commencement of any FDPs that are potentially fatiguing.
- Inflight rest is not the same as rest in accommodation where temperature, noise and light can be managed.
- If additional rest is required before the commencement of an FDP or after an FDP please communicate and coordinate in a timely manner with your fellow crew members, local station, crew control and always submit an Air Safety (Fatigue) Report (ASR).
- Air Safety (Fatigue) Report (ASR) must always be submitted when fatigue has been experienced on any duties.
As always, if you need further guidance please contact cvboard@alpl.lu
Social Distancing during Layovers
In the recent email from EVP Flight Operations a plea was made that all pilots please be mindful of maintaining adequate social distancing during layovers.
We would also like to ask each member to handle the present situation with great care and social responsibility. It is very important to recognize that everybody must contribute with their actions to not only protect their own health but also the one from the colleagues and the one from all affected family members at home. Please treat each other with respect, be extra patient during these times and maintain social distancing when having meals together during layovers.
If you see anything that you are not happy with, please use discretion and politeness when approaching other colleagues and similarly be thoughtful if someone approaches you.
