I. TIE STRUGGLE FOR THE THREE MAN CREW COMPLEMENT IN THE WORLD

I. TIE STRUGGLE FOR THE THREE MAN CREW COMPLEMENT IN THE WORLD

A. The Courageous Struggle of the French Flight Engineers Union for Agreements on the Three Man Crew Complement
(In France, at Air France, Air Inter and UTA, the pilots belong to the pilots' union SNPL while the flight engineers belong to the Bight engineers union SNOMAC.)

Air France

SNOMAC advocated the introduction of the three man crew complementary use of the B-737 when it was first introduced at Air France and got the airline to agree that until 1992, au A-300s, A-310s, SSTs, and B-747 family would be use in the three man crew complement configuration.
Unfortunately, the three man crew complement of the B-737 was not acquired at that time but due to this agreement, the A-310 was introduced as such. ne A310 operated with the three man crew complement has a very high "Oh Time Departure Rate" compared to other A-310 in Europe operated with the two man crew complement.
However, Air France acted in an unjustifiable manner by announcing to the media, plans for manning the B747-400 with a two man crew. SNOMAC sent a letter questioning the action by Air France but it has remained unanswered and no discussions have been held regarding this crew complement issue. SNOMAC conducted a press conference in which it warned that this act by Air France was highly unjustified in consideration of the agreement and that if the situation were to continue without discussion, it would provoke a serious situation including the possibility of a strike. SNOMAC is still in the midst of this struggle.


 OPERATIONAL RESULTS A- 310
 PERIOD JUNE 84-MAY 85/FIGURES PER AIRCRAFT
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Air France A310 (3-man Crew Complement) has a higher On-Time-Departure-Rate than other companies.
(Date from Airbus Industry reference material)

UTA

SNOMAC has an agreement with UTA without an expiration date that promises aircraft belonging to UTA would be manned by a three man crew complement.
However, UTA ignored the agreement and ordered the two man B747-400.
SNOMAC initiated a struggle for the three man crew complement resulting in an agreement on 28 May 1987 which required a flight engineer to be on board the B747-400. Points in the agreement ensures the presence of a flight engineer on board and payment of wages until retirement.

Air Inter

SNOMAC has consistently fought by going on five strikes since November 1986 (a total of ten days) in its struggle to gain acquisition of a three man crew complement on the A-320 to be introduced into Air lnter's fleet. The right to strike was approved by 90% of the flight engineers there. They have strong support from the flight engineers of France and have received many letters of encouragement.

B. Acquisition of the A-320 Three Man Crew Complement by Ansett Airlines

An agreement between labor and management was reached at Ansett Airlines to make mandatory a crew complement of three that included a flight engineer on aircraft designed to carry more that 120 passengers. Ansett has remained ture to the agreement and the decision was made to make the A-320 a three man crew complement aircraft.

C. Struggles on the International Level -IFALPA, FEIA, ITF, TUI

IFALPA has held the policy of a three man crew complement but in the wake of US ALPA's decision, its largest union, to abide by the PTF report and abandon the policy of the three man crew complement, its actions have been restricted.
FEIA also has a three man crew complement policy but its ability to pursue this goal is becoming difficult due to the influence of deregulation and the US ALPA policy change. It therefore has not been able to organize an effective fight towards this goal.
The JAL Flight Crew Union participated, as observers, in the loth General Assembly held by the FEIA. It presented a report on the present situation in Japan and stressed the need for airmen world-wide to unite in the struggle on the crew complement issue.
FEIA presently has its headquarters in Washington, D.C. , but has recently made a decision to move it to a convenient location in Europe to improve its ability to make a strong stand on this issue.
Both ITF and TUI which are international unions in the transportation sector have the policy of maintaining the three man crew complement. TUI requested ICAO's views on the safety factors of the B747-400 and ICAO has answered that it was one of the items under study.
ILO has also pointed out problems in safety and employment on the two man crew complement of the B747-400.

D. Aircraft Manufacturers Today

The decline in airline business caused by the petroleum crisis and deregulation has, in turn, resulted in the decline in sales of the aircraft manufacturers. Sales competition among them has intensified and airline's pursuit for more economic means has fueled their development of two man aircraft which sacrifices safety in the name of economy.
Looking at the fact that some airlines have been able to make aircraft manufacturers convert two man crew complement aircraft into three man crew complement aircraft is evidence to the fact that manufacturers will comply with airline specifications if it is necessary.