BRITISH AIRWAYS has lost its case concerning rookie co-pilot Jessica Starmer, the Employment Appeal Tribunal finding against the airline (see ABTN 20 June). An application has been made to the Court of Appeal, with the hearing not likely to take place until much later in the year. Mrs Starmer joined the airline”s Airbus 320 fleet in May 2001, after successfully completing a cadet course at Oxford Air Training. By the time her first child was born, she had amassed around 1,000 flying hours and in 2004 she accepted a part time contract allowing her only to fly 75% of a normal workload. However, with the full backing of the pilot union BALPA, she applied for 50% working schedule. British Airways refused, stating its safety policy of requiring at least 2,000 flying hours experience, before pilots can reduce to below 75% contracts. She is presently working in a non-flying capacity with a second child on its way. In its judgement the non-expert tribunal stated that it in no way questions British Airways' safety policy of requiring at least 2,000 flying hours experience before pilots can reduce to below 75% contracts, but at the same time gave judgement in favour of Mrs Starmer rejecting the opinion of the airline safety regulator, the CAA. Expert comment was given by both BA and BALPA pilots, both sides, members of the same union. Mrs Starmer”s husband Simon is a captain in the Airbus A320 fleet.
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