BSAA removes contract bonus which could endanger pilots

Babcock Scandinavian Air Ambulance (BSAA) has said that it has dismissed a bonus offer that could harm pilot safety during its negotiations with Norsk Flygerforbund, the Cockpit Association of Norway, to take charge of Norway’s air ambulance service.

According to Babcock, it was offered a deal whereby company pilots would earn a bonus if they took zero sick days in a calendar year. Marius Hansen, Director of Babcock Scandinavian Air Ambulance AB said that once spotted, the contract point was immediately removed, with the BSAA feeling that the bonus would mean pilots turning up to fly when not fully fit to, endangering the lives of all on an aircraft. Hansen said that the point was added by a ‘newly appointed HR employee without any industry knowledge’ and that negotiations remained positive after it was discussed.

BSAA said that safety is its main focus, and that the company has not had a serious accident since its launch in 2001.

“There are no pilots who take off [in] an airplane or helicopter that will not safely descend on the ground again. It is the pilots who make all decisions that are critical to aviation safety,” Hansen said. “The foundation for all our business is that pilots should be able to make their decisions solely on the basis of safety assessment.”

BSAA will take charge of the Norwegian air ambulance service next year. It currently operates in Finland and Sweden.