The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association says that Sunstate Airlines, a subsidiary of Qantas, is operating more than 20 aircraft with the unsecure locks. The engineers say that passengers are being put at risk due to cockpit locks that can be opened with a “paddle pop stick”.
Qantas denied the claims and suggested the association was acting on another agenda. Spokesperson for the airline David Epstein told local media that such tactics were normal for the ALAEA when enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations are not going their way.
Nevertheless the ALAEA called for the aircraft to be grounded until the airline is able to comply with the legislation.
Epstein said: "Safety and security are our highest priorities and the cockpit doors on 28 QantasLink turboprop aircraft meet all relevant aviation security regulatory and manufacturer requirements.”
"This has been validated after consultation with the Office of Transport Security and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Yet Mr Purvinas (ALAEA general secretary) is still prepared to raise his spurious claims, needlessly alarming the travelling public and damaging Qantas.