Rare! Pilot dual employment, first officer caught flying for two airlines.

• Some pilots upset at KM Malta Airlines’ lack of action against a pilot caught working concurrently for another carrier.
• The incident occurred when First Officer D****a T****au was caught flying Virgin Atlantic while on the job of KM Malta Airlines.
• The First Officer was using her mandatory leave periods to travel to London and fly Virgin Atlantic planes out of Heathrow Airport.

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Some pilots employed with Malta’s new state-funded carrier, KM Malta Airlines, are concerned about the airline’s decision to allow a female pilot caught working concurrently with another airline.

KM Malta Airlines, Malta’s rebranded state-owned airline, is facing criticism after it was revealed that one of its pilots was also working for British airline Virgin Atlantic. This duplication not only violates contractual agreements, but also poses a significant risk to international security regulations.

First reported by The Shift, the incident occurred last month when First Officer D****a T****a, employed by the new government-owned airline, was accidentally caught flying the Virgin Atlantic flights in the UK while also working. as a pilot for KM Malta Airlines.

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• As soon as Virgin Atlantic managers were informed of her dual occupation, they reacted immediately and fired her on the spot.
• KM Malta Airlines initially suspended her, only to reinstate her a short time later, so she is still flying the airline.
• The act of pilot dual employment violates several fundamental principles that are contrary to aviation safety.
• International safety regulations set strict requirements for work and rest time to ensure that pilots get enough rest and can fully focus on flight operations.

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Her colleagues told The Shift that T****a, instead of taking her mandatory rest periods, was using the time to travel to London to fly Virgin Atlantic planes from Heathrow Airport.

It is unclear how long T****a had doubled her flight time before she was let go from Virgin Atlantic when they discovered she was working for another airline.

Shift has been informed that Virgin Atlantic managers fired the T****a on the spot once they found out what the first officer was doing.

In addition to a serious breach of contract, the pilot also broke international safety rules that impose strict regulatory limits on duty time and rest periods to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

According to international standards, it is recommended that for standard operations, this cumulative flight duty period no more than 10 hours within a 24-hour period. Standard operations include multiple flight segments and day or night flights.

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ICAO Definition of rest periods

• The definition of a rest period requires flight or cabin crew members to be relieved of all duties for the purpose of recovery from fatigue.
• How this recovery is accomplished is the responsibility of the flight or cabin crew member. Extended rest periods should be given regularly.
• Rest periods should not include standby if standby conditions would not allow flight and cabin crew members to recover from fatigue. Adequate field accommodation is required at sites where rest periods are conducted to allow for effective recovery.

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For now, T****a, who was not in senior roles at either carrier, continues to work with KM Malta Airlines, even though the company has been informed of the situation.

While T****a’s actions are in serious breach of her contract as a pilot with KM Malta Airlines, her two jobs also contravene EU aviation safety regulations that pilots are required to adhere to.

These norms include strict flight times and mandatory rest periods to ensure that everyone flying the plane is fully rested and able to concentrate on their work for safety reasons.

It’s simple, Pilots cannot work for competitors or other airlines to ensure that they are fully committed to their jobs. They must also ensure they meet minimum leave requirements and manage their availability to avoid scheduling conflicts.

Many in the aviation industry believe that T****a may have compromised the airline’s insurance and liability, as well as its own.

Earlier this year, Air Malta transitioned to KM Malta Airlines, abandoning its old branding but retaining most of the failed managers and consultants.

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